November 2018
December 2018
Kid’s New Year’s Eve Party
Ringing in the New Year isn’t just for Adults! Want to celebrate the arrival of 2019 but bedtime is at 8:00? No problem! Put on your party clothes and join us at the Bennington Museum as we welcome in the “Noon” Year with music, dancing, party hats, noisemakers, sparkling grape juice, and the countdown to Noon! And there is so much more. Create your own special hat before moving on to the Silly Photo Station to have your picture taken…
Find out more »February 2019
Community Day at Bennington Museum
Bennington Museum – New Look at Art and History From its beginning, Bennington Museum has collected documents, objects, and art that reflect the region’s, and state’s, rich history. This continues today. However, over the past ten years the Museum has taken a new look at more recent works created by regional artists which has allowed the Museum and its visitors to further explore the rich history of Bennington and Vermont. Many of these works have found their way into the…
Find out more »New Finds about the Battle of Bennington
On Saturday, February 2 during FREE Community Day at the Bennington Museum, join the Curator of the Bennington Museum Jamie Franklin at 2:00 pm when he presents “A Battle of Bennington Veteran’s Portrait Rediscovered – and Acquired.” Learn about the fortunate circumstances that led to Bennington Museum’s acquisition of a tintype and miniature portrait of Lt. Jonathan Holton, a soldier in the Battle of Bennington. A Lieutenant of the Nichols Regiment, Holton was wounded at Bennington on August 16, 1777.…
Find out more »March 2019
American Eccentricities
Join Sculptor Sarah Peters for American Eccentricities, an artist’s talk in collaboration with Usdan Gallery at Bennington College. Peters discusses her studio practice in relationship to the history of American sculpture and representative objects in the Bennington Museum collection. Her research at the museum extends from the Usdan Gallery exhibition The Body Stops Here: Keiko Narahashi and Sarah Peters on view at Usdan Gallery, February 26 through March 30.
Find out more »Music at the Museum
Are you ready to build your own instrument and then join in the concert? Join us on Saturday, March 9 at 2:00 pm in the Ada Paresky Education Center and Paul Paresky Court of the Bennington Museum, when Nick Brooke (faculty, Bennington College) Webb Crawford (Bennington College graduate) and Mark Stewart (founding member of Bang on a Can All Stars) present an instrument building workshop where you, the audience members, build the instruments, then use those instruments to participate in…
Find out more »Bennington Historical Society- “Where was the Bennington Storehouse Located?”
Ada Paresky Education Center of the Bennington Museum Historians know the contents of the store house which the British headed to Bennington to capture, but where was it located? This is the question that Bob Hoar has been struggling with for a couple of years. Using maps and written descriptions, Hoar presents his conclusion and how he reached it.
Find out more »Museum ABCs: Spring Green
Children ages 3 to 5 and their adult caregivers are invited to join us for an hour of exploration, stories, and art. Join us as we look for Spring Green throughout the galleries.
Find out more »April 2019
The Mind’s Eye: Paintings, Sculpture, and Books by Paul Katz
February 1 through May 27 – Annual Student Art Show This exhibition features a variety of works, including paintings, sculpture and drawing books, mainly from Katz’s Prelude and Interlock series. The Preludes are the paintings and objects with words on ribbons. The words are all taken from Henry Wordsworth’s poem “Prelude.” The look of the work was inspired in part by a photograph Katz saw in the New York Times in the days following 9/11. The image was of an…
Find out more »Meet the Curator and Spring Social
Sunday, April 7, 3:00 pm to 5 pm View Up Home: Hand-Colored Photographs by Susanne and Neil Rappaport with Bennington Museum curator, Jamie Franklin; Vermont Folklife Center Director of Archives and Research, Andy Kolovos; Senior Photographer for the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Eileen Travell; and special guest, Alan David Griswold, great grandson of Minnie Griswold whose home is the focus of the exhibition. Enjoy the discussion which ties together the documentary work and artistic expression found in this unique exhibition.…
Find out more »Museum ABCs: “Click” – Creating with Photos
Children ages 3 to 5 and their adult caregivers are invited to join us for an hour of exploration, stories, and art.
Find out more »Appraisal Fair – Is that Junk or a Treasure?
