The Stanley Museum of Art will launch its National Endowment for the Arts Big Read program on Jan. 20, 2025, Martin Luther King Jr. Day. This event features a community wide reading of the novel Beloved by Toni Morrison. Pick up a free copy of Beloved at 12 pickup locations across Iowa City between Jan. 20 and Feb. 12, 2025.  Register here to pickup a free copy: https://uiowa.doubleknot.com/event/nea-big-reads-beloved-by-toni-morriso... An email confirmation must be presented to claim a book...

Be a part of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration of Human Rights Week from Jan. 20–26.  On Thursday, day 4 of MLK Week, the Stanley Museum of Art will be hosting an all day art workshop in collaboration with Multicultural and International Student Support and Engagement. The program, Art and Expression, will be led by different mural artists throughout the day and will focus on creating a collaborative mural on large sheets of paper that reflects themes of justice, equality, and unity that...

Write at the Stanley: A Generative Writing Workshop is back for the Spring Semester! Join us monthly to generate new creative writing inspired by works in the Stanley collection. Each session will be led by a different talented writer from our area, who will be offering a new prompt and a new approach to ekphrastic writing (writing inspired by visual art). Bring your own notebook and pencil or computer and leave with the beginning of a newly written piece. Co-sponsored by Iowa City Poetry...

Get ready to unleash your inner engineer and artist! In this exciting workshop, children will use a variety of materials, including wire, beads, and Legos, to create their own unique sculptures. From towering skyscrapers to whimsical creatures, the possibilities are endless. Kids will develop their problem-solving skills, creativity, and fine motor skills while having a blast. Space is limited; please reserve your spot at https://uiowa.doubleknot.com/event/schools-out-at-the-stanley-january-29...

Enjoy refreshments, curator remarks, and an open house in recognition of the spring 2025 Main Library Gallery exhibit, A Roll of the Dice: Symbolism in the Sackner Archive, curated by Rich Dana. Event Schedule  4–6 p.m.: Reception and open house with curator Rich Dana 4:30 p.m.: Brief remarks in the Main Library Gallery  6 p.m.: Opening event ends 8 p.m.: Main Library Gallery closes (open late on Tuesdays) Admission to the gallery is always free. No RSVP required for this event. About the...

Join the 2024-2025 Grant Wood Fellows artists for an evening of discussion about their work and research. The event will be accompanied by light refreshments. Panel members: Rush Baker IV (Painting & Drawing) Matthew Willie Garcia (Printmaking) Lyndsey Scott (Interdisciplinary Performance—Music) The Grant Wood Art Colony seeks to provide a creative home for the next generation of artists and continue Grant Wood’s creative advocacy in the School of Art & Art History and the Division of...

Join the long, rich, historical tradition of artists creating in our spaces. Professional, aspiring, and amateur artists alike, make our museum your muse. The return of this popular program series welcomes guests into the Museum of Natural History's magical gallery spaces after-hours to work on sketching or writing projects with other campus and community artists. Tell a friend, grab a notebook, and join us on the first Friday of each month. We'll provide a new inspo prompt for each session...

Join us for another installment of Night at the Museum, a series of monthly events for UI students that occurs on Thursday nights, when the museum is open late. This month, we're celebrating Valentine's Day for a whole week! We're giving students the chance to show what artworks they love in our galleries, as well as the opportunity to make their own art. Visit the Stanley Museum of HeARTs anytime during the week — we'll have paper hearts available at the front desk for students to leave on the...

Join us for another installment of Night at the Museum, a series of monthly events for UI students that occurs on Thursday nights, when the museum is open late. This month, we're celebrating Valentine's Day for a whole week! We're giving students the chance to show what artworks they love in our galleries, as well as the opportunity to make their own art. Visit the Stanley Museum of HeARTs anytime during the week — we'll have paper hearts available at the front desk for students to leave on the...

Join us for another installment of Night at the Museum, a series of monthly events for UI students that occurs on Thursday nights, when the museum is open late. This month, we're celebrating Valentine's Day for a whole week! We're giving students the chance to show what artworks they love in our galleries, as well as the opportunity to make their own art. Visit the Stanley Museum of HeARTs anytime during the week — we'll have paper hearts available at the front desk for students to leave on the...

