Hello, June! The Connecticut Art Trail member museums are officially kicking off summer with an incredible array of events and exhibition openings! June is packed with opportunities to explore art through outdoor concerts under the summer sky, extended hours for evening strolls through galleries, happy hours to mingle with fellow art enthusiasts, and so much more!
Read our latest newsletter to see how you can support CT museums at any of our 30 member museums and cultural sites, and to get the latest news and events from the Connecticut Art Trail, including:
- Blue Star Museums on the CT Art Trail – This summer, many member museums are participating in the Blue Star Museums program, offering free admission to active-duty military personnel and their families from Armed Forces Day through Labor Day. See newsletter for the list!
- Celebrate CT Arts Culture and Tourism with CT Open House Day on June 14th, 2025!
- Cheers to Art! Catch happy hours at the Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum, The Glass House, or Yale University Art Gallery.
- Events at Five Points Art Gallery, American Mural Project, and Yale Center for British Art.
- A look at the permanent collection at Mystic Museum of Art.
- A fun gift idea for Father’s Day – Pints and Paintings: get mom the ultimate adventure with a CT Art Trail passport AND CT Field Trip Passport with 2-for-1 beers at 43 breweries.
On Friday, May 2, several member museums of the Connecticut (CT) Art Trail were informed that current grants from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) will be terminated on May 31, 2025. This action follows the significant reductions to the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS)—a key federal agency supporting museums—as well as the cessation of grants from the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH). Together, the NEA, IMLS, and NEH provide essential support to Connecticut museums and other cultural nonprofits. The termination of this federal funding is a severe blow to museum operations and undermines the ability of our local museums to serve the communities they represent.
The CT Art Trail member institutions are significant economic contributors to the state and are collectively proud of the role we play in the lives of our diverse communities. Equally important is the support that leaders at the local, state, and federal levels show for organizations dedicated to preserving and expressing culture and fostering the creativity that enriches our country. We ask that you join us in writing to Congress to urge the restoration of IMLS and the reinstatement of terminated federal grants. We also invite you to visit any of the CT Art Trail museums and organizations, and consider becoming a member if you are able.
We urge you to use your voice and influence to help restore federal support for Connecticut’s museums.
May 18th is International Museum Day! On this day, we encourage you to explore the incredible array of art and culture right here in Connecticut along the CT Art Trail. From historical masterpieces to cutting-edge contemporary works, our member museums offer something for everyone. Your support, whether through a visit, membership, or donation, helps these institutions continue their crucial work of preservation, education, and community engagement.
Read our latest newsletter to see how you can support CT museums at any of our 30 member museums and cultural sites, and to get the latest news and events from the Connecticut Art Trail, including:
- On May 7th, Arts, Culture, and Tourism Advocacy Day came to the Hartford Capitol building!
- Weir Farm NPS opened for the season on May 3rd! Buildings are now available to explore and other programs are kicking off for the season!
- The New Britain Museum of American Art is partnering with the National Gallery of Art for their “Across the Nation” initiative, bringing two significant loans – Robert Seldon Duncanson’s Fruit Still Life and Winslow Homer’s East Hampton Beach, Long Island – to the museum starting this month as part of the lead-up to the nation’s 250th anniversary in 2026.
- Family programs at Grace Farms, Stamford Museum and Nature Center, and The Bruce.
- A look at the permanent collection at Weir Farm NPS!
- A fun gift idea for Mother’s Day – Pints and Paintings: get mom the ultimate adventure with a CT Art Trail passport AND CT Field Trip Passport with 2-for-1 beers at 43 breweries.
Several museums on the Connecticut Art Trail have opened registrations for their 2025 summer camps, which give children of all ages a chance to build their creativity and strengthen their artistic skills.
Art-themed summer camps include gallery tours, craftmaking, outdoor activities, and more. Most camps offer weekly sessions, with the ability to sign up for multiple sessions during the summer. Scholarships and discounts are available in many cases.
“Summer camps on the Connecticut Art Trail are an excellent way for both children and adults to discover the art museums in their community,” said Carey Weber, President of the Connecticut Art Trail and the Frank and Clara Meditz Executive Director at Fairfield University Art Museum. These programs offer an immersion in Connecticut’s rich art collections and activities designed to stimulate creativity, and they’re a great way for kids to enjoy the summer.”