Find out if that quirky piece you always wanted to know about is a family heirloom worth a lot of money or just a quirky piece that has been in your attic for years. The Appraisal Fair is planned for on Saturday, April 13 from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Bring in the pieces you always wanted to know about, get them appraised, and have your questions answered. Come visit Bennington Museum’s Appraisal Fair, and perhaps discover what that treasure…
Find out more »May 2019
Stoneware Collectors Meeting
Tour places in Bennington related to the pottery industry 12:30 to 2:00 pm. Return to the Museum and enjoy a presentation by Cathie Zusy and Warren Broderick from 3:00 to 4:30 pm on new developments in Bennington stoneware research, highlighting five different areas where research into the historic Bennington potteries of the 19th Century continues.
Find out more »Community Day – Getting Up Close and Personal with Art
Free admission all day and the lineup for engagement is outstanding. Check website for details.
Find out more »Museum ABCs: Playing with Paint
Children ages 3 to 5 and their adult caregivers are invited to join us for an hour of exploration, stories, and art.
Find out more »Bennington Historical Society – William Lloyd Garrison
Ada Paresky Education Center of the Bennington Museum Abolitionist William Lloyd Garrison 1805-1879, author of the fiery anti-slavery journal The Liberator, learned the printer’s trade in Bennington, where he published a newspaper in 1828 and 1829. A program on Garrison’s life and his weekly Journal of the Times will be presented on Sunday, May 19, at 2 p.m. at the Bennington Museum by Tyler Resch, the museum’s librarian.
Find out more »June 2019
Summer Party and Exhibition Opening
Be among the first to see the museum’s two major summer exhibitions Fields of Change: 1960s Vermont and Color Fields: 1960s Bennington Modernism. Explore the exhibitions with Museum Curator JAMIE FRANKLIN and Special Guests GREG GUMA, Journalist, Editor, and Activist DAVID WASCO, MAUHS Class of ’71 and Academy Award Winning Production Designer Festive Summer Fare provided by THYME TABLES CATERING, SHAFTSBURY Wine, Beer, and Summer Refreshments for
Find out more »July 2019
August 2019
Lunch is Served
Great location, Great Food. Stop by for a delicious break in your day. VIZAVI is Vermont’s first solar-powered food cart, established in Shaftsbury in the summer of 2018. They proudly feature many fresh, local, organic ingredients, often prepared with an international flair – Savory and Sweet crepes. Their mission is to nourish you deliciously and sustainably. Owned and operated by Julia Rhode, Vizavi is a fully licensed and insured LLC. Get your lunch and enjoy it on the Museum’s patio…
Find out more »September 2019
BHS Presentation
On Sunday, September 15 at 2:00 pm, Bennington Historical Society will have a presentation which is currently in the planning phase. Watch here for details as they become available.
Find out more »Museum ABCs: Fall Colors
Children ages 3 to 5 and their adult caregivers are invited to join us for an hour of exploration, stories, and art. September 19, 2019 Fall Colors Help us welcome in Fall as we search for the colors of Autumn in the galleries. Hear some of our favorite stories about the season, and make some Autumnal artwork to bring home. Museum ABCs is free, thanks to funding from The Bank of Bennington. No reservations required. Museum ABCs is a joint…
Find out more »Natural History
Great Music by Natural History, a dynamic trio who embodies the improvisational essence of the 1960s.
Find out more »Bennington Museum – Free Admission for Everyone!
On Saturday, September 28 from 10 am to 5 pm admission to the Bennington Museum is FREE for all visitors and the lineup for engagement is outstanding. The day’s events focus on issues of Civil Rights and Diversity in Vermont in connection with Fields of Change: 1960s Vermont, Visible in Vermont: Our Stories, Our Voices, and Bennington Museum’s participation in the 2019 Vermont Reads Program. Visible in Vermont: Our Stories Our Voices is presented by The Root Social Justice Center’s…
Find out more »October 2019
Fall Social and Awards Presentation for Members and Friends
Join with members of the museum, friends, and invited guests to honor Greg Van Houten, recipient of this year’s Walloomsac Society Award, and the of the General Stark Society Award recipients, Volunteers of the George Aiken Wildflower Trail*. After socializing, celebrate with the award winners, and hear a brief presentation about the 2020 major exhibition titled Robert Frost, “At Present in Vermont.” There will be food and drink and plenty of time to enjoy the evening.
