Carnegie Museum of Art brings back free Inside Out programming

The Carnegie Museum of Art will once again celebrate summer with its third season of free Inside Out programming.

Kicking off June 15, Inside Out will highlight Pittsburgh’s cultural landscape with performances, workshops, gatherings, DJs, art activities, food trucks and local drinks.

The series will include nightlife-focused Thursday evenings and family friendly Saturday afternoons. Hours will be 5 to 9 p.m. Thursdays and noon to 5 p.m. Saturdays through Aug. 19 in the Oakland museum’s outdoor Art Sculpture Court.

Inside Out will conclude Aug. 19 with a special 21-and-older, dubstep discotheque party.

“One of the strongest things about Inside Out — and what people really like and respond to — is to feel how much our spaces are made by the people who gather there,” said Dana Bishop-Root, the museum’s director of education and public programs. “It’s like everyone who comes to the event is part of making the event happen.

“That’s why people feel really connected to Inside Out — it’s not a single community or idea, it’s a place to connect and develop culture together.”

Opening night will be presented by Belong. Become. Be., a regional talent marketing initiative of the Allegheny Conference on Community Development.

“We’ll have a really, really fun mash-up of the DJs that will be here throughout the summer,” Bishop-Root said. “We’re pairing DJs with each other to play music back and forth, mixing styles and genres of music.

“It’s really playful and gives you a sample of what to expect throughout the summer.”

Museum admission also will be free that evening from 5 to 8 p.m.

Inspired by joy

Saturday afternoons will focus on performances and art-making activities. Food will be available from food trucks including Alberta’s Pizza, El Rincon Oaxaqueño, Cilantro & Ajo and others.

New this year is a Summer Exhibitions Celebration on July 20, in conjunction with the featured exhibitions, “Joan Brown,” “What Brings Us Here?” and “Imprinting in Their Time: Japanese Printmakers, 1912–2022.”

“Instead of having an opening for each one, we’re having a kind of giant museum celebration,” Bishop-Root said.

Visitors will enjoy free museum admission, along with performances and activities both inside and outside.

The evening will include jazz by Roger Humphries and The RH Factor, a synthesizer performance by Bri Dominique responding to the exhibitions, and a DJ set.

In addition to providing new and different ways to experience the museum, Bishop-Root said, Inside Out demonstrates “our commitment to work with local partners, share resources, share our public and introduce each other to new things.”

On June 24, Inside Out includes a first-time collaboration with the Chamber Orchestra of Pittsburgh. On July 1, programming includes a preview of the signature “House Party” fundraiser set for July 22 at Kelly Strayhorn Theater.

“The overarching theme of Inside Out is the ways in which all of us make the museum, how a museum is a relationship between people in the community, artists in the community, artists around the world, artwork on our walls and how we engage with it,” Bishop-Root said.

“We’re using Inside Out as a way to activate our imaginations about what museums can be in our communities.”

The full summer event schedule can be found at carnegieart.org.