The Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum

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A group of students in the Museum's Sculpture Garden by a green lawn chair.

Learn

As an artist-centered institution, The Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum is guided by the belief that artists are innovative thinkers, who offer unique perspectives on our world. Learning at The Aldrich engages visitors of all ages with artworks and ideas from these artists, fostering a public space for critical discourse.

Funders

Generous support for Education and Public Programs is provided by Bank of America; Connecticut Humanities; Cornelia T. Bailey Foundation; The Cowles Charitable Trust; David T. Langrock Foundation; Department of Economic and Community Development, Office of the Arts; Fairfield County Bank; Gage Fund; Goldstone Family Foundation; The Leir Foundation; Milton and Sally Avery Arts Foundation; Pamela F. and Robert J. Morganti Charitable Foundation; Ridgefield Rotary Club; Ridgefield Thrift Shop; The Ruth Krauss Foundation; Steven & Alexandra Cohen Foundation; and Wadsworth Russell Lewis Trust Fund.

Pages

Two dancers in colorful dresses dancing in the gallery

Public Programs

Participate in a broad range of programs designed to deepen understanding and engagement with the works of art on view, focused on interactive experiences around contemporary culture.

Two young children work on an art project

The Studio

The Studio is a dedicated space for learning and making for visitors of all ages to explore ideas, questions, and materials that relate to our current exhibitions.

Young student creates a work of art in The Aldrich's Studio

Children and Family Programs

The Aldrich offers a variety of engagement opportunities for families, inviting peer-to-peer learning and intergenerational exchange.

Spring 2022 Aldrich Teen Fellows.

Teen Programs

We are invested in the artists, leaders, and thinkers of tomorrow by providing opportunities for teens to engage with contemporary art and museum careers through Aldrich Teen Fellows and Internships.

Four students look at Sara Cwynar's work

School Programs

The Aldrich partners with preschools, elementary, middle, and high schools, universities, community groups, and home-schooled individuals to collaborate on guided tours, professional development workshops, and additional programs.

Young visitors engage with a work of art on view

Accessibility Programs

The Aldrich supports access to our exhibitions for individuals with a range of abilities through multiple partnerships with regional organizations, reciprocal Museum memberships, scholarship opportunities, and free admission for SNAP/EBT card holders and veterans.

Group of people standing around a large scale sculpture of a white tailed deer in the Sculpture Garden.

Group Tours

We offer guided tours of current exhibitions by an Aldrich Educator for groups of five or more.

Children making art with their teacher

Camp Aldrich

Camp Aldrich runs each summer for three week-long, full-day sessions led by Museum Educators and practicing artists. Campers explore the Museum’s three-acre campus and incorporate ideas from current exhibitions and relevant themes into their art, culminating in a celebratory exhibition in The Studio at the end of each session.

Selected Upcoming Events

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Two large-scale figurative ceramic sculptures in a gallery.
December 14, 2023 at 6:00 pm | Public Programs

Big Ceramic Sculptures: Laura Phipps on Raven Halfmoon

Join us for a discussion of Raven Halfmoon’s work through questions of material, scale, and collaboration in context with other contemporary makers of large-scale ceramics, such as Cannupa Hanska Luger, Simone Leigh, Theaster Gates and Rose B. Simpson led by Laura Phipps, Associate Curator at the Whitney Museum of American Art.

Children work on art projects outside
December 16, 2023 at 10:30 am | The Studio, Children and Family Programs

Story Time for Kids: Walter’s Wonderful Web - AT CAPACITY

Bring your budding artists to The Aldrich for Story Time, in collaboration with the Ridgefield Library! Together, we will explore how artist Chiffon Thomas uses geometric shapes to build dome-like sculptures out of stained glass. Then, we will read Walter’s Wonderful Web by Tim Hopgood and move to the Museum’s Studio to create our own geometric sculptures!

Installation view of a gallery with large scale ceramic sculptures on white pedestals.
December 16, 2023 at 12:00 pm | Free Admission, Public Programs, Children and Family Programs

Leaf Arrow Theater-Native American Storytellers Hour

Please join us for a very special program presenting storytelling by Joe Cross (Caddo Nation) and Donna Couteau-Cross (Sac and Fox Nation/Lenape) from Leaf Arrow Theater-Native American Storytellers. Cross' sister, artist Jeri Redcorn, is responsible for the revival of traditional Caddo pottery and a mentor to exhibiting artist Raven Halfmoon.

two women standing in front of a diptych
December 16, 2023 at 1:00 pm | Children and Family Programs, Group Tours

All Ages Discovery Tour

Have you ever looked at contemporary art and wished you knew what it meant? Have you ever entered a museum not knowing where to start? If you answered yes, this free, interactive, and judgement-free tour of our current exhibitions guided by a Museum Educator is perfect for you!

two women taking in front of a wall of paintings
December 20, 2023 at 1:00 pm | Group Tours

Seniors-Only Tour

Join us for this in-person gallery tour of highlighted works from our current exhibitions, guided by Museum Educator Holly Lapine, reserved specifically for senior adults ages 60 and above!

Two photos of a three quarter profile of a man and a woman wearing a black shirt with her hand on her hip side by side.
January 11, 2024 at 6:00 pm | Public Programs

Virtual Artist Talk: Chiffon Thomas and Dr. Alyssa Collins

Please join us for a virtual conversation on the current exhibition Chiffon Thomas: The Cavernous featuring the artist and Dr. Alyssa Collins, Assistant Professor of English and African American Studies at the University of South Carolina and the inaugural Huntington Library Octavia E. Butler Fellow.

people in a museum gallery
January 17, 2024 at 1:00 pm | Group Tours

Seniors-Only Tour

Join us for this in-person gallery tour of highlighted works from our current exhibitions, guided by Museum Educator Holly Lapine, reserved specifically for senior adults ages 60 and above!

A glowing geodesic dome with a lying figure attached
February 3, 2024 at 5:30 pm | Public Programs

Performance | Chiffon Thomas: Polish

Polish is an hour-long performance created by artist Chiffon Thomas. The performance will take place inside the artist’s exhibition, The Cavernous at the Museum.

A minimalist white book cover with the words "circle under berry" vertically aligned with an illustrated strawberry and circle placed between each word
February 17, 2024 at 10:30 am | The Studio, Children and Family Programs

Story Time for Kids: Circle Under Berry

Bring your budding artists to The Aldrich for Story Time, in collaboration with the Ridgefield Library! Together, we will explore the abstract paintings of artist Loie Hollowell. Then, we will read Circle Under Berry by Carter Higgins and move to the Museum’s Studio to create our own artworks that use colors and shapes in creative ways!

people gathered in a museum lobby
February 17, 2024 at 1:00 pm | Group Tours

All Ages Discovery Tour

Have you ever looked at contemporary art and wished you knew what it meant? Have you ever entered a museum not knowing where to start? If you answered yes, this free, interactive, and judgment-free tour of our current exhibitions guided by a Museum Educator is perfect for you!

two women taking in front of a wall of paintings
February 21, 2024 at 1:00 pm | Group Tours

Seniors-Only Tour

Join us for this in-person gallery tour of highlighted works from our current exhibitions, guided by Museum Educator Holly Lapine, reserved specifically for senior adults ages 60 and above!