Austrian-born Trude Fleischmann (1895-1990) was one of the most accomplished female photographers of the 20th century. After great success in Vienna in the 20s photographing artists, models, and performers, she fled the Anschluss in 1938, first to Paris and then New York. She opened a studio on Fifth Avenue in 1940 and photographed many of the artists and intellectuals of the day, including Eleanor Roosevelt and Albert Einstein. This exhibition will include loans from the Wien Museum in Vienna, Austria, the New York Public Library, private collections, and as well as never-before-exhibited works from family collections.
Creative explorations of nature, science, and art
Ages: 7–11
Dates: Monday, July 28 – Friday, August 1
Time: 8:30am–3pm
Fee: $350
Partnership: Arcari Floral
Teaching artist: Meredith Arcari Luciano
Eco-STEAM invites curious minds to engage with the natural world around them through hands-on creative projects. They’ll discover how the sun powers our planet, experiment with art and science, and investigate nature—using all their senses.
Over five discovery-filled days, young creators will:
Explore texture, build with natural materials, and create tactile art.
Play with sound mapping—and turn the sounds of nature into artwork.
Make plant-based crafts using herbs.
Design kinetic sculptures powered by the wind.
Craft musical instruments from natural materials and compose music.
Experiment and cook delicious, nature-based recipes.
Share their discoveries in an interactive exhibit—where science, nature, and art meet.
Through creative play and collaboration, kids will forge lasting friendships. Along the way, they’ll discover new passions and gain essential life skills. No experience needed—just a love for exploring. Watch their world expand!
This is a small group program. Space is limited.
AMP’s summer programs are made possible in part by Thomaston Savings Bank.
Scholarships may be available. Learn more: https://www.americanmuralproject.org/summer-faq#summerscholarships
Explore more Summer @AMP programs: https://www.americanmuralproject.org/summer
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.
Make music, jam with friends, and feel the thrill of being in a band
Ages: 10+
Dates: Monday, July 28 – Friday, August 1 (final concert at 2pm on Friday)
Time: 9am–3pm
Fee: $350
Teaching artist: Sam Guglielmino
Partnership: Mad River Music
Fee: $350
In this fun, five-day program, young musicians will play, sing, and create music together. With the guidance of teaching artist Sam Guglielmino of Mad River Music, they’ll explore diverse music styles, rehearse as a band, and prepare for a live performance in AMP’s main gallery on Friday, August 1, at 2pm. Musicians can bring their own instruments or try new ones—no experience needed! No audition is required.
In this five-day music program, your young musician will:
Play and sing in a real band.
Learn favorite songs—pop, rock, and R&B.
Be mentored by a pro musician.
Strike a balance between creative freedom and structure—to find their musical stride.
Rehearse, refine their techniques, and build confidence.
Learn how to jam with other musicians.
Try new instruments and rhythms.
Discover what they really can do!
This is a small group program. Space is limited.
Registration is now open for Band Lab!
AMP’s summer programs are made possible in part by Thomaston Savings Bank.
Scholarships available. Learn more:https://www.americanmuralproject.org/summer-faq#summerscholarships
Explore more Summer @AMP programs:https://www.americanmuralproject.org/summer
Join us on Thursday, May 22 at 6 p.m. for a docent-led tour of the exhibition Famous & Family: Through the Lens of Trude Fleischmann.
About the Exhibition: Austrian-born Trude Fleischmann (1895-1990) was one of the most accomplished female photographers of the 20th century. After great success in Vienna in the 20s photographing artists, models, and performers, she fled the Anschluss in 1938, first to Paris and then New York. She opened a studio on Fifth Avenue in 1940 and photographed many of the artists and intellectuals of the day, including Eleanor Roosevelt and Albert Einstein. This exhibition will include loans from the Wien Museum in Vienna, Austria, the New York Public Library, private collections, and as well as never-before-exhibited works from family collections.
Image: Trude Fleischmann, Peter Altenberg (1859-1919), Writer and Adolf Loos (1870-1933), Architect, Vienna, 1918, printed 1988, gelatin silver print. Lent by the Wien Museum, Vienna, Austria. © Trude Fleischmann
Join us on Thursday, May 29 at 1p.m. for a docent-led tour of the exhibition Famous & Family: Through the Lens of Trude Fleischmann.
About the Exhibition: Austrian-born Trude Fleischmann (1895-1990) was one of the most accomplished female photographers of the 20th century. After great success in Vienna in the 20s photographing artists, models, and performers, she fled the Anschluss in 1938, first to Paris and then New York. She opened a studio on Fifth Avenue in 1940 and photographed many of the artists and intellectuals of the day, including Eleanor Roosevelt and Albert Einstein. This exhibition will include loans from the Wien Museum in Vienna, Austria, the New York Public Library, private collections, and as well as never-before-exhibited works from family collections.
