Programs

Thursday, December 4

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

Event Space, Galleries, Object Study Room

Discover how art and engineering collide through creative, hands-on activities led by students, staff, and faculty in the College of Engineering! Test out a scavenger hunt, experiment with kinetic art, and participate in an interdisciplinary gallery conversation at 6 p.m. with the faculty curators who organized the Teaching Gallery exhibition Structures, Systems, and Society: Work at the Interface of Art and Engineering. Light refreshments will be provided.

Thursday, December 4

6 p.m.

Barbara and Lee Maimon Teaching Gallery

Enjoy an interdisciplinary gallery conversation during Art After Hours with faculty and staff collaborators on the art and engineering Teaching Gallery exhibition. 

Sunday, December 7

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.

Sunday, December 7

2 to 5 p.m.

Join the Arboretum and Palmer Museum for a relaxed, free, creative drop-in program to create handmade ornaments for our CommuniTREE—a 13-foot community-decorated tree that will be on display in the Palmer lobby until Winter Break. We’ll provide a buffet of craft supplies, some glowing examples, and plenty of festive spirit. Participants are welcome to create an ornament to contribute to the CommuniTREE and make an ornament to take home as a keepsake as well. This is for participants of all-ages! Everyone in the community is invited.

Saturday, December 15

4 to 8 p.m.

Join us for Winter’s Glow, where the gardens transform with dazzling winter light displays! Enjoy a variety of paid and free programming, savor delicious offerings from local vendors, and view the CommuniTREE in the Palmer Museum lobby. With live entertainment and festive fun for all ages, it’s the perfect way to embrace the magic of the season. Public parking in the Katz Lot is free for Winter’s Glow!

Wednesday, December 10

3 to 5 p.m.

Quiet Hours will be cancelled due to deinstallation of the special exhibition galleries.

Sunday, December 21

Noon to 2 p.m.

Join us in the galleries during designated Quiet Hours for a more relaxed and comfortable visit. During these times, we reduce noise and lighting levels and have no tours scheduled. While all visitors are welcome, these sessions are especially appropriate for individuals with sensory sensitivities, neurodivergent visitors, disabled visitors, and anyone who prefers a calmer museum experience. 

Wednesday, December 24, 2025 through Friday, January 2, 2026

The Palmer Museum is closed for Winter Break. The museum will be open regular hours on Saturday, January 3, and Sunday, January 4.

Wednesday, January 14

Free, drop-in | Noon

Event Space, Galleries, Object Study Room

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, visit: studentaffairs.psu.edu/health-promotion/hpw-events-programs. 

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

Event Space, Galleries, Object Study Room

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, visit: studentaffairs.psu.edu/health-promotion/hpw-events-programs. 

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.

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

Event Space, Galleries, Object Study Room

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, visit: studentaffairs.psu.edu/health-promotion/hpw-events-programs. 

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.