PECO Free First Sunday Family Day: Freedom Rain Speaks
Sunday, May 4, 10am – 5pm
See special performances of Freedom Rain Speaks by the AniMalayaWorks collective.
Free; capacity is limited, and registration is required.
About the Event
It’s the first Sunday of the month, which means free admission at the Barnes. Enjoy fun art activities, performances, Spanish-learning storytimes, and free access to the collection and Cecily Brown: Themes and Variations.
Today’s event features special performances of Freedom Rain Speaks, a collaboration between Malaya Ulan, the youth poet laureate of Philadelphia, and her mother Ani Gavino, a dancer and multidisciplinary artist. Malaya and Ani’s Filipino-centered arts collective, AniMalayaWorks, promises an unforgettable day of poetry, music, and movement for the whole family.
Registration opens Thursday, May 1, at 10am.
What’s On
10am – 4pm
Art Activities
Join us in Annenberg Court all day for art-making activities. Plus, explore the Barnes collection with our fun scavenger hunt and claim your prize! Perfect for the whole family—ages 2 and up.
10:30 – 11am & 11:15 – 11:45am
Storytime: Canticuentos with Ana Atach
Canticuentos are fun Spanish-language storytime and sing-along sessions. Local storyteller Ana Atach teaches new words, like animals and colors, through movement, song, and stories. Learn to appreciate the beauty of Spanish language and cultures. Perfect for the whole family—ages 2 and up—and those with and without Spanish language knowledge.
1pm & 2:30pm
Performances: Freedom Rain Speaks by AniMalayaWorks
Malaya Ulan is a 16-year-old “artivist” and the youth poet laureate of Philadelphia. Frequently collaborating with her mother, Ani Gavino, as part of the AniMalayaWorks collective, Malaya weaves poetry, movement, and history into performances that have captivated audiences at the Asian Arts Initiative, the Bronx Academy of Arts and Dance, Judson Memorial Church, and more. Returning to the Barnes for the first time since 2023, AniMalayaWorks presents their new poetry-in-motion performance Freedom Rain Speaks.
Free First Sunday Family Days at the Barnes
PECO Free First Sunday Family Day events offer no-cost admission to the collection galleries as well as an array of family-friendly activities, including arts and crafts, musical performances, and interactive workshops.
Go Further
First Friday: V. Shayne Frederick
The Philly jazz artist performs music from his upcoming record, Treasures.
PECO Free First Sunday Family Day: Art of Math
See creative displays by Philadelphia students for our 2025 Art of Math Challenge. Plus, enjoy family-friendly activities and free access to our galleries.
Young Professionals Night: Spring Fling
After-hours art, style, and music await Philadelphia’s young leaders and Barnes Contemporaries members.