Find out more »Museum ABCs: Puppet Play
Children ages 3 to 5 and their adult caregivers are invited to join us for an hour of exploration, stories, and art. In October we check out some of the famous Bread and Puppet Theater puppets, play with and make puppets, and create a puppet show. Museum ABCs is free, thanks to funding from The Bank of Bennington. No reservations required. Museum ABCs is a joint program of Bennington Museum and The Bennington Free Library.
Find out more »A Very Special Event for Monument Society Members ONLY!
Advanced reservations are required by October 11 Open and Free to all Monument Society members (membership includes a total of 2 people) Monument Society members may invite additional guests for $300 per person after October 1 Call 802-447-1571 ext. 202 to make your reservation, email [email protected], OR make your reservation online. What is in store for this special event 3:00 pm: A shuttle departs from Bennington Museum. Arrive at the Hall Art Foundation for cocktails and light hors d’oeuvres followed…
Find out more »BHS Presents Windmills and Their Effect on the Bears of Searsburg
On Sunday, October 20 at 2:00 pm, Bennington Historical Society presents Windmills and Their Effect on the Bears of Searsburg. Jaclyn Comeau is the Wildlife Biologist at Vermont Fish and Wild life Department who has been researching the effect wind development has on the black bear population in Searsburg. Historically this area has served as the habitat of black bears. However, it has been invaded by industrial wind development. What effect has this had on the future of this population?…
Find out more »November 2019
Diagonal Life: Theory and Praxis
“Diagonals are created from the leaning power of hurt verticals,” says Peter Schumann, founder and director of Bread and Puppet Theater. “Diagonal Life brings all the bewildering, beguiling, and downright funny possibilities and implications of diagonality to life with song, dance, magic, mechanism, and stunning cardboard and paper maché puppets painted in Peter Schumann’s exuberant, slapdash expressionist style.”
Find out more »Bread and Puppet presents Diagonal Life: Theory and Praxis
Bennington Museum presents Bread and Puppet Theater’s Diagonal Life: Theory and Praxis, a show that examines the current precariously diagonal condition –on the verge of collapse, yet always capable of uprising. Held in the Ada Paresky Education Center, this free event is made possible by the generous support of Alison Nowak and Robert Cane through the Music at the Museum series. Due to limited seating, reservations are required.
Find out more »BHS Presents Shay’s Settlement in Vermont: A Story of Revolt and Archaeology
On Sunday, November 17 at 2:00 pm, Bennington Historical Society presents Shay’s Settlement in Vermont: A story of Revolt and Archaeology. After fleeing the 1787 uprising in Massachusetts, led by Daniel Shay, many settled in the wilderness of Sandgate, Vermont. Rediscovered in 1997, the site of this settlement has been studied since 2013. Stephen Butz, a teacher from New York, has been leading students in exploring the site and talks about their findings.
Find out more »Museum ABCs: Print It!
Children ages 3 to 5 and their adult caregivers are invited to join us for an hour of exploration, stories, and art. Print It! inspires children with the amazing wood block prints by artist Asa Chaffetz. Learn some simple and fun printmaking techniques. Museum ABCs is free, thanks to funding from The Bank of Bennington. No reservations required. Museum ABCs is a joint program of Bennington Museum and The Bennington Free Library.
Find out more »December 2019
The Festival – A Snowy Evening FAMILY DAY
Celebrate the season with $3 admission to the museum for everyone! Any child that brings an item to be donated to Bennington County Coalition for the Homeless is admitted free. Due to the generous support of local businesses and friends of the Museum, all crafts and visits with Santa are FREE! Every child can create a wonderful craft and get to tell Santa and Mrs. Claus what is on their list. Craft activities are available all day while visits with…
Find out more »The Festival Gala
Our major exhibition in 2020 is an exploration of Robert Frost and his time spent in Shaftsbury (1920-1940) when he wrote some of his most memorable works including Stopping by the Woods on a Snowy Evening. In anticipation of this exhibition, it is our pleasure to invite you to Bennington Museum’s Major Annual Fundraiser and Seasonal celebration.
