Programs

Wednesday, January 14

Free, drop-in | Noon

Join Sima Farage for yoga, mindful movement, and meditation at the museum. All bodies are welcome, and no experience is necessary. Space is limited to 20 participants per class. Borrow a yoga mat or bring your own! This program is presented through a partnership with Penn State Health Promotion & Wellness. For more information about student wellness programs, click here. 

Wednesday, January 14

3 to 5 p.m.

Join us in the galleries during designated Sensory–Friendly Hours for a more relaxed and comfortable visit. During these times, we adjust the environment by dimming gallery lighting and turning off audio on gallery tablets when no tours are scheduled. While all visitors are welcome, these sessions are especially appropriate for individuals with sensory sensitivities, for neurodivergent visitors, disabled visitors, or anyone who prefers a calmer museum experience. 

Wednesday, January 21

Free, drop-in | Noon

Join Sima Farage for yoga, mindful movement, and meditation at the museum. All bodies are welcome, and no experience is necessary. Space is limited to 20 participants per class. Borrow a yoga mat or bring your own! This program is presented through a partnership with Penn State Health Promotion & Wellness. For more information about student wellness programs, click here. 

Thursday, January 22

Free, drop-in | 5:30–7:30 p.m.

Mimi Barash Coppersmith Studio Classroom

Draw repeated patterns to build complex designs around a circular path and enjoy the meditative and introspective process. A powerful symbol of unity, wholeness, and the cycles of life, the circle is also a foundational element of art. Hosted by Erin E. Carter, EdD, ATR-BC, Assistant Teaching Professor of Creative Arts Therapies, and Erin Bolger Welsh, Art Educator, these sessions offer art-based creative activities designed to encourage relaxation, connection with others, and rejuvenation of spirit. Generous support for this program provided by Art Bridges.

Friday, January 23

12:30 p.m.

Mimi Barash Coppersmith Studio Classroom

Join author, artist, and Penn State professor emerita Micaela Amateau Amato in conversation with Sarah Rich, associate professor of art history. Amato’s latest publication, Silver Stories, invites readers into a lyrical exploration of memory, injustice, love, trauma, and the mystical power of voice. Weaving together autobiography, political reckoning, spiritual reflection, and visual art, the stories unfold in layers and are richly illustrated with Amato’s visual art including cast glass sculptures, mixed-media portraits, archival photographic montages, and abstract paintings. 

Sunday, January 25

2 p.m. 

Start in the Dr. Keiko Miwa Ross Lobby

Drop in and discover the Palmer’s world-class collections and exhibitions with a friendly and knowledgeable museum guide. Each tour explores a theme, lasts about one hour, and includes close-looking through discussion and experiential learning opportunities. Sign language interpretation for drop-in tours is offered upon request. Interpretation services must be requested in advance and are subject to interpreter availability. Please contact Bronwyn Flemming at bmf5778@psu.edu. 

Sunday, January 25

3 to 5 p.m.

Join us in the galleries during designated Sensory–Friendly Hours for a more relaxed and comfortable visit. During these times, we adjust the environment by dimming gallery lighting and turning off audio on gallery tablets when no tours are scheduled. While all visitors are welcome, these sessions are especially appropriate for individuals with sensory sensitivities, for neurodivergent visitors, disabled visitors, or anyone who prefers a calmer museum experience. 

Wednesday, January 28

Free, drop-in | Noon

Join Sima Farage for yoga, mindful movement, and meditation at the museum. All bodies are welcome, and no experience is necessary. Space is limited to 20 participants per class. Borrow a yoga mat or bring your own! This program is presented through a partnership with Penn State Health Promotion & Wellness. For more information about student wellness programs, click here. 

Wednesday, January 28

2–3 p.m.

Early learning at the Palmer Museum of Art offers an adventure into exploring art and the senses! This spring, preschool children and their caregivers will discover fascinating works of art, listen to engaging stories, and create hands-on crafts inspired by the museum’s collection. This free program encourages curiosity, imagination, and early appreciation of the arts in a friendly, supportive environment. Through sensory-rich experiences, young learners will strengthen their connection to art while expressing themselves creatively. Designed for preschool children ages 3–5 who have not yet started kindergarten, accompanied by an adult caregiver. Spaces are limited, so please register in advance. 

Thursday, January 29

5–7:30 p.m.

Object Study Room

Join us for a rare opportunity to explore objects from our handling collection that are not currently on view. Get close, feel the textures, notice the details, and discover the stories these objects tell when they’re experienced through touch. Staff will be on hand to guide you as you hold, examine, and ask questions. Come curious! 

