Release Date: September 30, 2005

Popular National Gallery of Art
Ice-Skating Rink Opens Mid-November
for Seventh Consecutive Year

Washington, DC—The ice-skating rink at the National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden will open for the seventh consecutive year in mid-November and remain open through mid-March, weather permitting. The ice rink has become a major affordable and recreational destination in Washington, attracting more than 40,000 visitors last season. Its sleek, modern design creates open vistas throughout the parklike setting and offers skaters the added experience of viewing intriguing works of 20th-century sculpture by internationally renowned artists.

A state-of-the-art music system with 24 speakers installed around the rink provides uniform sound to skaters without distracting other visitors to the Sculpture Garden. Lights encircling the rink illuminate the ice, enhancing the skating experience and contributing to the festive atmosphere.

Skating Rink Hours and Fees

The hours for the ice rink are Monday through Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. and Sunday from 11:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Admission for a two-hour session (beginning on the hour) is $7.00 for adults and $6.00 for seniors (age 50 and over), children (age 12 and under), and students with ID. The skate rental fee is $3.00 (ID required as a deposit). The locker rental fee is $.50 ($5.00 deposit required). Discounts on admission and fees are available for groups of ten or more. For general information, opening announcements, or to arrange a group visit, call (202) 289-3360. Season tickets are available for $195.00.

Pavilion Café

The Pavilion Café offers a panoramic view of the garden and ice rink and serves freshly made wraps, sandwiches, gourmet pizzas, and salads. Coffee, tea, hot chocolate, wine, and beer are also available. Café hours during the skating season are Monday through Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. and Sunday from 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Visitors can access the skating rink and the Pavilion Café at 7th Street and Constitution Avenue NW; 9th Street and Constitution Avenue NW; 7th Street and Madison Drive, NW; or 9th Street and Madison Drive, NW. For current information, call (202) 289-3360.

Please note: During the evening, when the National Gallery and Sculpture Garden are closed to the public, access to the rink and Pavilion Café is restricted to the Constitution Avenue and Madison Drive entrances at 9th Street.

General Information

The National Gallery of Art and its Sculpture Garden are at all times free to the public. They are located on the National Mall between 3rd and 9th Streets at Constitution Avenue NW, and are open Monday through Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Sunday from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. The Gallery is closed on December 25 and January 1. For information call (202) 737-4215 or the Telecommunications Device for the Deaf (TDD) at (202) 842-6176, or visit the Gallery's Web site at www.nga.gov.

Visitors will be asked to present all carried items for inspection upon entering the East and West Buildings. Checkrooms are free of charge and located at each entrance. Luggage and other oversized bags must be presented at the 4th Street entrances to the East or West Building to permit x-ray screening and must be deposited in the checkrooms at those entrances. For the safety of visitors and the works of art, nothing may be carried into the Gallery on a visitor's back. Any bag or other items that cannot be carried reasonably and safely in some other manner must be left in the checkrooms. Items larger than 17 x 26 inches cannot be accepted by the Gallery or its checkrooms.

For additional press information please call or send inquiries to:

Press Office
National Gallery of Art
2000B South Club Drive
Landover, MD 20785
phone: (202) 842-6353 e-mail: pressinfo@nga.gov

Deborah Ziska
Chief of Press and Public Information
(202) 842-6353
ds-ziska@nga.gov

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Popular National Gallery of Art Ice-Skating Rink Opens Mid-November for Seventh Consecutive Year

Popular National Gallery of Art
Ice-Skating Rink Opens Mid-November
for Seventh Consecutive Year