POSTER HOUSE PRESENTS FREE FIRST DAY ON OCTOBER 3 at Poster House

Poster House, the first museum in the United States dedicated to the global history of posters, will host its monthly “First Friday” event October 3, 2025 from 10:00 AM to 9:00 PM at Poster House, 119 West 23rd Street in Manhattan. On the first Friday of every month, Poster House offers free admission and extended hours for guests. Explore the museum’s latest exhibitions and get in on the fun by attending a tour, workshop, performance, or activity throughout the day. The two main exhibitions currently on show are: The Future Was Then: The Changing Face of Fascist Italy and Blazing A Trail: Dorothy Waugh’s National Parks Posters – open through February 22, 2026. Poster House’s spring capsule exhibitions are: From the Bronx to the Battery: Subway Sun and Copy/Paste/Print/Repeat: Mike King & the Art of the Gig Poster. These exhibitions are open until November 2, 2025. 

Every First Friday is different, offering unique opportunities such as tours, workshops, performances, and activities, to further engage visitors with the exhibitions. First Friday activities for October 3rd  include: 

• 12–1:35PM: Moonrise Kingdom Movie Screening 

Join Poster House for a special screening of Wes Anderson’s Moonrise Kingdom in connection with the exhibition Blazing a Trail: Dorothy Waugh’s National Parks Posters. Much like Waugh’s iconic designs from the 1930s, the film celebrates themes of nature, exploration, and youthful adventure.

Seating is limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis.

• 2–3PM: Sicilian Frame Drum Workshop with Michaela Musolino

Discover the vibrant rhythms and cultural heritage of Sicily in this hands-on workshop led by internationally recognized Sicilian-American singer and musician Michela Musolino. Presented in connection with the exhibition The Future Was Then: The Changing Face of Fascist Italy, this program explores the resilience of folk traditions and the enduring power of community expression through music.

Participants will receive guided instruction in the techniques of the Sicilian frame drum, one of the most important percussion instruments in Southern Italian folk culture. 

Open to all experience levels; no prior musical background required.

Michela Musolino is an internationally recognized Sicilian-American singer who explores her cultural roots and shares them with the world through the study and reinterpretation of the folk songs of Sicily and Southern Italy. With voice and frame drum, Musolino sings songs of daily life, songs of feast days, songs of protest, and songs of love, weaving the ancient and the modern into powerful melodies. She is the founder of Rosa’s Drum, a cultural events and educational organization that promotes and teaches folk traditions from Sicily and Southern Italy.

• 3–4PM: Curatorial Tour – The Future Was Then

Join curator B.A. Van Sise for a dynamic tour of his exhibition The Future Was Then: The Changing Face of Fascist Italy. Chronicling the rise of Benito Mussolini, learn how his fascist ideology quickly became embedded in every aspect of daily Italian life, from how products were sold to what events were promoted.  

• 3–6PM: Happy Hour at Café des Affiches

It’s Happy Hour at Café des Affiches! Every First Friday between 3pm and 6pm, visitors can enjoy $2 off all alcoholic beverages. 

Indulge in a delicious drink as you browse the galleries—and be sure to try the special cocktails inspired by the museum’s two newest exhibitions, The Future Was Then: The Changing Face of Fascist Italy and Blazing A Trail: Dorothy Waugh’s National Parks Posters!

• 3:30–7:30PM: Button Up! Drop-in Button-Making 

Head to the Poster History Timeline for a fun button-making activity inspired by Blazing a Trail: Dorothy Waugh’s National Parks Posters. Participants can select from a range of images to create their own wearable keepsake. While you’re here, don’t miss the chance to explore the museum’s exhibitions and discover more about the art of poster design.

This program is open to all ages. No registration required—just drop in and join the fun!

• 4–6PM: Flower Power – The Art of Pressed Flower Collage 

Winter may be around the corner but Poster House is keeping summer alive by making art with FLOWERS! In celebration of the beautiful botanical illustrations on view in Blazing a Trail: Dorothy Waugh’s National Parks Posters, join other museum visitors in a pressed-flower collage workshop. Participants will use the principles of traditional collage as well as oshibana (the Japanese art of making images with pressed flowers) to make fun pictures and even typography from gorgeous flowers. The instructor will also provide a primer on how to press and preserve flowers for future use. 

Pressed flowers and materials will be provided.

• 7–8PM: Sicilian and Italian Folk Music with Michela Musolino and Rosa Tatuata 

Experience the vibrant traditions of Sicilian and Southern Italian folk music with Michela Musolino and her ensemble, Rosa Tatuata, in a performance presented in connection with the exhibition The Future Was Then: The Changing Face of Fascist Italy. This program highlights the resilience of cultural expression in times of change, showing how folk music continues to bridge past and present.

Drawing on years of research into traditional instruments—including the tamburo (Sicilian frame drum), organetto, marranzano (jaw’s harp), and zampogna (Southern Italian bagpipes)—Musolino and Rosa Tatuata weave a tapestry of sound that blends old-world authenticity with fresh interpretation. 

Join us for an evening of music that celebrates resilience, joy, and cultural memory—an opportunity to hear how ancient traditions continue to resonate in our world today.

Michela Musolino is an internationally recognized Sicilian-American singer who explores her cultural roots and shares them with the world through the study and reinterpretation of the folk songs of Sicily and Southern Italy. With voice and frame drum, Musolino sings songs of daily life, songs of feast days, songs of protest, and songs of love, weaving the ancient and the modern into powerful melodies. She is the founder of Rosa’s Drum, a cultural events and educational organization which promotes and teaches folk traditions from Sicily and Southern Italy