Image: Trude Fleischmann, Peter Altenberg (1859-1919), Writer and Adolf Loos (1870-1933), Architect, Vienna, 1918, printed 1988, gelatin silver print. Lent by the Wien Museum, Vienna, Austria. © Trude Fleischmann
Join us on Thursday, June 12 at 4 p.m. for a docent-led tour of the exhibition Famous & Family: Through the Lens of Trude Fleischmann.
About the Exhibition: Austrian-born Trude Fleischmann (1895-1990) was one of the most accomplished female photographers of the 20th century. After great success in Vienna in the 20s photographing artists, models, and performers, she fled the Anschluss in 1938, first to Paris and then New York. She opened a studio on Fifth Avenue in 1940 and photographed many of the artists and intellectuals of the day, including Eleanor Roosevelt and Albert Einstein. This exhibition will include loans from the Wien Museum in Vienna, Austria, the New York Public Library, private collections, and as well as never-before-exhibited works from family collections.
Please note: The tour will precede a lecture with Elizabeth Cronin at 6 p.m. in Bellarmine Hall, Diffley Board Room. She will be discussing Heimat Photography and the Art of Trude Fleischmann. Register here!
Image: Trude Fleischmann, Peter Altenberg (1859-1919), Writer and Adolf Loos (1870-1933), Architect, Vienna, 1918, printed 1988, gelatin silver print. Lent by the Wien Museum, Vienna, Austria. © Trude Fleischmann
Guided art adventures and self-expression—indoors and outdoors
Ages: 9–11
Dates: Monday, July 21 – Friday, July 25
Time: 8:30am–3pm
Teaching Artist: Meredith Arcari Luciano
Partnership: Arcari Floral
Fee: $350
Your child will discover endless inspiration in this hands-on, exploratory program that bridges art and nature. Gathering inspiration from the world around them, they will use tactile materials and natural elements to create artwork. Each open-ended project sparks creativity and self-expression while fostering a deep connection to nature.
Over five enriching days, young creators will:
Create eco-friendly sculptures from natural and upcycled materials.
Transform found objects into 3D artworks.
Learn the art of botanical printing.
Make their own earth-based pigments and paints.
Sketch and journal in nature.
Design wind chimes for the garden.
Build textured pathways using natural elements.
Share their artistic discoveries with newfound friends.
In Dabble, every nature walk becomes an artistic adventure, and every artwork tells a story of discovery.
This is a small group program. Space is limited.
Registration is now open for Dabble!
AMP’s summer programs are made possible in part by Thomaston Savings Bank.
Scholarships available. Learn more: https://www.americanmuralproject.org/summer-faq#summerscholarships
Explore more Summer @AMP programs: https://www.americanmuralproject.org/summer
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.
Real-life carpentry and woodworking
Three sessions:
ODB Basic: Structure: June 23–June 27 *WAITLIST ONLY
ODB Basic: Structure and Sculpture: June 30–July 3
ODB Advanced: July 7–July 11
Dream it and build it! In this small-group outdoor program, tweens and teens will design, plan, and build lasting wood structures and sculptures. Working together, under the guidance of an experienced woodworker-artisan duo, participants gain practical skills—and confidence—using hand tools to create projects. Past projects include an outdoor stage, A-frame, pergola, planter boxes, and a treehouse.
In these five fun-filled days, kids will:
Gain basic carpentry skills—measuring, cutting, fitting, and more.
Use their own set of hand tools—and take pride in their proper care and safe use.
Try out building techniques using modern, dimensional lumber.
Learn to source natural materials from the environment.
Develop spatial design aptitudes.
Work as a team.
Discover the sheer joy of real-life woodworking and building.
Space is limited. This is a small-group outdoor program that maintains a 3:1 student-to-teacher ratio to provide hands-on direction. Early registration is recommended.
Session 2 – ODB Basic: Structure and Sculpture
Gain practical furniture-making skills while participating in the RiseUp for Art Able TableTM initiative. Participants will:
Design and build a structure for AMP’s campus.
Build wheelchair/stroller-accessible picnic tables to enhance the community.
Explore accessibility in public furniture design, ensuring that everyone “has a place at the table.”
Contribute to tangible, community-serving projects.
Learn how public art transforms spaces and fosters inclusion, and more.
No experience is necessary for ODB Basic: Sculpture, but…
A keen interest in carpentry and the outdoors is a prerequisite. Participants will need to work together to complete their project successfully.
Ages: 12+
Dates: Monday, June 30 – Thursday, July 3 (no session on July 4)
Times: 9am–4pm
Teaching Artists: Chip Heuer and David Polon
Partnerships: RiseUp for Art
Fee: $395
Early Bird Discount
A $25 Early Bird discount will be applied when you register before March 31.
Scholarships
Scholarships are available on a first come, first served basis.
AMP’s summer programs are made possible in part by Thomaston Savings Bank.