Join us for the opening of the exhibition, it's a fine thing This exhibition explores the rich and often overlooked landscape of the Black Midwest, challenging conventional narratives and celebrating the resilience and creativity of Black Midwestern artists.  Program begins at 6 p.m. with opening remarks, followed by refreshments and music. Event concludes at 8 p.m. Learn more: https://stanleymuseum.uiowa.edu/its-a-fine-thing it’s a fine thing is generously supported by the Terra Foundation...

Join us for another installment of Night at the Museum, a series of monthly events for UI students that occurs on Thursday nights, when the museum is open late. This month, we're celebrating Valentine's Day for a whole week! We're giving students the chance to show what artworks they love in our galleries, as well as the opportunity to make their own art. Visit the Stanley Museum of HeARTs anytime during the week — we'll have paper hearts available at the front desk for students to leave on the...

The Drawing Salon focuses on drawing artworks from the museum's collection. Each session will focus on a different artwork. The sessions will begin with an introduction and discussion of the selected work. Participants will be encouraged to pursue their own visions and to take inspiration from the artworks in the gallery. Pencils and sketchbooks/paper are the only artmaking materials allowed in the galleries. The museum has golf pencils with erasers and clipboards for participants to use...

Interested in learning about the ancient art practice of weaving? The Stanley has partnered with ICDD for the upcoming Free Week – a winter festival offering free programming at over 15 venues, celebrating Downtown Iowa City’s Cultural & Entertainment District from February 18 - 22, 2025. Weaver and Graduate Assistant at the Stanley Museum of Art, Melanie Landsittel, will lead a workshop featuring many types of DIY looms and demonstrate the process of weaving. Visitors will be shown how to...

Write at the Stanley: A Generative Writing Workshop is back for the Spring Semester! Join us monthly to generate new creative writing inspired by works in the Stanley collection. Each session will be led by a different talented writer from our area, who will be offering a new prompt and a new approach to ekphrastic writing (writing inspired by visual art). Bring your own notebook and pencil or computer and leave with the beginning of a newly written piece. Co-sponsored by Iowa City Poetry...

Children are invited to build their very own tin box robots using tin boxes, bolts, and a variety of other hardware. This inventive artmaking program encourages young artists to explore their imaginations and transform everyday materials into whimsical robot sculptures. Perfect for kids of all ages and skill levels, this hands-on activity promises a day of fun, creativity, and discovery. Space is limited; please reserve your spot at https://uiowa.doubleknot.com/event/schools-out-at-the-stanley...

Join the long, rich, historical tradition of artists creating in our spaces. Professional, aspiring, and amateur artists alike, make our museum your muse. The return of this popular program series welcomes guests into the Museum of Natural History's magical gallery spaces after-hours to work on sketching or writing projects with other campus and community artists. Tell a friend, grab a notebook, and join us on the first Friday of each month. We'll provide a new inspo prompt for each session...

Join us for another installment of Night at the Museum, a series of monthly events for students that occur on Thursday nights, when the museum is open late. In honor of Women’s History Month, we're teaming up with the Women's Resource and Action Center (WRAC) and the Iowa Women's Archives (IWA) to host a collage night! We will provide copies of historical materials to pick through, along with journals to work in. If you're already an avid journaler (or junk-journaler), you are welcomed to bring...

The Drawing Salon focuses on drawing artworks from the museum's collection. Each session will focus on a different artwork. The sessions will begin with an introduction and discussion of the selected work. Participants will be encouraged to pursue their own visions and to take inspiration from the artworks in the gallery. Pencils and sketchbooks/paper are the only artmaking materials allowed in the galleries. The museum has golf pencils with erasers and clipboards for participants to use...

Write at the Stanley: A Generative Writing Workshop is back for the Spring Semester! Join us monthly to generate new creative writing inspired by works in the Stanley collection. Each session will be led by a different talented writer from our area, who will be offering a new prompt and a new approach to ekphrastic writing (writing inspired by visual art). Bring your own notebook and pencil or computer and leave with the beginning of a newly written piece. Co-sponsored by Iowa City Poetry...