For over twenty-one years, the Brooklyn Museum has hosted First Saturdays—monthly evenings of free programming welcoming visitors from central Brooklyn and beyond. Our visitors come to First Saturdays with a range of identities and experiences, and we are committed to preserving what makes the program so special: its inclusiveness, diversity, and intentionality as a space for community. Our team has been listening to your feedback and calls for us to reconsider the Museum’s relationship with the NYPD, particularly in programs where off-duty police have been hired to supplement our security staff. As part of our commitment, we will no longer contract police for extra security at First Saturdays. First Saturdays have long been a site of celebration and support of Black lives, Black liberation, and Black joy, as well as seeking specifically to amplify voices from the Black and LGBTQ+ communities in our borough. In changing our practices, we are committed to continuing public programs that are in harmony with our values, and we will continue to listen to you and learn from you.

NOTE: First Saturdays are on pause through the end of the year.