Friday, January 30

Free, drop-in | 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Mimi Barash Coppersmith Studio Classroom

Join the Arboretum at Penn State and the Palmer Museum of Art to discover the craft of artful repair! Millions of tons of textile waste is incinerated or buried every year. Mending your favorite holey jeans or a ripped shirt is a sustainable and beautiful alternative to throwing them away. Hand-stitching skills are helpful but not required. Bring your items to repair and drop in to stitch; sewing notions will be provided. Then extend your fashion focus with a stroll through the Palmer’s delightful exhibition Who Wears the Pants?! Fashion History One Leg at a Time. 

Monday, February 2

The Palmer is recruiting Penn State graduate students and upper-level undergraduates to serve as Summer 2026 interns. Students work 15–20 hours per week during the summer session, contributing to research, interpretation, exhibition planning, project management, and collections care in addition to completing regular department assignments. Summer internships are funded by the Art Bridges Foundation, Silver Trout Curatorial Graduate Internship Program, the Annie Gooding Sykes Internship, and the Pincus Family Foundation Endowment for Student Education. Check back for application links!

Wednesday, February 4

Free, drop-in | Noon

Join Sima Farage for yoga, mindful movement, and meditation at the museum. All bodies are welcome, and no experience is necessary. Space is limited to 20 participants per class. Borrow a yoga mat or bring your own! This program is presented through a partnership with Penn State Health Promotion & Wellness. For more information about student wellness programs, click here. 

Thursday, February 5

5:30 p.m. 

Greider Family Gallery

Enjoy an in-depth gallery conversation with Patrick McGrady, Charles V. Hallman Senior Curator, to get to know new works to the permanent collection on view in special exhibition Expanding the Collection: Recent Acquisitions.

Sunday, February 8

3 to 5 p.m.

Join us in the galleries during designated Sensory–Friendly Hours for a more relaxed and comfortable visit. During these times, we adjust the environment by dimming gallery lighting and turning off audio on gallery tablets when no tours are scheduled. While all visitors are welcome, these sessions are especially appropriate for individuals with sensory sensitivities, for neurodivergent visitors, disabled visitors, or anyone who prefers a calmer museum experience. 

Wednesday, February 11

Free, drop-in | Noon

Join Sima Farage for yoga, mindful movement, and meditation at the museum. All bodies are welcome, and no experience is necessary. Space is limited to 20 participants per class. Borrow a yoga mat or bring your own! This program is presented through a partnership with Penn State Health Promotion & Wellness. For more information about student wellness programs, click here. 

Thursday, February 12

2–3 p.m.

Galleries and Mimi Barash Coppersmith Studio Classroom

Early learning at the Palmer Museum of Art offers an adventure into exploring art and the senses! This spring, preschool children and their caregivers will discover fascinating works of art, listen to engaging stories, and create hands-on crafts inspired by the museum’s collection. This free program encourages curiosity, imagination, and early appreciation of the arts in a friendly, supportive environment. Through sensory-rich experiences, young learners will strengthen their connection to art while expressing themselves creatively. Designed for preschool children ages 3–5 who have not yet started kindergarten, accompanied by an adult caregiver. Spaces are limited, so please register in advance. 

Thursday, February 12

5:30 p.m. 

Michael J. and Aimee Rusinko Kakos and Jason D. Kogan Galleries

Enjoy an in-depth gallery conversation with Amanda Hellman, Palmer director and specialist in African art, about new special exhibition Insistent Presence: Contemporary African Art from the Chazen Collection.

Saturday, February 14

Noon to 4 p.m. (Gallery talk at noon)

Event Space, Galleries, Mimi Barash Coppersmith Studio Classroom

The Arboretum at Penn State and the Palmer Museum of Art invite you to celebrate Valentine’s Day with a creative and sensory-rich afternoon entirely hosted inside the Palmer. Enjoy a variety of experiences throughout the day, including a free drop-in gallery tour at noon to explore art through the five senses and a free make-and-take Valentine craft available throughout the afternoon. A paid, sign-up-required guided chocolate tasting experience will also take place starting at 1 p.m. in the Palmer Event Space. Come and enjoy an afternoon of art, flavor, and creativity in a unique Valentine’s celebration. Space is limited for the chocolate tasting; register and pay here.

Sunday, February 15

2 p.m. 

Start in the Dr. Keiko Miwa Ross Lobby

Drop in and discover the Palmer’s world-class collections and exhibitions with a friendly and knowledgeable museum guide. ASL interpretation by Gary Thomas.