Summer camps scheduled at Connecticut Art Trail museums include:
- The Aldrich Museum of Contemporary Art: Camp Aldrich offers sessions for grades 1-3 from July 7-18 and for grades 4-6 from July 21-25
- American Mural Project: Summer@AMP and Teen Art Studio weekly programs explore a variety of themes including art play, band lab, and outdoor design and build. Available to ages 6-18, running June 23 to Aug. 1
- Five Points Arts: Summer Teen Art Labs feature afternoon sessions four days a week from July 7 to Aug. 14. This is a free program designed to help young artists develop a strong portfolio.
- Florence Griswold Museum: The museum’s weekly summer programs include Wee Faerie Camp (June 10 to July 3), Intensive Camp for Middle School Students (June 23-27), and Art Colony Camp (July 7 to Aug. 8); sessions are available for grades 1-8.
- Greenwich Historical Society: Art & History Camps offer children in grades 2-8 an interactive experience on this historic campus, with three separate experiences available between July 14 and August 1.
- Hartford Art School Galleries: The Hartford Art School’s Pre-Collegiate Visual Arts Portfolio Workshop runs July 7 to Aug. 1. This is designed for high school students interested in pursuing an art career and helps them develop a portfolio to apply to art colleges and universities.
- Lyman Allyn Art Museum: The Summer Art Immersion program runs July 7 to August 1 and includes weekly sessions for ages 5-11.
- Mattatuck Museum: The School’s Out program has six week-long sessions between June 30 to Aug. 8 and is open to ages 6 and up.
- MoCA CT: Camp MoCA runs June 16th through Aug. 18 and is open to ages 4-10.
- Mystic Museum of Art: Junior Studio Camps and Specialty Camps are available to ages 3.5 to 15 between June 16 and Aug. 22.
- New Britain Museum of American Art: Weekly three day sessions are available for ages 6-12 from July 8-31.
- Silvermine Arts Center: Summer Art Studio week-long camps run from June 16 to Aug. 22 and are open to ages 3-17.
- Stamford Museum & Nature Center: Wonder Art Camp and Wild at Art Camp are open to ages 18 months to 3 years old, with two-day sessions available each week from June 30 to Aug. 8.
For more information on individual camps, including updates on registration availability, check the museum website.
Did you know that April 12th is Slow Art Day? With the average museumgoer looking at a piece of art for less than 30 seconds, Slow Art Day encourages people to take more time to deeply appreciate a few works. The recommendation is to take in a single painting or sculpture for 10 minutes to really appreciate its intricacies.
Read our latest newsletter to see how you can try out Slow Art Day at any of our 30 member museums and cultural sites, and to get the latest news and events from the Connecticut Art Trail, including:
- A new social prescribing program in Connecticut that enables health care providers to recommend arts activities as part of a patient’s treatment
- The Center for Contemporary Printmaking reaches its 30th anniversary milestone
- A famous portrait of Henry VIII is now on view at the Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art
- Family programs at the Slater Memorial Museum, Lyman Allyn Art Museum, and The Aldrich Museum of Contemporary Art
- A look at J.M.W. Turner’s Staffa, Fingal’s Cave, part of the extensive collection of Turner works at the Yale Center for British Art that will be on display at the newly reopened museum
- The grand prize winners of our 2024 Passport-Journal giveaway!
Connecticut is a small state with a big arts scene, and you can find world-class museums and cultural sites just a short drive away. Spring is right around the corner, and hitting the road to visit the destinations on the Connecticut Art Trail is a great cabin fever cure. Don’t forget that the Passport-Journal gives you a key to all of these sites, and unlocks several additional benefits as well!
Read our latest newsletter to learn about the latest news and events on the Connecticut Art Trail, including:
- The recognition of Old Lyme as a top small town arts destination, in part due to the Florence Griswold Museum and Lyme Art Association
- A new director and CEO at the Bruce Museum
- The 10th anniversary of a program connecting medical students with artwork at the Yale University Art Gallery and Yale Center for British Art
- Family art programs at the Yale University Art Gallery, Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art, and the Fairfield University Art Museum
- A look at Andromeda and Perseus, a Renaissance painting that was one of the key pieces of art in the initial collection at the Fairfield University Art Museum
As we get closer to Valentine’s Day, we’re reminded just how much inspiration love has provided for arts and culture — from romantic love to the affection for natural beauty. This month, we invite you to explore some of the beautiful works on display at our 30 museums and cultural sites, and to rekindle your own love for art. The year is still young, so there’s plenty of time to pick up a Passport-Journal and get free admission to each of these locations!
