Programs

Wednesday, April 1

11 a.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.

Wednesday, April 1

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, April 2

9:30 a.m. to noon

Mimi Barash Coppersmith Studio Classroom

THIS WORKSHOP IS FULL! JOIN THE WAITLIST BELOW. Join ceramic artist and Penn State alum Sharif Bey (Ph.D., Art Education) for this professional development opportunity. Bey will introduce art teachers to his own work which includes large scale sculptural forms that reference the human body, adornment, and diasporic traditions. He will also lead a hands-on ceramic lesson featuring the “exquisite corpse” framework as a collaborative art form that reframes art as a tool for change. This program is free for area K-12 educators, but advanced registration is required. Act 48 credits are sponsored by PAEA. Generous support for this program was provided by Art Bridges. 

Thursday, April 2

6 p.m.

Event Space

Sharif Bey is a Syracuse-based artist and educator. His ceramic and mixed-media work explores the visual traditions of African and Oceanic art and African American culture. Inspired by modernism and functional pottery, Bey’s works investigate symbolic and formal properties of archetypal motifs, while questioning how the meaning of icons and function transform across cultures and time. Bey studied sculpture at The Academy of Fine Arts and Design in Bratislava, Slovakia. He earned his BFA from Slippery Rock University, his MFA from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, and his PhD in art education from Penn State University. Bey’s works are featured in numerous public collections, including a recent acquisition to the Palmer Museum of Art. ASL Interpreter Gary Thomas will be present for this talk. Generous support for this program was provided by Art Bridges. 

Monday, April 6

11:59 p.m.

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. 

Wednesday, April 8

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, April 8

4–4:45 p.m.

Michael J. and Aimee Rusinko Kakos Galleries

As part of the series of public workshops, Solos in Solidarity: Performing an Ethics of Care, April 7-10, 2026, supported by a Rock Ethics Institute grant, this gallery workshop engages with the Insistent Presence: Contemporary African Art from the Chazen Collection exhibition. The collage poems created in response to art at the Palmer will be performed at 3 Dots on April 10 in the culminating event of all workshops from 7–10 p.m. Click here for more information about the workshop series

Thursday, April 9 | 3:30–5 p.m.

Friday, April 10 | Noon to 2 p.m.

Object Study Room

Join us this spring for a special pop-up exhibition shaped by the shared perspectives of our Ambassadors and Palmer Student Ambassadors (PSAs). It celebrates curiosity and the many ways we see and understand art together. On Thursday, April 9, from 3:30–5 p.m. and Friday, April 10, from noon to 2 p.m., the exhibition will be open for drop-in viewing and conversations, questions, and connections that inspired our Ambassadors’ selections.

Saturday, April 11 | 3 p.m. (with drop-in viewing time 1–3 p.m.)

Participate in this international movement to slow down and engage deeply with art, in this local Slow Art Day event at the Palmer. Arrive at the museum by 2 p.m. to allow enough time to view the selected art. Bring a sketchbook or journal to jot down thoughts or draw your observations (optional). Then join the 3 p.m. post-viewing meetup, led by artist and Palmer staff member, Milo Nicely, and connect with community by sharing reflections about your experience.

Sunday, April 12

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, April 15

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, April 16

Exhibition: 5:30–7:30 p.m. | Talk at 6 p.m.

Object Study Room

Join members of Penn State’s SoVA BIPOC for a one-evening-only pop-up exhibition! Hear from student artists about work they created in response to artwork from the Palmer’s permanent collection.  

Thursday, April 16

6–8 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. For questions, please contact bmf5778@psu.edu.

Saturday, April 18

Free, drop-in | Noon to 4 p.m.

Event Space, Galleries

Celebrate creativity, identity, and connection through art experiences inspired by our spring exhibition Insistent Presence: Contemporary African Art from the Chazen Collection. Spark curiosity as you explore how artists represent the human body, community, memory, and imagination across sculpture, painting, photography, and more. Drop in for gallery experiences, hands-on art activities, and family friendly tours that invite visitors of all ages to look closely, share ideas, and discover new perspectives. Say hello to the friendly faces of the Palmer—staff, graduate assistants, interns and volunteers—who will guide your family through discovery, creativity, and fun throughout the museum building, collection, and special exhibitions.  

Wednesday, April 22

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, April 22

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, April 23

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

Event Space, Galleries

Don’t just look at art, hear it! Enjoy contemporary ensemble performances by students in the School of Music and experience works of art in a new light through ekphrastic poetry readings by Penn State students. Repurpose artwork labels to create your own Dada poems and enjoy light refreshments. 

Thursday, April 23

Free, drop-in | 6 p.m. during Art After Hours

Ned A. Brokloff Gallery

This event will be a uniquely intimate and immersive performance in the evocative setting of the Palmer Museum’s second-level Ned A. Brokloff Gallery of postwar modern art. Penn State’s brand new Contemporary Music Ensemble joins forces with students in Advanced Poetry Writing to create an interdisciplinary exploration of sound, word, and image. The poems of Emily Dickinson, Rumi, and Federico Garcia Lorca, letters from Attica prison, and the paintings of Wassily Kandinsky all intertwine with the beautiful and captivating sounds of composers Toru Takemitsu, George Crumb, Roman Haubenstock-Ramati, Leilehua Lanzilotti, and Frederic Rzewski. The student poets will offer their own ekphrastic responses to artwork in the gallery space and to the music itself. Join us for a rare convergence of art forms and student creativity that transforms the gallery into a living performance space. 

Sunday, April 26

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. For questions, please contact bmf5778@psu.edu.

Wednesday, April 29

Free, drop-in | Noon

Join Sima Farage for the LAST yoga, mindful movement, and meditation of the semester. 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, April 30

Free, drop-in | 5:30–7:30 p.m.

Mimi Barash Coppersmith Studio Classroom

Cut circles, make stencils, and layer paint and paper to create expressive abstract images inspired by the work of artist Howardena Pindell and local artist, art educator, and session leader, Erin Bolger Welsh. A powerful symbol of unity, wholeness, and the cycles of life, the circle is also a foundational element of art. Creative Studio 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.

Thursday, April 30

6–7:30 p.m.

Event Space, Galleries

Join educators from the Arboretum and the Palmer Museum for the spring 2026 edition of the Garden & Gallery Book Club! We will be discussing A Bigger Picture: My Fight to Bring a New African Voice to the Climate Crisis by Vanessa Nakate, which explores themes that resonate with the Palmer’s special exhibition Insistent Presence: Contemporary African Art from the Chazen Collection, open on February 7. The special exhibition investigates the ways artists use the body as a lens to explore sociopolitical histories, contested identities, and the ways we relate to one another and the spiritual realm. It provides a striking visual counterpart to Nakate’s A Bigger Picture, a memoir that tells how she fought to have the voices of African activists and those from the Global South heard within the larger climate justice movement. Copies of the book will be available for sale at the museum store. Free with registration required.

Thursday, May 7

The Palmer Museum will be closing early at 5 p.m. for a private event. Thank you for your understanding.

Sunday, May 10

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. 

Thursday, May 14

6–8 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. For questions, please contact bmf5778@psu.edu.

Sunday, May 31

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. For questions, please contact bmf5778@psu.edu.