Wednesday, February 18

Free, drop-in | Noon

Join Sima Farage for yoga, mindful movement, and meditation at the museum. All bodies are welcome, and no experience is necessary. Space is limited to 20 participants per class. Borrow a yoga mat or bring your own! This program is presented through a partnership with Penn State Health Promotion & Wellness. For more information about student wellness programs, click here. 

Thursday, February 19

Free, drop-in | 5:30–7:30 p.m.

Mimi Barash Coppersmith Studio Classroom

Exploring the presence of the body in visual expression, draw simultaneously with both hands to stimulate both sides of your brain and boost creativity, increase mindfulness, and help process stress. Hosted by Erin E. Carter, EdD, ATR-BC, Assistant Teaching Professor of Creative Arts Therapies, and Erin Bolger Welsh, Art Educator, these sessions offer art-based creative activities designed to encourage relaxation, connection with others, and rejuvenation of spirit. Generous support for this program provided by Art Bridges.

Friday, February 20

Noon

Michael J. and Aimee Rusinko Kakos and Jason D. Kogan Galleries

Enjoy an interdisciplinary gallery conversation with Beatrice Opokua Atencah, John M. Anderson Assistant Teaching Professor of Art, and Dorothy Takyiakwaa, Assistant Teaching Professor in African Studies, about new special exhibition Insistent Presence: Contemporary African Art from the Chazen Collection.

Wednesday, February 25

Free, drop-in | Noon

Join Sima Farage for yoga, mindful movement, and meditation at the museum. All bodies are welcome, and no experience is necessary. Space is limited to 20 participants per class. Borrow a yoga mat or bring your own! This program is presented through a partnership with Penn State Health Promotion & Wellness. For more information about student wellness programs, click here. 

Wednesday, February 25

3 to 5 p.m.

Join us in the galleries during designated Sensory–Friendly Hours for a more relaxed and comfortable visit. During these times, we adjust the environment by dimming gallery lighting and turning off audio on gallery tablets when no tours are scheduled. While all visitors are welcome, these sessions are especially appropriate for individuals with sensory sensitivities, for neurodivergent visitors, disabled visitors, or anyone who prefers a calmer museum experience. 

Thursday, February 26

Free, drop-in | 5 to 8 p.m.

Event Space, Galleries, Object Study Room

Experience special exhibition Insistent Presence: Contemporary African Art from the Chazen Collection and reflect on the power of what it means to be present. Enjoy music and dance performances by Penn State student organizations and explore how the human body acts as a vessel for social and political histories and contested identities through a collage art-making activity. Light refreshments will be provided. 

Monday, March 2

11:59 p.m.

The Palmer is recruiting Penn State graduate students and upper-level undergraduates to serve as Summer 2026 interns. Students work 15–20 hours per week during the summer session, contributing to research, interpretation, exhibition planning, project management, and collections care in addition to completing regular department assignments. Summer internships are funded by the Art Bridges Foundation, Silver Trout Curatorial Graduate Internship Program, the Annie Gooding Sykes Internship, and the Pincus Family Foundation Endowment for Student Education. 

Monday, March 2

The Palmer is recruiting Fall 2026 interns to help activate the museum through collections research, creative projects, engaging programs, and more. Fall semester internships are offered across museum departments with the goal of providing educational and practical experience in a professional setting. Internships require a commitment of 8–10 hours per week and can be completed for credit, wages (select grant-funded projects and eligible Community Service Federal Work Study students), or volunteer hours. Exact work schedules follow the academic calendar and can be flexible to accommodate class needs. Schedules will be set with supervisors at the beginning of each semester. Some evening and weekend shifts may be required for certain assignments. Deadline to apply is Monday, April 6, at 11:59 p.m. Check back for the application link!

Wednesday, March 4

Free, drop-in | Noon

Join Sima Farage for yoga, mindful movement, and meditation at the museum. All bodies are welcome, and no experience is necessary. Space is limited to 20 participants per class. Borrow a yoga mat or bring your own! This program is presented through a partnership with Penn State Health Promotion & Wellness. For more information about student wellness programs, click here. 

Thursday, March 5

6 p.m. 

Michael J. and Aimee Rusinko Kakos and Jason D. Kogan Galleries

Maragaret Nagawa is the curator of Insistent Presence: Contemporary African Art from the Chazen Collection and a Ph.D. candidate at Emory specializing in contemporary African art. Her research focuses on sculpture and language, showing that artists center the human body in forging alternative definitions to the narrow categorizations of art, craft, and literature envisioned by colonial administrators. Nagawa’s work in curating the exhibition examines how artists have reimagined the human figure to pose questions about social and political histories, contested identities, and a possible future for how we relate to one another. Insistent Presence is organized by the Chazen Museum of Art. The Palmer’s presentation of the exhibition is overseen by Director Amanda with support provided by the Michael J. and Aimee Rusinko Kakos Dean’s Chair in the College of Arts and Architecture. 

