Programs

Monday, August 25 through Thursday, September 25

This month, the Palmer Museum of Art and Penn State Arboretum are turning litter into learning. Join Tracking Trash, a month-long citizen science project where every bottle cap, candy wrapper, and coffee cup becomes part of our shared “collection.” By spotting and documenting discarded items in your community, you’ll sharpen your eye for detail, explore the real impact of humans on the more-than-human world, and help us build a visual record that’s equal parts science and art. Think of it as a gallery walk—just outdoors, and the “exhibits” are everywhere. Your finds might surprise you, inspire change, or even tell a bigger story. Submit individual object logs at the link below anytime throughout the month!

Monday, September 1

The Palmer Museum and Penn State are closed for the Labor Day holiday.

Wednesday, September 3

3 to 5 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. 

Thursday, September 4

Free, drop-in, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.

Mimi Barash Coppersmith Studio Classroom

Reclaim used papers, envelopes, and junk mail to make a custom art journal, and fill it with us throughout the fall program series, inspired by the special exhibition Mark Dion and Alexis Rockman: Journey to Nature’s Underworld. Creative Studio sessions offer art-based creative activities designed to encourage relaxation, connection with others, and rejuvenation of spirit. Hosted by art educators, interns, or guest artists, these sessions will focus on the practice of creativity, exploring artistic mediums, and making personal connections rather than on final products. 

Thursday, September 11

6 p.m.

Event Space

Join us for this opportunity to hear from Mark Dion and Alexis Rockman about their individual and collaborative work featured in special exhibition Mark Dion and Alexis Rockman: Journey to Nature’s Underworld. Arrive early for an opportunity to walk through the exhibition with museum educators from 5 to 6 p.m. Full info in the special event block above. Registration and waitlist is full. To receive a viewing link for the recorded video, sign up below.

Sunday, September 14

3 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.

Thursday, September 18

5:30 p.m. 

Barbara and Lee Maimon Teaching Gallery

Enjoy an interdisciplinary gallery conversation with faculty and staff collaborators from Structures, Systems, and Society: Work at the Interface of Art and Engineering exhibition. 

Thursday, September 25

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

Event Space, Galleries, Object Study Room

Plunge into the apocalyptic environments represented in the special exhibition Mark Dion and Alexis Rockman: Journey to Nature’s Underworld and explore the epic ecological impact facing our global society. Join the Arboretum and Palmer Museum of Art for an interdisciplinary gallery conversation and participate in interactive art activities, including a community paint-by-numbers mural. Before you go, chat with representatives from the Civic Engagement Alliance and learn about service events and alternative breaks focused on the environment and sustainability. Light refreshments will be provided. 

Thursday, September 25

6 p.m. 

Event Space, Galleries, Object Study Room

Enjoy an interdisciplinary gallery conversation during Art After Hours with Rachel Duke, Public Programs Manager at the Arboretum, Chanel Lange-Maney, Doctoral Candidate in Rural Sociology and Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies, and Keri Mongelluzzo, Educator for Academic Engagement and Access about special exhibition Mark Dion and Alexis Rockman: Journey to Nature’s Underworld.

Friday, September 26

Noon to 1 p.m.

Early learning at the Palmer Museum of Art offers an adventure in exploring art, nature and the senses! This fall, preschool children and caregivers will discover fascinating works of art inspired by the natural world, listen to stories, and create crafts inspired by the museum’s collections. This free program encourages curiosity, imagination, and early appreciation of the arts in a friendly, supportive environment. Through sensory rich experiences, young learners will deepen their connection to the world around them while expressing themselves through art. This program is designed for preschool children ages 3-5 who have not yet started kindergarten, accompanied by an adult caregiver. Spaces are limited, so register in advance for one of the three dates offering the fall program. 

Friday, September 26

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, September 28

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, October 1

The Palmer is recruiting Spring 2026 interns to help activate the museum through collections research, creative projects, engaging programs, and more. 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. The application deadline will be Monday, November 3, 2025 at 11:59 p.m. Check back October 1 for the link to apply!

Thursday, October 9

4:30 p.m.

Enjoy a gallery conversation with exhibition co-curators and summer 2025 graduate interns Alicia Skeath and Keisha Oliver. 

Sunday, October 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.

Wednesday, October 15

3 to 5 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. 

Thursday, October 16

Free, drop-in, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.

Mimi Barash Coppersmith Studio Classroom

Zen out with mark-making, painting, and printing to create a collection of decorated papers to use for later collage in your Sustainable Art Journal. Creative Studio sessions offer art-based creative activities designed to encourage relaxation, connection with others, and rejuvenation of spirit. Hosted by art educators, interns, or guest artists, these sessions will focus on the practice of creativity, exploring artistic mediums, and making personal connections rather than on final products. 

Saturday, October 18

Noon to 4 p.m.

Spark curiosity for the natural world through creative art experiences that explore the intersections among artists, communities, the environment, and the pressing ecological challenges facing our planet. Drop-in to participate in gallery experiences, hands-on activities, and brief tours of the current special exhibition Mark Dion and Alexis Rockman: Journey to Nature’s Underworld. Meet museum staff, graduate assistants, interns, and volunteers as you experience the Palmer Museum of Art’s new state-of-the-ART building, world-class collections, special exhibitions, and academic resources.   

