• Tree of Life Art Activity  
  10 am–7 pm | Classroom 2–5
  Design your own tree of life mixed media collage to take home.
  (10 am-1 pm: Rooms 4 and 5 reserved for summer camp groups) 
  
• Interactive book displays 
  10 am–7 pm | Educator Resource Center
  
• Gallery Learning Stations 
  Visit the American art galleries and discuss works of art with museum guides and docents. 
  • Portrait of a Gentleman, Joshua Johnson 
    11 am-3 pm | Gallery 211 
  • Winds of Change, Leroy Allen 
    3-7 pm | Gallery 214
    
• Kansas City Jazz Storytelling 
  11-11:45 am & 12:15-1 pm │ Atkins Auditorium 
  In commemoration of Juneteenth, enjoy an interactive show introducing young kids to the magic of jazz! Aimed at toddlers to early elementary schoolers and their caregivers, Jazz Storytelling is led by vocalist Lisa Henry, storyteller Brother John, drummer Mike Warren, and bassist Tyrone Clark.
  Real-time captioning provided.

• Story Time
  11:30-11:45 am & 12:30-12:45 pm | Educator Resource Center
  Ajia Mignon Morris engages children with stories related to Juneteenth.
• Meet the Curator
  1-2 pm | Gallery 124
  Discuss the newly installed painting, Portrait of a Boy Holding a Bow, with Aimee Marcereau DeGalan, Ph.D., Louis L. and Adelaide C. Ward Senior Curator of European Arts.
  
• Storytelling by the Buffalo Soldiers   
  3-3:40 pm │Kirkwood Hall  
  Buffalo Soldiers tell stories of triumph and glory beginning with the American Revolutionary War.
  
• Kansas City Jeep Squad 
  5-7 pm │ North Drive  
  Stop by for a photo opportunity, learn more about Jeep Life, and feel the energy that drives the Kansas City Jeep Squad. 

• Stories & Music by John W. Hudson 
  5:15-5:45 pm │ Atkins Auditorium 
  Enjoy uplifting stories about important dates in his journey and performance by award-winning author, speaker, and musician John H. Hudson.
  Real-time captioning provided.
  

• The Kansas City Boys & The Kansas City Girls Choirs  
  6:15–6:30 pm │Kirkwood Hall  
  Enjoy musical selections directed by Mia Ramsey, including the powerful anthem “Lift Every Voice and Sing”.
• North Kansas City High School Purple Diamonds Performance  
  6:45–6:55 pm & 8–8:10 pm │Kirkwood Hall    
  Celebrate culture and unity through routines in the historically black college and university style, performed by talented members of this high energy majorette team.
  
• Finale Review 
  DJ Joe Straws, Nikol Straws, and De Barker, along with steppers from the Kansas City 2Steppin’ Community, perform in celebration of 20 years of the Big StepOff!
  
• Kansas City 2Step Showcase & Free Style Dance 
  Kirkwood Hall
  • 7-7:30 pm | Showcase
  • 7:30- 8 pm | Free Style Dancing 

• Sensory Break Room
  10 am–5 pm | Rockhill Room 
  Need a break from the crowds? Relax with various fidget items and enjoy the quiet in our calming sensory break room.
  
• Gallery Learning Stations 
  Visit the Contemporary art galleries and discuss works of art with museum guides and docents.
  • Yellow, RaMell Ross  
    10 am – 2 pm | Gallery L11 
  • Slowly Drifting, Aleah Washington 
    1-3 pm | Gallery L8 (ASL interpretation provided) 
  • Selections from Rahim Fortune 
    2-6 pm | Gallery L11 
  • A Lesson Before Dying, Kevin Demery 
    5-7 pm | Gallery L8 
    
• Juneteenth Quilt
  10 am–9 pm | Bloch Lobby 
  
• Juneteenth book displays 
  10 am–6:30 pm | Spencer Art Reference Library
  View a display of materials about African American artists and history.
  

• Drawing demonstrations with Anthony High 
  5-8 pm | Bloch Lobby 
  Watch artist Anthony High complete one of his amazing works.
  
• Hip Hop Socials
  Lens 2 
  From the Lindy Hop to Hip Hop, young people can explore dance and movement from a social point of view, led by members of the dynamic House of Dragons Dance Group. (Capacity is limited.)
  • 11–11:30 am | Ages 6-8 
  • Noon–12:30 pm | Ages 6-8 
  • 1–1:30 pm | Ages 9-12
    
• Race Project KC  
  1-5 pm | Gallery Walk outside Gallery L8 
  Meet representatives from RPKC and Johnson County Library outside the free 2024 Charlotte Street Visual Artist Awards exhibition and learn about the Dividing Lines tour, an exploration of how Kansas City was sculpted by race and real estate practices.

• Learning Station with the Black Archives of Mid-America  
  2-6 pm | Bloch Lobby
  Post and honor the meaningful milestones or historical dates that have shaped your personal journey. View a display of Kansas City Black history. (Led by museum volunteers from 11 am-2 pm.)
  
• Artist Conversations: Kevin Demery
  3-3:15 pm, 3:30-3:45 pm, 4-4:15 pm, 4:30-4:45 pm | Gallery L8 
  Meet Kevin Demery, 2024 Charlotte Street Visual Artist Fellow, in his exhibition space to discuss U.S. history from personal and artistic perspectives.
  
• Play & Learn Together 
  4:30-5 pm & 6-6:30 pm │ Spencer Art Reference Library 
  Engage with Aleah Washington, 2024 Charlotte Street Visual Artist Fellow and a quilted board game that she created to consider how the redlining she references in her works on view can take shape in any city.
  (This event is suggested for ages 16 and up. Space is limited for participants, but guests are welcome to watch and browse.)

Gallery guidelines

To ensure the safety and preservation of the art, we ask all Nelson-Atkins visitors to follow three primary rules when they come to the museum:  

• Stay at least two feet from the art. Please do not touch, lean on, or sit on the art, including outdoor sculptures and the reflecting pool.   

• No backpacks in the galleries. We offer free coat and bag check in the Bloch Building lobby. Backpacks should be checked or worn on the front. 

• No food or drink in the galleries. Guests are permitted to eat outdoors and in designated indoor dining areas.