Programs

Sunday, November 1

1:30, 2:30, and 3:30 p.m.

Dr. Keiko Miwa Ross Lobby

Shape-note singing is a participatory, 200-year-old singing tradition with roots in the early American harmony singing–school movement. Singers arrange in a square according to their parts and use the shape-note system as a visual aid to read conventional musical notation. The goal is to learn to sing harmony while building a strong sense of community. There is no requirement for vocal quality, and many who believe they cannot sing come to join in and are swept up in this distinctly American musical tradition. Music will be provided. Singers and listeners are welcome. Three separate sessions are offered throughout the day. Come for one or stay for all! 

Monday, November 2

11:59 p.m.

The Palmer is recruiting spring 2027 interns to help activate the museum through collections research, creative projects, engaging programs, and more. Applications close on Monday, November 2, at 11:59 p.m.! Spring 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. 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. 

Wednesday, November 4

12:30 p.m. 

Join Sima Farage for yoga, mindful movement, and meditation in this free, drop-in program at the museum. All bodies are welcome; no experience 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.   

Thursday, November 5

1–7 p.m.

Event Space

The Centre Film Festival deepens its mission of bringing global voices to central Pennsylvania through its collaboration with the Palmer Museum of Art, presenting an afternoon where the cinematic, the virtual, and the fine arts converge. Drop-in to enjoy several immersive VR film projects that invite audiences to navigate intimate inner worlds and urgent global realities. Some experiences call for quiet reflection, others inspire action, but each creates a moment of connection across cultures and distances. Furnished vignettes designed by Shindig Alley will provide a comfortable viewing experience for an afternoon of technology, artistry, and dialogue—one headset at a time. Admission is free.

Thursday, November 5

6 p.m. 

Barbara and Lee Maimon Teaching Gallery

Explore special exhibition America Works through an interdisciplinary gallery conversation with faculty curators and professors Kate Ragon, Carla Lima Aranzaes, and Arthur Matthews from Penn State’s School of Labor and Employment Relations in the College of the Liberal Arts. Sign language interpretation will be provided for this gallery conversation.

Friday, November 6

2 p.m. 

Event Space

Primarily known for her portraits of Blackfeet people commissioned by the Great Northern Railroad, like the painting Wife and Child of Bull Plume (Maggie Bull Plume) currently on exhibit at the Palmer Museum, Kathryn Woodman Leighton was also part of the vibrant Los Angeles art scene. She painted a number of Indigenous entertainers in LA colloquially know as “Hollywood Indians.” These paintings, many held in private collections, are an overlooked part of her oeuvre. Professor of History and Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies, Cathleen Cahill, will discuss how those portraits reveal a broader picture of Native American life in the early twentieth century as well as Leighton’s connection to the art scene in the city. 

Saturday, November 7

11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Mimi Barash Coppersmith Studio Classroom

In collaboration with Mount Nittany Health, the Palmer presents a pop-up exhibition featuring a selection of works from the permanent collection that explores themes of loss, grief, and healing. View the exhibition and participate in a brief facilitated group discussion session. Following the discussion, enjoy a creative and therapeutic art session led by artist and educator Sarah Zappe. Register by November 2 to participate. All art supplies are provided by Mount Nittany Health. 

Free with advanced registration.

Sunday, November 8

2–3 p.m.

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. Guided tours start in the Dr. Keiko Miwa Ross Lobby. Join us for these free drop-in tours. 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, November 11

11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Michael J. and Aimee Rusinko Kakos Galleries

Explore special exhibition Dreaming American Futures and hear from Penn State faculty and staff artists as they speak about their works featured in the Invitational. 

Wednesday, November 11

12:30 p.m.

Join Sima Farage for yoga, mindful movement, and meditation in this free, drop-in program at the museum. All bodies are welcome; no experience 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.

Thursday, November 12

3:30–5 p.m.

Join our amazing volunteer community, Palmer Student Ambassadors (PSAs) and Ambassadors, for an engaging afternoon of conversation and connection. Together, we’ll explore selected artworks through informal discussions and shared perspectives, celebrating the many ways art inspires dialogue, curiosity, and community. 

Friday, November 13

3 p.m. 

Greider Family Gallery

Explore special exhibition Out of the Shadows through a gallery conversation with exhibition curators and summer 2026 curatorial interns Apollo Barron and Emma Knisely (’26, B.A. in art history). 

Sunday, November 15

Noon to 4 p.m.

