First Friday

First Friday
September 4th, 2026 - 5:00pm–7:00pm
Albany Institute of History & Art holds extended hours for the city of Albany's popular First Friday program. Enjoy free gallery admission from 5–7PM, live music, hands-on activities, and a pop-up bar.

September First Friday features a special performance by Pulso de Barro. Get a preview before the concert—watch past performances on the band's YouTube channel.

The name means "pulse of life" and that is precisely what this Kingston-based collective delivers: a ceremony-celebration rooted in Son Jarocho, the four-hundred-year-old music born at the collision of African Yoruba rhythms, Andalusian melody, and indigenous voices on the Gulf Coast of Veracruz. Led by María Puente Flores and Mateo Cano, Pulso de Barro plays jarana, requinto, leona, quijada, tarima, maracas, and marimba. Every fandango they play is both a concert and a commons: it is a space where people feel how music and dance can aid in the process of collective liberation.

The performance will take place in the museum's first floor atrium.

Create a watercolor landscape inspired by Inspired Landscapes: Women of the Hudson River School. Discover techniques for painting natural scenery and bring a piece of the Hudson Valley's artistic legacy to life. All supplies provided; open to all experience levels. Located in the Classroom.

Purchase food by El Rancho, inspired by Mexico Masks / Rituals: Photographs by Phyllis Galembo. Each plate El Rancho serves reflects their commitment to Oaxacan cuisine; their chef, a native of Puerto Escondido, brings time-honored family recipes to the table. Food and refreshments will be available for purchase on-site. Guests are welcome to buy snacks and drinks throughout the event.