Images courtesy Rubin Museum of Himalayan Art

Celebrate Tibetan Buddhist art and culture with the Rubin Museum of Himalayan Art this summer! As part of West Side Fest, a free multisite celebration of arts and culture across Manhattan’s West Side, The Rubin invites visitors to enjoy special programs at two locations on July 11 and 12. The museum is also marking the one-year anniversary of the Tibetan Buddhist Shrine Room at the Brooklyn Museum, where this beloved installation continues to offer a unique glimpse into the traditions, artistry, and spiritual practices of a Tibetan Buddhist household shrine. Learn more below!

WEST SIDE FEST 2026

Lecture and Meditation on the High Line
Saturday, July 11, 2:30–3:30pm
The High Line at 30th Street and 10th Avenue

Join a free lecture and guided meditation, presented in partnership with the High Line. The topic of this lecture is Buddhism Along the Silk Road and will be followed by a guided meditation led by Jessica Angima.

To learn more and register in advance, click here.

A Myriad of Mandalas Family Art Workshop
Sunday, July 12, 11:00 AM–3:00pm
The Play Ground, Little Island

Inspired by mandalas in the Rubin’s collection, create your own mandala using a variety of materials and techniques while reflecting on the spectrum of human emotions. This art workshop is designed to be a memorable intergenerational experience for adults and children alike and is suitable for children aged three and older with accompanying adults.

To learn more, click here.

One-Year Anniversary of the Shrine Room in Brooklyn

One year ago, the Rubin Museum Tibetan Buddhist Shrine Room found a temporary new home at the Brooklyn Museum. First introduced in 2013, the Shrine Room has long been one of their most beloved offerings, displaying over 100 artworks and ritual objects arranged to represent a Tibetan Buddhist household shrine. The Shrine Room is located on the second floor in the Arts of Asia galleries, where it will remain through 2031.

The contents of a home shrine depend on which Tibetan Buddhist tradition the family follows. The Rubin’s current Shrine Room installation at the Brooklyn Museum follows the Geluk Tibetan Buddhist tradition and includes scroll paintings (thangkas), sculptures, furniture, ritual implements, and musical instruments that are significant in the tradition, offering visitors the opportunity to experience Tibetan religious art in its cultural context.

To learn more, click here.