About Us
The Smithsonian Resident Associate Program (RAP)—a division of the Smithsonian
Institution—offers great opportunities for education, fun, and community
to people of all ages in the Washington, D.C., area.
RAP presents about 1,000 programs each year that are amazing in their variety,
cultural currency, and fun potential.
Lectures & Seminars
For those who are keen on enriching their minds, we present in-depth lectures, seminars, and courses in the arts, sciences, and humanities that simply aren’t available anywhere else but at the Smithsonian. We can say this because we are able to attract the very top experts in their fields to enlighten, challenge, and engage you.
Films & Performing Arts
Interested in the premiere of a new IMAX film or the debut of an avant-garde dance piece by a leading Native American artist? Care for jaunty Calypso or is hot jazz more your style? Does Chopin elevate your soul, or a Baroque fugue? RAP’s live performances of music, dance, theater, and more will appeal to every taste. Cinephiles: don’t miss our film festivals and sneak previews.
Studio Arts
If
you want to learn how to paint, consider yourself a sculptor in the rough,
or want to dabble in Photo Shop and digital media, check out our studio arts
classes and workshops. We offer classes in photography, calligraphy, beading,
pottery, mosaics, knitting, quilting--even Japanese flower arranging--taught
by top-notch artists and experts.
Study tours
Talk
about neat “staycations”: RAP’s local study tours are forays to historical,
cultural, and even gastronomical points of interest nearby or a bus ride
away. Take a walking tour of Adams Morgan. Travel to Civil War battlefields,
the Brandywine Valley, or Frank Lloyd Wright’s Fallingwater. Discover
the haunts of the Freemasons in D.C. Catch the latest exhibit at MoMA.
Birdwatchers, flock to our overnight seashore excursions. Leave the details
to us.