Museum of Ethnography
H-1146, Budapest, Dózsa György út 35.
Phone: +36 1 474 2100
Email: info@neprajz.hu
On January 17, 2026, the Museum of Ethnography will celebrate the world of blue and white with a full day of programs. The event, entitled White Objects, Blue Patterns – From Functionality to Artistry, is linked to the exhibitions Blueprint Patchwork and Everyday Luxuries, and guides visitors through the past and present of craftsmanship, pattern design, and object creation.
The program day unleashes and captures creative energies immediately after opening. In the creative workshops, participants can try out traditional blue dyeing techniques, learn about the world of colors that can be extracted from plants, or approach the question of originality and imitation with unusual materials and humor. These programs are for those who love to work with their hands, experiment, and discover new perspectives in the process.
Meanwhile, younger visitors and families can also enjoy opportunities for discovery in the museum's spaces: a fabulous concert leads them through the world of musical instruments.
The contemporary pop-up exhibition, which can be visited throughout the day, shows how blue dyeing becomes a personal story, an experimental material, or a critical idea through three different artistic approaches. The music programs and concerts provide a cheerful conclusion, giving space for shared attention and experiential presence. The White Objects, Blue Patterns program series invites visitors to make their museum visit not a one-time viewing, but an all-day exploration: with creation, play, conversation, and immersion, at their own pace.
The program day can be visited with a program ticket, which costs 2500 Ft. This ticket not only entitles you to view all exhibitions, but also includes participation in the programs. In other words, for the price of a temporary ticket, the Museum of Ethnography offers a whole day of experiences, during which all exhibitions can be visited.
Please note: All programmes and activities will be conducted in Hungarian, except for the English guided tours.
We reserve the right to alter the programme.
Please note that photos and videos may be taken during the event, and some live footage may be streamed. For details on how the Museum of Ethnography manages personal data, please see our Data Management Policy.
Participants use potatoes, carrots, and paint to create visual “fakes” that refer both to the phenomenon of global brand counterfeiting and to the iconic ingredients of Hungarian goulash. The workshop takes a playful yet reflective look at issues of originality, copying, and cultural identity. Led by visual artist Zsófi Pittmann, the workshop is based on creative participation, where both the use of materials and humor become tools for thinking. While printing can be enjoyed by all ages, carving is not recommended for children under 12. The number of places is limited, and registration is possible on site.
Cricket Music introduces children to the world of musical instruments through a fabulous story. Throughout the story, woodwind and brass instruments are played one after the other, followed by strings, keyboards, and finally percussion, until at the end of the concert all the instruments come together to form an orchestra. The program playfully shows how music is created together and what role each instrument plays in music.
The concert is performed by students of the János Galambos Music School, who approach the world of instrumental learning in an experiential way, with stories and music. Recommended age: 5 years and up.
The guided tour offers an introduction to the richness of Hungarian traditions and folk art through the museum’s collection exhibition. Instead of focusing on outstanding masterpieces, the tour highlights cultural heritage as it appears in furniture, costumes, and handcrafted objects. Visitors encounter Matyó embroidery, Székely attire, painted peasant furniture, and the diversity of folk art forms, while gaining insight into their social and cultural contexts. The tour is led by a museum guide of the Museum of Ethnography, whose professional background ensures an informed interpretation of everyday life, community customs, and the formation of Hungarian cultural identity. Meeting point: Central information desk (-2 level)
The workshop offers insight into the world of traditional blue dyeing with the cooperation of the Kovács Blue Dyeing Mobile Workshop. Participants can learn about original, centuries-old printing blocks and pattern paste made according to a family recipe, as well as observe the traditional hot dyeing technique. During the program, white canvas will be transformed into fabric rich in shades of blue and decorated with folk art motifs, while participants create their own items for everyday use. The workshop will be led by master blue dyers Mária Panákné Kovács and Annamária Ruzicska-Panák. Space is limited, and registration is available on site.
The workshop introduces participants to the world of natural dyes extracted from plants. The program covers wild, cultivated, and exotic dye plants, as well as methods for selecting raw materials, preparation, and dyeing. In the practical part, each participant will paint a unique cotton canvas bag using the color-spotting steaming technique, which can later be used as a functional item. The workshop will be led by textile artist Sára Hajgató. Recommended age: 12 and up. Space is limited, and registration is available on site.
The workshop offers insight into the world of traditional blue dyeing with the cooperation of the Kovács Blue Dyeing Mobile Workshop. Participants can learn about original, centuries-old printing blocks and pattern paste made according to a family recipe, as well as observe the traditional hot dyeing technique. During the program, white canvas will be transformed into fabric rich in shades of blue and decorated with folk art motifs, while participants create their own items for everyday use. The workshop will be led by master blue dyers Mária Panákné Kovács and Annamária Ruzicska-Panák.
Space is limited, and registration is available on site.
The workshop transfers motifs from the Everyday Luxuries exhibition from ceramics to textiles. Participants can use a hand stencil technique to create a canvas bag with a unique pattern and, if they wish, decorate their own light-colored cotton T-shirt. The technique is easy to learn for elementary school-aged children, and the exhibition's objects appear in contemporary everyday items during the creative process. The program is based on the museum education practices of the Museum of Ethnography; one canvas bag (1 per person) will be provided by the museum. The number of places for the program is limited, and registration is possible on site.
HolddalaNap band
The band, which performs folk music, musical adaptations of poems, original songs, and concert theater performances, is a regular guest at major venues and festivals in Hungary, from MűPá to the Valley of Arts, and has toured in 13 countries. Its members are distinguished musicians and teachers at our music universities, led by Anna Gulyás, music teacher at the Hungarian House of Music.
Musicians:
Guszti Balogh - guitar, vocals
Lídia Draskóczy - violin
Anikó Barna - zither, koboz
Anna Gulyás - vocals
Gergely Tar - percussion
Árpád Vajdovich - double bass
The contemporary exhibition in the foyer of the Blueprint Patchwork exhibition presents the works of three artists who reinterpret the tradition of blue dyeing from different perspectives. Erzsébet Huszár approaches the traditional technique by drawing on personal stories, recycled linen and cyanotype. Rozália Tóvaj takes the blue dye pattern collection further with contemporary technologies, 3D printing, and experimental use of materials. Erzsébet Szilágyi's works examine blue dyeing as both a community force and a restrictive system, with references to art history and critical gestures.