Poster House Presents Free First Friday 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 on December 5, 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. The two capsule exhibitions on show are: Utopia in Our Time: The Posters of Molly Crabapple and Art for Art House: The Posters of Peter Strausfeld.

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 December 5th include: 

• 11AM – 2PM: Curatorial Tour of Blazing a Trail 

  • Dorothy Waugh was a pioneer in her field, creating a unique design identity for the National Park System through dynamic, avant-garde posters. Join Assistant Curator of Collections, Es-pranza Humphrey, on this free guided tour of the exhibition Blazing a Trail: Dorothy Waugh’s National Parks Posters.

• 12–2PM: Screenprinting with Indigo 

  • Join us for a hands-on workshop in connection with Blazing A Trail: Dorothy Waugh’s National Parks Posters that introduces the basics of indigo dyeing and screenprinting with clay resists. Each visitor will print their own Dorothy Waugh-inspired bandana. Our teaching artist will guide everyone through the full process from printing to final color setting. This workshop is suitable for visitors aged 15 and older.

• 12–4PM: Postcard Printing Drop-In Workshop

  • Come by the Poster History Timeline to try your hand at linocut printing and stamp your own postcard with a design inspired by our current exhibitions. Two postcards are included in the price of participation. Take your postcards home or let us send them for you directly from the museum! Supplies are available on a first-come,  first-served basis. This program is suitable for visitors of all ages.

• 1–2PM: Curatorial Tour of 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

  • Every First Friday between 3pm and 6pm, visitors are invited to enjoy $2 off all alcoholic beverages in the museum’s café.  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!

• 4–5PM: Artist Tour of Utopia in Our Time

  • Join celebrated New York City-based illustrator Molly Crabapple for an exclusive artist’s tour and presentation of the exhibition Utopia in Our Time: The Posters of Molly Crabapple. This show highlights Molly’s dynamic promotional work and explores how she uses themes of community, solidarity, and celebration to connect with and uplift her audience.

• 4–6PM: Community Garden Block Printing with Jessica Lou

  • In this interactive workshop, participants will learn the basics of block printing and carve their own printing blocks. The session begins with an introduction to block printing, covering its history, home printing techniques, creative inspiration, and safe carving practices.

  • Using nature-themed prompts inspired by the museum’s exhibition Blazing a Trail: Dorothy Waugh’s National Parks Posters, participants will carve their blocks and then share and print each other’s designs, creating unique collaborative works. This approach is intended to build confidence and community through shared creativity.

  • Since carving tools are used in this workshop, it is not suitable for participants under the age of 12. 

• 6–7:30PM: Gilded Age Motifs—Molly’s Illustration by Inspiration

  • From chic brownstones to elegant pompadours, artist Molly Crabapple is inspired by the symbols of New York’s Gilded Age in her illustrations for books, prints, and posters.

  • Join Molly Crabapple and Assistant Curator of Collections Es-pranza Humphrey as they discuss these charming motifs, visible throughout the exhibition Utopia in Our Time: The Posters of Molly Crabapple. Molly will talk about how she uses such historical details in her graphic work and how her art can serve as a love letter to New York City.