CELEBRATE THE HOLIDAYS AT THE JAPANESE AMERICAN NATIONAL MUSEUM

The Japanese American National Museum celebrates the holiday season with two back-to-back Saturdays full of family fun. On Saturday, December 8, from 11AM to 4 PM, JANM presents its popular on-going series, Target Free Family Saturdays. Activities for the whole family include creating a fruit leather pouch, a colorful garland, an origami lantern, and a mini snow globe, plus kids of all ages can decorate holiday cookies and take a holiday picture in the Rocket Photo Booth. The family program also includes a performance at 2 PM of The Season of Giving by We Tell Stories. In the spirit of giving, JANM will also be collecting new, unwrapped gifts for the Union Rescue Mission, an organization dedicated to serving men, women, and children experiencing homelessness. Target Free Family Saturdays are free and open to the public.

The holiday celebration continues on Saturday, December 15 with more excitement for the entire family. Enjoy participating in a hands-on art workshop from 2 PM to 4 PM with artists Albert Reyes and Saelee Oh from JANM’s Giant Robot Biennale 3. A special holiday photo opportunity with Japanese American Santa is available from 11 AM to 2 PM, and a special book signing from noon to 2 PM with acclaimed author and Usagi Yojimbo artist, Stan Sakai (signing for books only). Events on Saturday, December 15 are free with Museum admission.

Throughout both weekends, the Museum Store will be open to complete your holiday gift shopping from 11 AM to 5 PM. The Store offers unique, one-of-kind products from ornaments to books to clothing and jewelry. For more information, visit the Museum Store or online at janmstore.com. Museum visitors can also view the current exhibitions, Giant Robot Biennale 3, on display through January 20, 2013 and our on-going exhibition, Common Ground: The Heart of Community.

For more detailed information and a current calendar of events, visit janm.org, or call 213.625.0414.

The Japanese American National Museum is dedicated to fostering greater understanding and appreciation for America’s ethnic and cultural diversity by preserving and telling the stories of Americans of Japanese ancestry. Since its incorporation in 1985, JANM has grown into an internationally recognized institution, presenting award-winning art and history exhibitions, groundbreaking traveling shows, educational public programs, innovative video documentaries and cutting-edge curriculum guides. JANM is one of only 15 institutions in Southern California that has received accreditation from the Association of American Museums and in 2010, received the prestigious National Medal from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), only the second California museum to be so recognized.

The Japanese American National Museum is located at 100 North Central Avenue in the historic Little Tokyo section of Los Angeles and is adjacent to the Little Tokyo Metro station. For more information, call 213.625.0414 or visit janm.org. Museum hours are Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday: 11 AM to 5 PM and Thursday 12 PM to 8 PM. Free admission after 5 PM on Thursdays and free all day every third Thursday of the month. Metered street parking and public parking lots are conveniently located near JANM for a nominal fee.