Sunday, October 19

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, October 22

Noon to 1 p.m.

Early learning at the Palmer Museum of Art offers an adventure in exploring art, nature and the senses! This fall, preschool children and caregivers will discover fascinating works of art inspired by the natural world, listen to stories, and create crafts inspired by the museum’s collections. This free program encourages curiosity, imagination, and early appreciation of the arts in a friendly, supportive environment. Through sensory rich experiences, young learners will deepen their connection to the world around them while expressing themselves through art. This program is designed for preschool children ages 3-5 who have not yet started kindergarten, accompanied by an adult caregiver. Spaces are limited, so register in advance for one of the three dates offering the fall program. 

Thursday, October 23

5:30 p.m. 

Event Space, Galleries, Object Study Room

Enjoy an interdisciplinary gallery conversation with Raymond Najjar, Professor of Oceanography, and Joyce Robinson, Interim Director. about special exhibition Mark Dion and Alexis Rockman: Journey to Nature’s Underworld.

Thursday, October 30

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

Event Space, Galleries, Object Study Room

Have a haunting good time at the museum during the 6th Annual Halloween Spooktacular! Dare to get spooked on a Zombie Adventure Tour through the galleries and attempt to solve the art heist mystery scavenger hunt, or else! Compete for prizes in the costume contest; arrive and register by 6:30 p.m. to participate. Art-inspired costumes will be “treated” with extra points, and separate judging will take place for adults and children under 15. Candy and light refreshments will be provided. 

Monday, November 3

11:59 p.m.

The Palmer is recruiting Spring 2026 interns to help activate the museum through collections research, creative projects, engaging programs, and more. 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 5

3 to 5 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. 

Thursday, November 6

6 p.m.

Join educators from the Arboretum and the Palmer Museum of Art for a Garden and Gallery Book Conversation. We will be discussing Underland: A Deep Time Journey by Robert Macfarlane, which explores themes that resonate with the Palmer’s special exhibition Mark Dion and Alexis Rockman: Journey to Nature’s Underworld. The special exhibition investigates our strained relationship with the environment through various pressing subjects, including failing ecosystems, invasive species, and the effects of climate change. It provides a striking visual counterpart to the rich narrative of Macfarlane’s Underland, a record of the author’s journeys in underground spaces, including the Paris Catacombs, the Karst Plateau, and a deeply buried laboratory where scientists work to detect dark matter. Copies of Underland will be available for sale at the museum store. Registration is free, though required. Register at the link below.

Friday, November 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.

Thursday, November 13

Free, drop-in, 1 to 7 p.m.

Event Space

The Centre Film Festival deepens its mission of bringing global voices to central Pennsylvania through a first-time 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 13

Free, drop-in, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.

Mimi Barash Coppersmith Studio Classroom

Glue, stitch, and layer your scrappy bits to create depth and texture on the pages of your Sustainable Art Journal. Creative Studio sessions offer art-based creative activities designed to encourage relaxation, connection with others, and rejuvenation of spirit. Hosted by art therapists, museum educators, interns, or guest artists, these sessions will focus on the practice of creativity, exploring artistic mediums, and making personal connections rather than on final products. 

Thursday, November 20

Noon to 1 p.m.

Early learning at the Palmer Museum of Art offers an adventure in exploring art, nature and the senses! This fall, preschool children and caregivers will discover fascinating works of art inspired by the natural world, listen to stories, and create crafts inspired by the museum’s collections. This free program encourages curiosity, imagination, and early appreciation of the arts in a friendly, supportive environment. Through sensory rich experiences, young learners will deepen their connection to the world around them while expressing themselves through art. This program is designed for preschool children ages 3-5 who have not yet started kindergarten, accompanied by an adult caregiver. Spaces are limited, so register in advance for one of the three dates offered during the fall program. 

Thursday, November 20

5:30 to 7:30 p.m.

Dr. Keiko Miwa Ross Lobby and Mimi Barash Smith Coppersmith Studio Classroom

Get dirty and flirty while exploring the art beneath your feet! In this hands-on workshop, you and your date will create earth-based pigments using soil, clay, and other natural materials with the Arboretum and get a tour of the Palmer Museum of Art’s new exhibition Mark Dion and Alexis Rockman: Journey to Nature’s Underworld with a museum guide. You’ll leave with a little mess on your hands—and a lot of color on your canvas. Perfect for creative couples who aren’t afraid to play in the dirt. Register at the info page below.

Sunday, November 23

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.

Thursday, November 27, and Friday, November 28

The Palmer Museum and Penn State are closed for the Thanksgiving holiday. The museum will be open again as usual on Saturday, November 29.

Sunday, November 30

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. 

Thursday, December 4

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

Discover how art and engineering collide through creative, hands-on activities! Hear from students, staff, and faculty in the College of Engineering at the tabling and research poster showcase and participate in an interdisciplinary gallery conversation with the faculty curators who organized the Teaching Gallery exhibition Structures, Systems, and Society. Light refreshments will be provided.  

Thursday, December 4

6 p.m.

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.

Wednesday, December 10

3 to 5 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. 

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.