Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania—Carnegie Museums of Art and Natural History celebrate the holidays with a variety of special programs including the presepio, holiday trees, a family sing-along, and holiday camps. Following is a complete list of events; all activities are included in the price of admission, unless otherwise indicated. Details for all holiday events can be found at www.carnegiemnh.org/holidays.

Activities at Carnegie Museum of Art

During the holiday season, Carnegie Museum of Art decks the Hall of Architecture with delightful seasonal displays. The Neapolitan presepio has enchanted generations of visitors, while and towering holiday trees adorned with handmade ornaments create a festive atmosphere. Daily tours of the presepio are available. Plus, don’t miss a festive holiday sing-along with award-winning children’s musician, Frank Cappelli.

Neapolitan presepio

December 3, 2010–January 6, 2011
Hall of Architecture

A visit to Carnegie Museum of Art’s Neapolitan presepio, one of the finest Nativity scenes of its kind, has been a Pittsburgh holiday tradition since 1957. Handcrafted by artisans between 1700 and 1830, the presepio features lifelike figures and colorful details that re-create the Nativity within a vibrant panorama of 18th-century Italian village life. More than 100 superbly modeled human and angelic figures, along with animals, accessories, and architectural elements, cover a 250-square-foot area and create a memorable depiction of the Nativity as seen through the eyes of Neapolitan artisans and collectors.

Guided Tours of the Neapolitan presepio

December 3, 2010–January 6, 2011
Tuesday–Sundays, noon–12:30 p.m.

Holiday Tree Display: Inspired by the Muses

December 3, 2010–January 6, 2011
Hall of Architecture

Five 20-foot Colorado spruce trees line the Hall of Architecture, each adorned with ornaments that celebrate the muses that inspire art, culture, and science.

Holiday Tree Preview Party

Thursday, December 2, 2010
5:30–8 p.m.
Hall of Architecture
$60 per person
Reservations, contact Jenny Tabrum at 412.622.3325 or tabrumj@carnegiemuseums.org.

The holiday tree display, sponsored by the Women’s Committee of Carnegie Museum of Art, opens each year with a preview party featuring cocktails and hors d’oeuvres. This year’s theme, Inspired by the Muses, honors the muses that inspire art, culture, and science.

Holiday Happy Hour

Thursday, December 9, 2010
5:30–9 p.m.
CMA Lobby

$18 Member pre-registration; online pre-registration for Members available soon
$22 at the door

Celebrate the season in a new way with Happy Hour at Carnegie Museums of Art and Natural History! Visit the galleries. Mix and mingle, and enjoy cocktails and light hors d’oeuvres while DJ J. Malls puts a new spin on traditional holiday music. Funky holiday sweaters not required.

Family Holiday Sing-Along

Saturday, December 11, 2010
2–4 p.m.
Hall of Architecture

Free with museum admission

Join singer/songwriter Frank Cappelli for an afternoon at the museums, featuring a lively and festive sing-along of favorite seasonal tunes. Have fun with the family in the Hall of Architecture, where the Holiday Trees and the famous Neapolitan presepio are on view. Frank Cappelli is perhaps best known for his television show Cappelli & Co. which aired on Nickelodeon. He is an Emmy-award winning artist and father with a passion for bringing joy to families through music.

Activities at Carnegie Museum of Natural History

There is no better place to celebrate the holidays than Carnegie Museum of Natural History. Explore the natural world and how it changes to adapt to the winter season through interactive demonstrations and activities. All programs encourage visitors of all ages to investigate how plants, animals, and humans live during the cold weather months.

Family Activities

Winter Wonderland

Saturday, December 4, 11, and 18
Noon–4 p.m.
Check the TODAY sheet for location.

Join us in the exhibition halls for a variety of family-friendly activities that explore nature’s amazing adaptations for winter survival. Children under age 16 must be accompanied by an adult.

Winter in the Discovery Room

December 4, 2010–January 8, 2011
Tuesday–Friday, 1–3 p.m.
Saturday, 10 a.m.–4 p.m.
Sunday, 1–4 p.m.

Experience the wonder of winter! Learn about holiday greenery by seeing and smelling live spruce, pine, and other festive plants. Touch a caribou’s winter white fur, investigate animals on the Discovery Room tree, listen to the calls of wild birds, and more.

Holiday Camps: Art and Natural History

Tuesday, December 28, 2010
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
9 a.m.–3 p.m.

Single day (Art camps only): $35 Members; $40 Non-Members
Two days: $70 Members; $80 Non-Members

Experience the fun and excitement of summer camp in December! Sign up for a single day or both days of activities. The museum campus is a field for discovery and creativity where kids investigate science and make art. Pre-care and post-care available. Registration must be made no later than a week before the camp. Contact Program Registration at 412.622.3288 or programregistration@carnegiemuseums.org. For a complete listing of camps, please visit www.carnegiemnh.org/holidays.

Holiday Shopping

The stores at Carnegie Museum of Art and Carnegie Museum of Natural History offer unique, imaginative, and affordable gifts—many of them exclusive to the museums. The stores are open during museum hours. Shoppers can also purchase items online at www.carnegieartstore.com and www.naturalhistorystore.com.

Shopping and Dining Discounts

Carnegie Café diners receive a 20% discount on purchases made in the Museum of Art and Museum of Natural History stores. Museum store shoppers get a coupon for 10% off one meal in the Carnegie Café. This promotion runs November 20–December 24, 2010, and may not be combined with other discounts. (Coupons are good only for date of purchase. Maximum discount in stores is $10 off of a $100 purchase, and maximum discount in Carnegie Café is $5 off of a $50 purchase.)

Restaurants

Carnegie Café, quality self-serve dining, Tuesdays–Saturdays, 10:30 a.m.–3:30 p.m.
Fossil Fuels Refreshments, family-friendly food, Tuesdays–Saturdays, 10 a.m.–4 p.m., Sundays, noon–4 p.m.
Brown Bag Lunchroom/Vending area, daily during museum hours

Changes in hours

This holiday season, Carnegie Museum of Art and Carnegie Museum of Natural History will observe the following changes in hours:

Closed
Thanksgiving Day (Thursday, November 25), Christmas Day (Saturday, December 25), and New Year’s Day (Saturday, January 1)

Carnegie Museum of Art

Located at 4400 Forbes Avenue in the Oakland section of Pittsburgh, Carnegie Museum of Art was founded by industrialist and philanthropist Andrew Carnegie in 1895. One of the four Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh, it is nationally and internationally recognized for its distinguished collection of American and European works from the 16th century to the present. The Heinz Architectural Center, part of Carnegie Museum of Art, is dedicated to enhancing understanding of the physical environment through its exhibitions, collections, and public programs. For more information about Carnegie Museum of Art, call 412.622.3131 or visit our web site at www.cmoa.org.

Contact:

Jonathan Gaugler
412.688.8690
gauglerj@carnegiemuseums.org