Read our latest newsletter to learn about the latest news and events on the Connecticut Art Trail, including:
- CT Humanities grant awards for The Aldrich Museum of Contemporary Art, Florence Griswold Museum, and New Britain Museum of American Art
- A $1 million gift to support the chief curator position at The Aldrich Museum of Contemporary Art
- A new director for the Yale Center for British Art
- Family programming at Connecticut Art Trail sites including the Open Arts Studio at Grace Farms, a polar bear art activity at the William Benton Museum of Art, and a new monthly book and art club at the Lyme Art Association
- A profile of a new Connecticut Art Trail member site, Grace Farms in New Canaan.
As the Connecticut Art Trail celebrates its 30th anniversary in 2025, we’re thrilled to be doing so with 30 member sites! The Trail is bigger than ever, welcoming the Glass House as a full member and Grace Farms as an affiliate member. With a whole new year ahead of us, it’s a great time to pick up our new Passport-Journal — still just $35 — and explore these amazing destinations in the months ahead.
Read our latest newsletter to learn about the latest news and events on the Connecticut Art Trail, including:
- A distinctive award for the chief curator at the Mattatuck Museum
- The Hartford Dance Collective becoming artists in residence at the New Britain Museum of American Art
- A call for “Recycled Runway” designers from the American Mural Project
- Family programming at Connecticut Art Trail museums, including Joy in the Making at the Florence Griswold Museum, Storytime for Kids at The Aldrich Museum Contemporary Art Museum, and Recess Art Camps at MoCA CT.
- A profile of the latest Connecticut Art Trail member site, The Glass House in New Canaan.
The holiday season is one of the happiest times of year on the Connecticut Art Trail, as art museums and cultural sites across the state host special events and celebrations. It’s a great time to explore some of the fantastic destinations Connecticut has to offer, and to wrap up your 2024 Passport-Journal if you want to enter our grand prize giveaway! Don’t forget to take advantage of our seasonal buy one, get one deal for next year’s Passport-Journal; it makes a great gift!
Read our latest newsletter to learn about the latest news and upcoming events on the Connecticut Art Trail, including:
- A reopening date at the Yale Center for British Art after a two-year building renovation
- The Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art being named as one of the top 20 art museums in the United States by the Washington Post
- A special display of Hockey Hall of Fame trophies on display this weekend at the Bruce Museum
- Family activities for the holidays including an Access for All Community Day and Holiday Makers Market at the New Britain Museum of American Art, Winter Wonder Day at the Lyman Allyn Art Museum, and a Holiday Linocut Sampler course at the Center for Contemporary Printmaking
- A featured item from a Connecticut Art Trail museum’s permanent collection: The Minutes No. 14 by prominent Surrealist artist Kay Sage at the Mattatuck Museum
As we move closer to the holiday season, there’s still plenty of great exhibitions and events to discover on the Connecticut Art Trail — and just a couple of months left to complete your Passport-Journal! If you’re looking to get a head start on your holiday shopping, our popular buy one, get one deal on Passport-Journals will return on November 15th. Member museums will continue to sell 2024 Passports until they run out, or until the start of the new year.
Read our latest newsletter to learn about the latest news and upcoming events on the Connecticut Art Trail, including:
- The reopening of a sculpture garden at The Aldrich Museum of Contemporary Art
- Museum honors for the Housatonic Museum of Art and Mattatuck Museum
- A combined Giving Tuesday effort among the Hill-Stead Museum, New Britain Museum of American Art, and Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art
- Featured family activities including Colonial Toys and Crafts at the Greenwich Historical Society, Fun with Printmaking at the Fairfield University Art Museum, and A Sandra Boynton Christmas at the American Mural Project
- A featured permanent collection item at a Connecticut Art Trail site: Childe Hassam’s The Mill Pond, Cos Cob at the Bruce Museum