Release Date: November 1, 2010
Ice Rink in National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden Opens for 12th Season On November 13, Weather Permitting; A Wide Range Of Skating Classes is Designed for All Ages; Free Hot Chocolate on Opening Weekend, November 13–14
Aerial view of the National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden Ice Rink
Photo by Rob Shelley © 2001 Board of Trustees, National Gallery of Art
Washington, DC—The National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden's 2010–2011 ice-skating season will begin on Saturday, November 13, and continue through mid-March, weather permitting. A wide variety of skating classes will be offered for all ages. Located on the National Mall between 7th and 9th Streets along Constitution Avenue NW, the ice rink is a favorite destination, attracting thousands of visitors to skate in the nation's capital. The ice rink is managed by Guest Services, Inc.
Skating in the Sculpture Garden, surrounded by the grand architecture of national museums and monuments, is enhanced by views of splendid large-scale sculpture by such modern and contemporary artists as Louise Bourgeois, Alexander Calder, Roy Lichtenstein, Roxy Paine, and others from the Gallery's renowned collection.
To celebrate the reopening, visitors who purchase time on the ice either November 13 or 14 will receive a coupon for a complimentary cup of hot chocolate.
Ice-Skating Rink Hours and Fees
The hours for the skating rink are as follows:
Monday through Thursday- 10:00
a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Friday and Saturday- 10:00
a.m. to 11:00 p.m.
Sunday- 11:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
During the evening, when the Gallery and Sculpture Garden are closed to the public, access to the ice-skating rink is restricted to the entrances at Constitution Avenue and Madison Drive near 9th Street.
The skating fees for a two-hour session (beginning on the hour) are as follows:
$7.00 for adults
$6.00 for skaters age 50 and over, children age 12 and under,
or students with a valid school ID
Please call the ice rink office at (202) 216-9397 for rates and additional information. The Gallery and Sculpture Garden are closed on December 25 and January 1.
The skate rental fee is $3.00 (ID required as a deposit), and lockers are available for $.50 ($5.00 deposit required). Season tickets are available for $195. For general information and announcements about openings and closings, or to make reservations for lessons, call (202) 216-9397 or visit Guest Services' website www.pavilioncafe.com. More details are available at http://www.nga.gov/ginfo/skating.shtm.
Skating Lessons and Registration
This year Guest Services is offering skating lessons for all ages through the "Skate with U.S." program designed by the U.S. Figure Skating Association. "Snowplow Sam: Mom/Dad & Me" classes introduce children as young as two to skating while holding a parent's hand. Classes are also offered for children with more skating experience who no longer need the assistance of an adult, are comfortable on the ice, and are ready to learn to skate backward and to glide on one foot.
Teens and adults have many opportunities to hone their skating skills with "Adult Basic" group lessons, organized according to four levels of experience. For those inspired by the monuments and sculptures surrounding the rink, an "Adult Dance" class or the artistry performance class, "Ice Theater," provide a wonderful outlet for skaters' creative energies. For more athletic guests, including children and adults, the Sculpture Garden Skating School will offer "Ice Hockey Skills" and "Adult Ice Hockey."
Skaters looking for more one-on-one attention may make an appointment for a private lesson.
Registration for group classes will be held on November 11, 2010, December 19, 2010, and February 3, 2011, from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the entrance of the Pavilion Café. To register in advance or arrange for a private lesson, please e-mail ngaicerink@guestservices.com.
Sculpture Garden and Ice Rink
The skating surface, which measures approximately 135 feet long and 90 feet wide, can accommodate more than 200 skaters at a time. A state-of-the-art music system provides uniform sound to skaters, diners, and spectators without distracting other visitors to the Sculpture Garden. At night, lights encircling the rink illuminate the ice, contributing to the festive atmosphere and the skating experience. Sixteen banners that surround the ice-skating rink represent a cross section of the Gallery's spectacular portrait collection, on display in the East and West Buildings.
Designed to offer year-round enjoyment to the public in one of the preeminent locations on the National Mall, the 6.1-acre National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden opened on May 23, 1999. The richly landscaped setting provides a distinctive backdrop for 17 works of modern and contemporary sculpture by internationally famous artists. Visitors may enjoy spacious seating and walking areas amid the native American canopy and flowering trees, shrubs, ground covers, and perennials. A majestic fountain in the summer, which serves as the ice rink in winter, is at the center of the Garden, giving visitors a chance to rest and reflect on the works on view. Also in the summer the Garden is the setting for popular Friday evening "Jazz in the Garden" concerts.
The National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden was given to the nation by The Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation.
The Sculpture Garden is located on the National Mall between 7th and 9th Streets along Constitution Avenue NW, in the block adjacent to the West Building of the Gallery. There are six public entrances to the Sculpture Garden, from four corners and at two sides; and the area is accessible to visitors with disabilities. Admission is free. More information is available at www.nga.gov/exhibitions/sculptureinfo.shtm.
Groups and Tours at the Sculpture Garden and in the Gallery
To arrange a special guided tour of the Gallery's permanent collection for 20 or more adults before or after a visit to the ice rink during regular Gallery hours, call (202) 842-6247 at least three weeks (or up to four months) in advance. Information about other Gallery programs, exhibitions, restaurants, and Shops, is available at (202) 737-4215 or www.nga.gov.
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