Find out more »Museum ABCs: Snow Days
Children ages 3 to 5 and their adult caregivers are invited to join us for an hour of exploration, stories, and art. Snow Days. No matter what the temperature is outside, snow will be plentiful indoors. Just like this year’s Festival artists, we’ll take our inspiration from Robert Frost. Museum ABCs is free, thanks to funding from The Bank of Bennington. No reservations required. Museum ABCs is a joint program of Bennington Museum and The Bennington Free Library.
Find out more »Kid’s New Year’s Eve Party
Ringing in the New Year isn’t just for Adults! Want to celebrate the arrival of 2020 but bedtime is at 8:00? No problem! Put on your party clothes and join us at the Bennington Museum as we welcome in the “Noon” Year with music, dancing, party hats, noisemakers, sparkling grape juice, and the countdown to Noon! And there is so much more. Create your own special hat before moving on to the Silly Photo Station to have your picture taken…
Find out more »February 2020
FREE Community Day at Bennington Museum
Bennington Museum – Free Admission for Everyone! From its beginning, Bennington Museum has collected documents, objects, and art that reflect the region’s, and state’s, rich history. This continues today. Without turning its back on the deep historic roots of the town and region, the Museum has taken a new look at more recent works created by regional artists. Many of these works have found their way into the Museum’s collection, while others are on loan to the Museum for you…
Find out more »Religion in Early Bennington
The settlement of Bennington in 1761 was an extension of the Puritan migration which began in Boston in 1630. Local historian, Don Miller, will trace that path through Massachusetts to Connecticut and eventually on to Bennington.
Find out more »February Vacation Week Workshops
Join in the exploration of winter for a day or the week. February Vacation Week Workshops 1:00 – 4:00 pm Grades K through 4 $10/member $15/non-member Includes snack and all materials Registration is required by calling 802-447-1571 ext. 203. Monday February 17, 2020 Music in the Museum Check out some of the historical musical instruments in the museum’s collection, create music-inspired art, and make a recycled instrument of your own. Tuesday February 18, 2020 On the Farm Let’s get to…
Find out more »Museum ABCs: (re)Sounding: Making Music
Children ages 3 to 5 and their adult caregivers are invited to join us for an hour of exploration, stories, and art. February 27, 2020 (re)Sounding: Making Music Learn about some of the instruments in the museum’s collection, hear their sounds, and make a musical instrument to bring home. Museum ABCs is free, thanks to funding from The Bank of Bennington. No reservations required. Museum ABCs is a joint program of Bennington Museum and The Bennington Free Library.
Find out more »Music at the Museum: Old World – New World
Bennington Museum is pleased to begin the 2020 Music at the Museum concert series with a performance by Quartet 131 who will perform Cassatio in B-flat Major, Op. 1 No. 1 (ca. 1760) composed by Joseph Haydn (1732–1809), Quartet in C minor, Op. 51 No. 1 (1873), Johannes Brahms (1833–1897), Chippewa Farewell Song (1919) by Charles Griffes (1884–1920), and Quartet No. 5 in F minor, Op. 8 (1873) Antonin Dvorak (1841-1904). This performance brings together the wonderful quartet of Lilit…
Find out more »August 2020
Friday Nights in the Courtyard: Judith Schwartz Book Launch
Judith D. Schwartz is a local author who tells stories to explore and illuminate scientific concepts and cultural nuance. She takes a clear-eyed look at global environmental, economic, and social challenges, and finds insights and solutions in natural systems. Judith Schwartz book release and reading at 5:30, followed by music with Joe Tucker at 6pm. Food and libations available for purchase.
Find out more »National Lemonade Day
Enjoy cold lemonade prepared and sold by a few of the Museum kids (offspring of the Museum Staff). Lemonade will be available for purchase via donation (small or large!) in the Hadwen Pavilion all afternoon. Please wear a mask and remember social distancing guidelines.
Find out more »Meet Me In the Courtyard – Big Stone Gap
Big Stone Gap specializes in old-time Appalachian music featuring seasoned local performers on strings, bass, guitar and mandolin. Food and libations for purchase.
