The Stanley offers University of Iowa students a variety of ways to get involved with the museum.

A wide range of programs and related initiatives offer many ways for students to experience the museum, both academically and socially.

Campus Engagement Coordinator Annelies Knight poses holding up a white t-shirt she has just printed three voting-inspired designs onto, tossing a smile over her shoulder.

Nights at the Museum

Monthly student programs held on Thursday nights when the museum is open late. 

Designed to introduce the museum to students across campus through engaging activities, Nights at the Museum events are organized with the assistance of the student Campus Engagement Coordinator.

Study at the Stanley

Weeklong drop-in study sessions held every semester during finals week in the museum lobby. Snacks and supplies are provided, and students are encouraged to take a break in the galleries between study sessions.

Students sit around a table, carving linoleum blocks to make stamps.

Additional Programs

Students can also check out a variety of free workshops, lectures, and activities held regularly at the museum.

Student Programs

Night at the Museum: The Art of Voting 4.0 promotional image

Night at the Museum: The Art of Voting 4.0

Thursday, September 10, 2026 5:00pm to 7:00pm
Stanley Museum of Art

Welcome to the first Night at the Museum for the semester, Hawkeyes! Night at the Museum is our series of monthly events for students, hosted Thursday evenings when we are open late. 

This month will be our fourth annual collaboration with Hawk the Vote. HTV is an organization involved in civic engagement, voter registration, and education on campus, and will be available to help students register to vote and provide more information on engagement. In-state residents, please remember to bring a...

Friday Crafternoons promotional image

Friday Crafternoons

Friday, September 11, 2026 1:00pm to 3:30pm
Stanley Museum of Art

Need a creative break at the end of the week? Swing by the Stanley on Friday afternoons to work on a craft project of your choice.

Bring your own in-progress project or start a new one using the various supplies provided. Try your hand at sketching, coloring, knitting, embroidery, origami, and so much more in a relaxing, low-pressure environment. Stay as long as you like and make new connections. Light snacks will be provided.

Friday Crafternoons occurs almost every Friday at the Stanley Museum of...

Friday Crafternoons promotional image

Friday Crafternoons

Friday, September 18, 2026 1:00pm to 3:30pm
Stanley Museum of Art

Need a creative break at the end of the week? Swing by the Stanley on Friday afternoons to work on a craft project of your choice.

Bring your own in-progress project or start a new one using the various supplies provided. Try your hand at sketching, coloring, knitting, embroidery, origami, and so much more in a relaxing, low-pressure environment. Stay as long as you like and make new connections. Light snacks will be provided.

Friday Crafternoons occurs almost every Friday at the Stanley Museum of...

Friday Crafternoons promotional image

Friday Crafternoons

Friday, September 25, 2026 1:00pm to 3:30pm
Stanley Museum of Art

Need a creative break at the end of the week? Swing by the Stanley on Friday afternoons to work on a craft project of your choice.

Bring your own in-progress project or start a new one using the various supplies provided. Try your hand at sketching, coloring, knitting, embroidery, origami, and so much more in a relaxing, low-pressure environment. Stay as long as you like and make new connections. Light snacks will be provided.

Friday Crafternoons occurs almost every Friday at the Stanley Museum of...

Friday Crafternoons promotional image

Friday Crafternoons

Friday, October 2, 2026 1:00pm to 3:30pm
Stanley Museum of Art

Need a creative break at the end of the week? Swing by the Stanley on Friday afternoons to work on a craft project of your choice.

Bring your own in-progress project or start a new one using the various supplies provided. Try your hand at sketching, coloring, knitting, embroidery, origami, and so much more in a relaxing, low-pressure environment. Stay as long as you like and make new connections. Light snacks will be provided.

Friday Crafternoons occurs almost every Friday at the Stanley Museum of...

Night at the Museum: Spooky Crafts promotional image

Night at the Museum: Spooky Crafts

Thursday, October 8, 2026 5:00pm to 7:00pm
Stanley Museum of Art

Join us for our next installment of Night at the Museum—a series of monthly events for students that occur Thursday nights, when the museum is open late. 

This month we're hosting different spooky crafts centered around Halloween, complete with snacks. Join us to make scary monsters out of air-dry clay, color Halloween-themed coloring sheets, make fall mood boards, decorate masks, or explore a fall scavenger hunt in our galleries! 

Bring your friends to get into the Halloween spirit!

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Once a month...

Friday Crafternoons promotional image

Friday Crafternoons

Friday, October 9, 2026 1:00pm to 3:30pm
Stanley Museum of Art

Need a creative break at the end of the week? Swing by the Stanley on Friday afternoons to work on a craft project of your choice.

Bring your own in-progress project or start a new one using the various supplies provided. Try your hand at sketching, coloring, knitting, embroidery, origami, and so much more in a relaxing, low-pressure environment. Stay as long as you like and make new connections. Light snacks will be provided.

Friday Crafternoons occurs almost every Friday at the Stanley Museum of...

Friday Crafternoons promotional image

Friday Crafternoons

Friday, October 16, 2026 1:00pm to 3:30pm
Stanley Museum of Art

Need a creative break at the end of the week? Swing by the Stanley on Friday afternoons to work on a craft project of your choice.

Bring your own in-progress project or start a new one using the various supplies provided. Try your hand at sketching, coloring, knitting, embroidery, origami, and so much more in a relaxing, low-pressure environment. Stay as long as you like and make new connections. Light snacks will be provided.

Friday Crafternoons occurs almost every Friday at the Stanley Museum of...

Friday Crafternoons promotional image

Friday Crafternoons

Friday, October 23, 2026 1:00pm to 3:30pm
Stanley Museum of Art

Need a creative break at the end of the week? Swing by the Stanley on Friday afternoons to work on a craft project of your choice.

Bring your own in-progress project or start a new one using the various supplies provided. Try your hand at sketching, coloring, knitting, embroidery, origami, and so much more in a relaxing, low-pressure environment. Stay as long as you like and make new connections. Light snacks will be provided.

Friday Crafternoons occurs almost every Friday at the Stanley Museum of...

Friday Crafternoons promotional image

Friday Crafternoons

Friday, October 30, 2026 1:00pm to 3:30pm
Stanley Museum of Art

Need a creative break at the end of the week? Swing by the Stanley on Friday afternoons to work on a craft project of your choice.

Bring your own in-progress project or start a new one using the various supplies provided. Try your hand at sketching, coloring, knitting, embroidery, origami, and so much more in a relaxing, low-pressure environment. Stay as long as you like and make new connections. Light snacks will be provided.

Friday Crafternoons occurs almost every Friday at the Stanley Museum of...

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