Brooklyn Museum kicks off its bicentennial celebration, programming and exhibitions on Friday with “Toward Joy: New Frameworks for American Art” and “The Brooklyn Artists Exhibition.” The rest of the weekend is packed with activities and events as part of the museum’s Birthday Bash. 

“Our anniversary programming embodies everything we stand for: championing trailblazing art, expanding historical narratives and bringing our communities together in celebration,” said Shelby White and Leon Levy Director of the Brooklyn Museum Anne Pasternak. 

The Brooklyn Museum was founded in 1824 by a group of civic-minded Brooklynites who incorporated the Brooklyn Apprentices’ Library Association. The museum’s first section opened in 1897. In a landmark building on the northeast corner of Prospect Park, the museum houses an encyclopedic collection of over 140,000 objects representing global cultures spanning over 6,000 years. 

The museum hosts public programs, community initiatives and a variety of exhibitions. The Brooklyn Museum’s bicentennial tells the story of one of the oldest and largest art museums in the country and its commitment to innovation, conversation and compelling experiences for the community.

“As we find abundant inspiration in our past, we are ready to go bigger,” said Pasternak. “Our museum has an important role to play in expanding understanding of people across the street and around the world, resisting the forces that divide us and building bridges to our shared humanity.”

The bicentennial projects also include the launch of a new dining option in the museum’s pavilion, a new brand identity affecting signage, merchandise and more, critical infrastructure improvements and updates to other assets, such as the museum’s website. 

The Brooklyn Museum will also be opening two other exhibitions this year as part of its bicentennial: “Solid Gold” will explore gold through 6,000 of artwork, fashion and design, and in 2025, “Breaking the Mold: Brooklyn Museum at 200” will open.