Find out more »Pretty in Pink: A Courtyard + Cork Event
There’s more to rosé than people think....courses include Sparkling Aperitif: Potato Chips!; Syrah Rosé: Pepperoni Pizza; Grenache Rosé: Fruit Salad; Provençal Rosé: Olives, Cherry Tomatoes and olive oil and Tempranillo Rosé: Smoked Sausages, Chocolate Truffles. The event includes an optional private tour of the Museum with the Executive Director prior to seating.
Find out more »Meet Me In the Courtyard – Banulis, Miller & Green Jazz
Dave Banulis, Gary Miller, and Ed Green perform jazz standards, contemporary jazz, plus an extensive repertoire of original jazz compositions by Gary. Improvisation, interplay, nuance, and ensemble playing are key ingredients of the Trio’s sound. Food and libations available for purchase.
Find out more »May 2021
Museum ABCs: Rocks Rock!
Our special guest, Robert (Roc) Kauffman, and discover the art of stone balancing. How many can you stack? We will make some rockin’ art, too! This program will take place in person, outdoors. Masks required for anyone over 2 years of age. Wear sneakers or sturdy shoes to go rock hunting.
Find out more »Making Simple Traditional Baskets from Flat Reed
Basket making is one of the oldest crafts. Here in the Northeast most baskets were made from either birchbark or ash splint. The material we will use in this workshop mimics black ash splint though it is cut from the tropical rattan vine. In this workshop, Bliss McIntosh will demonstrate both bark and ash splint baskets. Each participant will make either a square bottom, round top basket or a small oval wall basket, using flat reed, but working in the…
Find out more »Annual Spring Party
Celebrate with us at an outdoor, wedding themed Spring party! It's been too long for us to not get a little fancy so we are channeling one of our new in-house exhibits: Love, Marriage, and Divorce. Bridesmaids dresses welcome. Refreshments, light bites and wedding cake will be served.
Find out more »June 2021
Make Sound Art! Come to the Block Party featuring Moose Jr and Soul Steps
Meet Museum ABCs at the block party at Merchant’s Park, North Street in downtown Bennington! Make a colorful Sound Art object to enjoy with the interactive music of Moose Jr’s Music for Everyone followed by the African-American step dance troupe SOUL STEPS.
Find out more »The Outsider: A couch+cork event
Join us for the first couch+cork event of 2021 featuring weird wines paired with small snacks for each palate from around the world. Learn about natural wines, unfiltered wines, skin-contact whites and what makes them wild, wonderful, and so non-traditional.
Find out more »Concerts in the Courtyard: Patrick Sargent
Join us in the courtyard for a bite to eat and some informal entertainment by regional musicians. Bring your own blanket or lawn chair and arrive early as the courtyard capacity will be limited to 30 total. Visitors are expected to maintain social distance and wear masks when not eating or drinking.
Find out more »Concerts in the Courtyard: Robanic with the Caribbean Sounds
Join us in the courtyard for a bite to eat and some informal entertainment by regional musicians. Bring your own blanket or lawn chair and arrive early as the courtyard capacity will be limited to 30 total. Visitors are expected to maintain social distance and wear masks when not eating or drinking.
Find out more »Pysanky Egg Decorating Workshop – Homespun Quilt Block
Students will be provided with a pre-drawn brown chicken egg. The front and back of the egg will have a quilt block in the center. A vertical band with diamonds divides the front and back of the Pysanky egg. Students will learn how to trace over the design with a “Kistka” writing tool and melted beeswax and may choose two related dye colors to complete their design. This workshop is appropriate for adults and for children 10 and older, working…
Find out more »July 2021
Concerts in the Courtyard: KWILLEO
Join us in the courtyard for a bite to eat and some informal entertainment by regional musicians. Bring your own blanket or lawn chair and arrive early as the courtyard capacity will be limited to 30 total. Visitors are expected to maintain social distance and wear masks when not eating or drinking.
Find out more »Concerts in the Courtyard: Golfstrom
Join us in the courtyard for a bite to eat and some informal entertainment by regional musicians. Bring your own blanket or lawn chair and arrive early as the courtyard capacity will be limited to 30 total. Visitors are expected to maintain social distance and wear masks when not eating or drinking.
