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.
Fourth Fridays
Each month, the Happy Hour Piano Series offers an eclectic mix of musical genres, showcasing the region’s wealth of talented pianists. Held on the fourth Fridays, from 5 to 7 pm, the piano series extends AMP’s exhibit hours. A cash/credit bar offers wine, craft and domestic beer, and assorted beverages.
Jennifer Hill is a singer-songwriter and pianist whose music blends the soulful influences of Carole King, Aretha Franklin, and Janis Joplin with the modern edge of artists like Amy Winehouse and Lady Gaga. Jennifer’s latest solo album, Love Bomb, is a vibrant mix of retro soul and pop produced by the legendary Vic Steffens. Beyond her solo work, Jennifer is the creative force behind the electro-pop act Murderous Chanteuse and the indie rock band Jennifer Hill and Co., both available on streaming platforms. In addition, Jennifer is the founder of SWAN Day CT, the annual Support Women Artists Now (SWAN) event that showcases women in the arts, and has shared the stage with June Millington of the legendary 1970s band Fanny.
Admission: $8 at the door
The piano series is supported in part by the Greenberg family.
Get ready for a hands-on learning experience at The Carousel Museum’s 2025 Conference, where you’ll engage with passionate experts, participate in hands on workshops, and uncover the rich history behind these whimsical attractions. Whether you’re a seasoned carousel aficionado or simply curious, this weekend promises to ignite your imagination and deepen your appreciation for these timeless treasures. Don’t miss your chance to be part of this enchanting gathering; grab your tickets today and let the magic of carousels inspire you!
Are you traveling from far away? The Double Tree Hotel in Bristol (2 miles from the Museum) has discounted room rates of $199/night.
Book through the link below to receive discounted hotel rate, you must book by April 1, 2025
This July, Grace Farms is hosting Songs of the Summer, a new and free performance series taking place on late Thursday afternoons throughout July.
Held in the Pavilion with doors open, these intimate performances feature smaller local acts, unplugged. The Songs of Summer series invites all ages to experience a moment to pause, sip iced tea (available for purchase), and enjoy lingering summer moments with connection to music, architecture, and the landscape.
These performances are a drop in, family-friendly experience for those enjoying an afternoon at Grace Farms.
Come to the Garden at Grace Farms for a hands-on class that connects families with nature. Learn basic gardening skills and imagine starting your own container or backyard herb garden. This class will naturally spark interest and embolden beginner gardeners to grow, cut and cook with their own homegrown herbs!
Each participant will take home an herb to start a garden.
Learning with Nature
An evolution of our gardening workshops, this series invites all generations to see nature at work with Kimberly Kelly, Director of Horticulture. Through guided walks, Garden visits, and indoor instruction, connect with the purpose of the ecosystems we inhabit, the vibrant life that’s a part of it, and our role in maintaining and adding to it. This summer, Kimberly brings us meaningful ways to connect with the natural world by teaching participants to plant gardens, manage beehives, notice the life of butterflies and dragonflies, and increase biodiversity in the landscape.
Navigate the extraordinary metamorphosis of butterflies through an interactive maze and traveling exhibit in Grace Farms’ indoor Court, created by The Natural History Museum in London in collaboration with Minotaur Mazes. Adventure through the leaves, learn how to move like caterpillar, discover an ant that reaps the reward of an unusual friendship, then transform into a butterfly and take flight!
Don’t miss this summer experience!
Grace Farms is a celebrated Monarch Waystation, a place that provides monarch butterflies the resources they need to survive and reproduce. Enjoy additional programming all summer that will enhance your connection to butterflies and other winged wonders, including summer picnics, Caterpillar Compass, Magnifying Small Wonders, Open Arts Studio, Walk with Dragonflies, and Look at Butterfly Life.
Grace Farms’ Music Director Marcus G. Miller will be performing a full concert with his band IWM as a special treat for the summer. It will feature classics you may remember from his Beauty and Logic Series as well, new music composed specifically for this concert and some surprise guests. This will be your only chance to see his show at Grace Farms this year; make sure you don’t miss out!
Concert is appropriate for the whole family, but not oriented to young children.
Program
4-4:30: Q&A with Marcus and Tea
4:30-6pm: Concert
6-6:15: Meet and Greet with Marcus
About Marcus G. Miller
Marcus G. Miller is the first Music Director for the Foundation. He began studying saxophone at age nine and developed a passion that put him on stage at 13. With gifts extending beyond music, he graduated from Harvard University with a degree in Mathematics. After a short stint at a major hedge fund he moved to New York City to pursue music. He soon developed a reputation as a versatile and virtuosic player, while studying music production and engineering under Grammy-Winning Engineer “Bassy” Bob Brockman (Notorious B.I.G, Herbie Hancock, D’Angelo).
Marcus has performed at the Obama White House, Madison Square Garden, Carnegie Hall, and The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. In addition, he has worked with jazz giants ELEW and Jazzmeia Horn, as well as major artists like Jon Batiste, The Fugees and Madonna.
Music at Grace Farms
This concert series invites our global community of visitors, musicians, and creators to share in an exceptional live music experience at the intersection of sound, artistry, nature, and intentionally designed spaces.
Enjoy an inspired picnic dinner crafted by the culinary team, extended hours in the garden, and activities designed by the education team that share the wonders of ladybugs, dragonflies, and butterflies. Inspired by the year’s theme, Architecture Moves Us, each iteration of the picnic series will reveal how these incredible insects contribute to the natural landscape enjoyed at Grace Farms. These small insects often go unnoticed, but contribute significantly to a healthy ecosystem.
Summer picnics also offer lawn games, trail access, and activities for the whole family.
Dragonflies have been around for over 300 million years and are still considered nature’s masters of the sky. Able to fly over 30 miles per hour, dragonflies are one of the fastest flying insects in the world. Follow Grace Farms Horticulture Director Kimberly Kelly on a guided summer walk to experience the awe and wonder of the natural world, dragonflies and all.
Learning with Nature
An evolution of our gardening workshops, this series invites all ages to see nature at work with Kimberly Kelly, Director of Horticulture. Through guided walks, Garden visits, and indoor instruction, connect with the purpose of the ecosystems we inhabit, the vibrant life that’s a part of it, and our role in maintaining and adding to it.