What we’re about
Do you enjoy live music? Artmaking and exhibitions? Or perhaps sips and snacks? Try something fun and new at our adult-friendly meetups! Our programs—from intimate concerts to art classes and everything in between—are a great mid-week unwind for you and your friends! Our meetups are either complimentary or modestly priced, which makes us a fantastic venue to meet new people and have a great time! Discounts are available for members of the World Chess Hall of Fame.
Upcoming events (4+)
See all- Opening Reception of Charles Houska: Master of PlayWorld Chess Hall of Fame, Saint Louis, MO
You're invited to the opening reception of Charles Houska: Master of Play on Thursday, May 1, 2025, from 5 to 8 p.m. Meet the artist, peruse the immersive two-floor exhibition, and enjoy appetizers and fishbowl cocktails by Brennan's. Bring your young artists to our Play and Create Space, complete with poster-sized coloring pages of Houska's work, face painting by Circus Kaput, and open, all-level chess play with a grandmaster! Complimentary admission and valet.
Charles Houska: Master of Play is a retrospective of the artist’s work over his impressive 25+ year career in Saint Louis and beyond, including brand-new chess-themed commissions and an impressive 3-D printed chess set. Showcased inside an incredibly vibrant and immersive environment filled with his iconic floral, animal, and portrait motifs, this exhibition boasts more than 75 of Houska’s artworks. The show also explores Houska’s community projects and corporate collaborations with St. Louis Children’s Hospital, Herman Miller HQ, Absolut Vodka, and more.
RSVPs are requested. Please email events@worldchesshof.org for more information or to register.
- WCHOF Crafts & Cocktails: Pop Art Collage WorkshopNeeds location
Get creative at our Pop Art collage workshop! Taking inspiration from our exhibition, Charles Houska: Master of Play, cut, arrange, and paste your artwork using magazines and other provided materials. This is a great way to meet new friends while enjoying complimentary refreshments from our restaurant neighbor, Brennan's.
*20% discount for WCHOF members, students, seniors, and military personnel
- WCHOF Programming: Wood Burning Workshop with Sophie BinderWorld Chess Hall of Fame, St. Louis, MO
Explore your creativity in this wood-burning workshop with Saint Louis artist Sophie Binder! Inspired by Sophie's etched chess board in Paws and Pawns: Exploring Animal Chess Sets, participants will learn how to burn a custom design on an unfinished wooden surface you get to take home! Supplies and refreshments will be provided.
Sophie Binder is a freelance designer native of France. She has worked as a designer in France, Italy, and the United States for over 30 years, including projects worldwide. Sophie’s work has also brought her close to conservation, not-for-profit organizations, and the outdoor industry. She self-published a book about her adventure in 2013, The World, Two Wheels and a Sketchbook, and has done illustrations for four other books for French publisher PRIVAT.
*20% discount for WCHOF members, students, seniors, and military personnel