Event Space and galleries 

Discover how artists transform everyday materials into extraordinary works of art. Themed around special exhibition Dreaming American Futures: Invitational 250, this program explores the creative process of assemblage through hands-on art-making, gallery experiences, and conversations with exhibiting artist Rebecca Horwitt. Presented in collaboration with The Arboretum at Penn State, the program will help families discover how artists collect, fuse, layer, and transform everyday materials into meaningful works of art. Gather and combine unexpected materials to create an artwork inspired by who you are or the future you imagine. Join us for an afternoon of creativity for all ages!

Wednesday, November 18

12:30 p.m.

Join Sima Farage for yoga, mindful movement, and meditation in this free, drop-in program at the museum. All bodies are welcome; no experience 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.

Thursday, November 19

5:30–7 p.m.

Dr. Keiko Miwa Ross Lobby and galleries

Creative Studio is moving to the galleries and becoming Creative Encounters! Centered on mindful creativity and relaxation, these gallery sessions invite participants to explore works of art through sketching, journaling, and reflective observation. Connect with fellow creative thinkers, discover new ways to engage with art, and develop everyday creative practices that prioritize process over product. As part of the Palmer’s wellness initiative, these sessions are led by art therapist Erin Carter and art educators, Erin Welsh and Brandi Breslin. Join us in the Palmer’s lobby for one or all of these free fall sessions – each one will feature a different activity.

Friday, November 20

1–2:30 p.m

Object Study Room

Register to join us for the Palmer Museum Print Club, a program devoted to the study and appreciation of the many printmaking techniques represented in the museum’s permanent collection. Members will examine objects ranging from woodcuts, engravings, etchings, and lithographs to other works on paper, including drawings, watercolors, and photographs. Participants will enjoy curator-led tours of special exhibitions featuring works on paper and will have opportunities to meet visiting print dealers who occasionally bring a selection of their wares to share with the group. Email Becky Harris at rjh5110@psu.edu to register. Space is limited!

Sunday, November 29

3–5 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, December 2

12:30 p.m. 

Join Sima Farage for yoga, mindful movement, and meditation in this free, drop-in program at the museum. All bodies are welcome; no experience 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.

Thursday, December 3

5:30–7 p.m.

Dr. Keiko Miwa Ross Lobby and galleries

Creative Studio is moving to the galleries and becoming Creative Encounters! Centered on mindful creativity and relaxation, these gallery sessions invite participants to explore works of art through sketching, journaling, and reflective observation. Connect with fellow creative thinkers, discover new ways to engage with art, and develop everyday creative practices that prioritize process over product. As part of the Palmer’s wellness initiative, these sessions are led by art therapist Erin Carter and art educators, Erin Welsh and Brandi Breslin. Join us in the Palmer’s lobby for one or all of these fall sessions – each one will feature a different activity:   

Sunday, December 6

1 p.m. 

Event Space

Dr. Dana Carlisle Kletchka, associate professor of art museum education at Ohio State University, discusses the Ethics of Care in art education, exploring how compassion, empathy, and care can shape teaching practices, influence learning experiences, and strengthen relationships in classrooms and art museums. She also considers how a greater awareness of our interdependence can inform both personal and professional interactions.

Sponsored by the Palmer Museum of Art, the School of Visual Arts Art Education Program, the College of Arts & Architecture, and the Michael J. and Aimee Rusinko Kakos Dean’s Chair.  

Sunday, December 6

1–3 p.m.

Mimi Barash Coppersmith Studio Classroom

Slow down during the busy winter season with an afternoon of mindfulness, close-looking, and creative exploration. Inspired by Winter on the Schuylkill by Fern Coppedge (about 1940), a painting in the American collection of the Palmer, begin with a guided mindfulness experience in the gallery, taking time to notice the painting’s colors, atmosphere, and quiet beauty. Then, create your own winter landscape in watercolor while exploring the calming, meditative qualities of artmaking. Presented in partnership with Kaleidoscope PA, an art and wellness company located in Lemont. Come ready to pause, notice, and create. No art experience is necessary.  (18+). Registration and $35 fee required; space limited.

Wednesday, December 9

12:30 p.m.

Join Sima Farage for yoga, mindful movement, and meditation in this free, drop-in program at the museum. All bodies are welcome; no experience 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.   

Sunday, December 13

2 p.m. 

Start in the Dr. Keiko Miwa Ross Lobby

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. Guided tours start in the Dr. Keiko Miwa Ross Lobby. Join us for these free drop-in tours. 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, December 20

3–5 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.