Wednesday, March 11

3 to 5 p.m.

Join us in the galleries during designated Sensory–Friendly Hours for a more relaxed and comfortable visit. During these times, we adjust the environment by dimming gallery lighting and turning off audio on gallery tablets when no tours are scheduled. While all visitors are welcome, these sessions are especially appropriate for individuals with sensory sensitivities, for neurodivergent visitors, disabled visitors, or anyone who prefers a calmer museum experience. 

Friday, March 13

2–3 p.m.

Galleries and Mimi Barash Coppersmith Studio Classroom

Early learning at the Palmer Museum of Art offers an adventure into exploring art and the senses! This spring, preschool children and their caregivers will discover fascinating works of art, listen to engaging stories, and create hands-on crafts inspired by the museum’s collection. This free program encourages curiosity, imagination, and early appreciation of the arts in a friendly, supportive environment. Through sensory-rich experiences, young learners will strengthen their connection to art while expressing themselves creatively. Designed for preschool children ages 3–5 who have not yet started kindergarten, accompanied by an adult caregiver. Spaces are limited, so please register in advance. 

Sunday, March 15

2 p.m. 

Start in the Dr. Keiko Miwa Ross Lobby

Drop in and discover the Palmer’s world-class collections and exhibitions with a friendly and knowledgeable museum guide. Each tour explores a theme, lasts about one hour, and includes close-looking through discussion and experiential learning opportunities. Sign language interpretation for drop-in tours is offered upon request. Interpretation services must be requested in advance and are subject to interpreter availability. Please contact Bronwyn Flemming at bmf5778@psu.edu. 

Wednesday, March 18

Free, drop-in | Noon

Join Sima Farage for yoga, mindful movement, and meditation at the museum. All bodies are welcome, and no experience is necessary. Space is limited to 20 participants per class. Borrow a yoga mat or bring your own! This program is presented through a partnership with Penn State Health Promotion & Wellness. For more information about student wellness programs, click here. 

Thursday, March 19

Free, drop-in | 5:30–7:30 p.m.

Mimi Barash Coppersmith Studio Classroom

Use clay to build art intended for movement, sound, or adornment. Create textured circles to become a windchime, necklace, magnet or something else of your choice and enjoy the relaxing effect of shaping clay. Hosted by Erin E. Carter, EdD, ATR-BC, Assistant Teaching Professor of Creative Arts Therapies, and Erin Bolger Welsh, Art Educator, these sessions offer art-based creative activities designed to encourage relaxation, connection with others, and rejuvenation of spirit. Generous support for this program provided by Art Bridges.

Wednesday, March 25

Free, drop-in | Noon

Join Sima Farage for yoga, mindful movement, and meditation at the museum. All bodies are welcome, and no experience is necessary. Space is limited to 20 participants per class. Borrow a yoga mat or bring your own! This program is presented through a partnership with Penn State Health Promotion & Wellness. For more information about student wellness programs, click here. 

Thursday, March 26

Free, drop-in | 5 to 8 p.m.

Event Space, Galleries, Object Study Room

Show off your fit and celebrate fashion during this edition of Art After Hours! Hear from experts about special exhibition Who Wears the Pants?! Fashion History One Leg at a Time and take a front-row seat for an in-gallery fashion show. Discover your own aesthetic through a fun art-making activity, explore artistic style with an interactive scavenger hunt, and enjoy light refreshments. 

Thursday, March 26

6 p.m. during Art After Hours

Barbara and Lee Maimon Teaching Gallery

Enjoy an interdisciplinary gallery conversation about special exhibition Who Wears the Pants?! Fashion History One Leg at a Time with Charlene Gross, Associate Professor of Costume Design and Director of the Fashion Archive. 

Saturday, March 28

11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Event Space

Enjoy screenings of a selection of animated works submitted to the 2026 Happy Valley Animation Fest. HVAF seeks to showcase animated works in a range of categories. For more information, check the festival’s website here.

Sunday, March 28

3 to 5 p.m.

Join us in the galleries during designated Sensory–Friendly Hours for a more relaxed and comfortable visit. During these times, we adjust the environment by dimming gallery lighting and turning off audio on gallery tablets when no tours are scheduled. While all visitors are welcome, these sessions are especially appropriate for individuals with sensory sensitivities, for neurodivergent visitors, disabled visitors, or anyone who prefers a calmer museum experience.