Find out more »Making Simple Traditional Baskets from Flat Reed
In this workshop, Bliss McIntosh will demonstrate both bark and ash splint baskets. Each participant will make either a square bottom, round top basket or a small oval wall basket, using flat reed, but working in the traditional style of black ash splint. This is the most basic of designs which can be refined or expanded to make any size or shape. The finished basket will have rims but not a handle and will be suitable as a serving basket…
Find out more »Love, Marriage & Bubbles: A couch+cork event
In honor of our exhibition exploring the regional history of love, we present a selection of very wedding appropriate beverages that will go right to your head.
Find out more »Concerts in the Courtyard: Deena Chappell Trio
Join us in the courtyard for a bite to eat and some informal entertainment by regional musicians. Bring your own blanket or lawn chair and arrive early as the courtyard capacity will be limited to 30 total. Visitors are expected to maintain social distance and wear masks when not eating or drinking.
Find out more »Concerts in the Courtyard: HEARD
Join us in the courtyard for a bite to eat and some informal entertainment by regional musicians. Bring your own blanket or lawn chair and arrive early as the courtyard capacity will be limited to 30 total. Visitors are expected to maintain social distance and wear masks when not eating or drinking.
Find out more »Concerts in the Courtyard: MOOSE CROSSING
Join us in the courtyard for a bite to eat and some informal entertainment by regional musicians. Bring your own blanket or lawn chair and arrive early as the courtyard capacity will be limited to 30 total. Visitors are expected to maintain social distance and wear masks when not eating or drinking.
Find out more »August 2021
Concerts in the Courtyard: Mark & Jill
Join us in the courtyard for a bite to eat and some informal entertainment by regional musicians. Bring your own blanket or lawn chair and arrive early as the courtyard capacity will be limited to 30 total. Visitors are expected to maintain social distance and wear masks when not eating or drinking.
Find out more »Concerts in the Courtyard: Kevin McKrell
Join us in the courtyard for a bite to eat and some informal entertainment by regional musicians. Bring your own blanket or lawn chair and arrive early as the courtyard capacity will be limited to 30 total. Visitors are expected to maintain social distance and wear masks when not eating or drinking.
Find out more »Love is Blind: A couch+cork event
There is no accounting for taste when it comes to art, or wine. This final tasting of the season will be BLIND. We’ll give some instruction and then let your tastebuds go to work on 5 wines- 2 reds, 2 whites, and a dessert wine to end the affair.
Find out more »Concerts in the Courtyard: Patrick Sargent
Join us in the courtyard for a bite to eat and some informal entertainment by regional musicians. Bring your own blanket or lawn chair and arrive early as the courtyard capacity will be limited to 30 total. Visitors are expected to maintain social distance and wear masks when not eating or drinking.
Find out more »Concerts in the Courtyard: Big Stone Gap
Join us in the courtyard for a bite to eat and some informal entertainment by regional musicians. Bring your own blanket or lawn chair and arrive early as the courtyard capacity will be limited to 30 total. Visitors are expected to maintain social distance and wear masks when not eating or drinking.
Find out more »September 2021
Concerts in the Courtyard: Bennington Traditional Jazz Band
Join us in the courtyard for a bite to eat and some informal entertainment by regional musicians. Bring your own blanket or lawn chair and arrive early as the courtyard capacity will be limited to 30 total. Visitors are expected to maintain social distance and wear masks when not eating or drinking.
Find out more »Concerts in the Courtyard: KWILLEO
Be soothed by sound is to truly feel music. Harnessing over a decade of song writing and performing – KWILLEO builds a sonic bridge between Earth and its inhabitants. KWILLEO is the project of singer/songwriter, Olivia Quillio, who found themselves in different creative territory after taking a hiatus to heal. With song, KWILLEO lulls you into the still rest of the unknown. Bring their own blankets or lawn chairs and to arrive early for this free concert as the courtyard…
Find out more »Music at the Museum with Allen Shawn
Music at the Museum welcomes back composer and pianist Allen Shawn. He will be joined by Ronald Feldman (cello), Elizabeth Morse (harp), William Safford (contrabassoon), and Thomas Bogden (voice). The program consists entirely of premieres of new music by Shawn.
Find out more »
Stay at Top Rated Hilton!
Live Theatre and Music
Tour The Mount, Edith Wharton’s Home
Blantyre Country Estate
Norman Rockwell Museum: A Must See!