May art bring you good fortune! Celebrate the Year of the Ox, one of the 12 animals of the Chinese zodiac, with virtual performances, interactive activities, and artist-led workshops for all ages. Join us online for a daylong festival on Saturday, February 13, and for related activities from February 6 through 16.
Activities are free, and no registration is required unless otherwise noted.
The schedule is also available in Simplified Chinese, Spanish, and Korean.
View the schedule in Simplified Chinese.
查看简体中文版的活动日程。
View the schedule in Spanish.
Ver el programa en español.
View the schedule in Korean.
한국어로 프로그램 일정 보기.
Click the titles to access the activities below.
ACTIVITIESPlease note: Prerecorded videos will be available Friday, February 12.
PERFORMANCE
IP-CHUM with The New York Korean Performing Arts Center
Celebrate with a dance and musical performance by The New York Korean Performing Arts Center in The Met's Astor Court. Please note: This program is prerecorded.
ART MAKING
Saturday, February 13, 1–1:45 pm
Join us on Instagram Live to get inspired by works of art from The Met collection and experiment with different drawing approaches in celebration of Lunar New Year. Tag us at @MetTeens to be featured on the Met Teens Instagram account. Recommended for ages 13–18.
Suggested materials:
Paper
Pencil
DIY Confetti Poppers (English and Korean)
Light up the sky with a nature-inspired confetti popper made with teaching artist Maria Yoon. Please note: This program is prerecorded. It is offered in both English and Korean.
Suggested materials:
Toilet paper rolls
Tissue paper
Scissors
Glue or tape
String of varying texture and length
Markers
Balloons (optional)
Create your own zodiac animal charm to wear as you dance into the New Year with teaching artist Padma Rajendran. Please note: This program is prerecorded.
Suggested materials:
Paper
Scissors
Glue or tape
String of varying texture and length
Markers
Recycled materials or found objects
Dazzling Dragon Puppet (English and Mandarin)
Dragons are believed to possess great power, dignity, fertility, and wisdom. Create a dragon puppet for good luck with teaching artist Chemin Hsiao. Please note: This program is prerecorded. It is offered in both English and Mandarin.
Suggested materials:
Egg carton
Colored paper
Craft or popsicle sticks
Buttons
Paint and brushes
Scissors
Glue or tape
COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS AND TALKS
What Does Lunar New Year Mean to You?
Members of The Met's Advisory Committee on Cultural Engagement and the Department of Asian Art share their families' Lunar New Year traditions. Please note: This program is prerecorded.
Mark your virtual Bingo board as you gather Lunar New Year gifts, decorations, and food from Manhattan’s Chinatown’s small businesses. Share what you uncover on social media using #MetLunar. Learn more.
RELATED ACTIVITIES
The following activities occur before or after the main February 13 festival.
From Chinatown, with Love Calendar
Saturday, February 6
Highlighting and building on the resilience of Manhattan's Chinatown community, The W.O.W. Project, Abrons Arts Center, Welcome to Chinatown, and photographer Mischelle Moy (梅雪莹) have collaborated on a 12-month Lunar New Year photo calendar featuring Chinatown businesses. Spend $20 or more in one of 18 Chinatown businesses on February 6 to receive a free calendar! First come, first served while supplies last. Learn more.
Insider Insights—Celebrating the Year of the Ox (Mandarin and English)
Monday, February 8 and 15, 12–12:10 pm (Mandarin)
Monday, February 8 and 15, 12:15–12:25 pm (English)
Join Jason Sun, Brooke Russell Astor Curator of Chinese Art, The Met, to explore the exhibition Celebrating the Year of the Ox, presenting depictions of oxen and water buffalo created by artists in the last 3,000 years. Please note: This program is prerecorded. It is offered in both Mandarin and English.
Virtual Exhibition Tour—Masters and Masterpieces: Chinese Art from the Florence and Herbert Irving Collection (Mandarin and English)
Tuesday, February 9 and 16, 12–12:10 pm (Mandarin)
Tuesday, February 9 and 16, 12:15–12:25 pm (English)
Join Pengliang Lu, Associate Curator, Asian Art, The Met, for an in-depth look at Masters and Masterpieces: Chinese Art from the Florence and Herbert Irving Collection, a group of 18th-century jade and bamboo works that have never before been on display. Please note: This program is prerecorded. It is offered in both Mandarin and English.
Wednesday, February 10, 2–3 pm
Brew a cup of coffee or tea and gather around art to chat, share, and stretch! This special session is connected to Lunar New Year. For individuals living with dementia, together with their family members or care partners. Reservations are required. Contact 212-650-2010 or access@metmuseum.org to register and receive instructions for joining us online.
Storytime with The Met—Cat and Rat with Ed Young
Thursday, February 11, 12–12:15 pm
Look, listen, sing, and have fun with Storytime from home! Join us for a picture-book reading and activity connected to The Met collection. In this special edition, author and illustrator Ed Young reads Cat and Rat. Recommended for families with children ages 18 months to 6 years. Please note: This program is prerecorded.
RELATED EXHIBITIONS
Chinese Painting and Calligraphy Up Close
December 21, 2020–June 27, 2021
Celebrating the Year of the Ox
January 30, 2021–January 17, 2022
Masters and Masterpieces: Chinese Art from the Florence and Herbert Irving Collection
January 30, 2021–June 5, 2022
Lunar New Year Festival: Year of the Ox has been made possible, in part, by Council Member Keith Powers.
Captioning is made possible by the Ruth Lapham Lloyd Trust.
Closed captioning is available for prerecorded events.
Autogenerated captioning is available for live Zoom events.
