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.

These programs include tours and talks with curators, artists, and scholars; performances in adjacent media such as music, dance, theater, and experimental forms; artist-led community events; and classes to build skills in creating and understanding art while engaging with artists and peers.

Hindsight is Podcast Series

Person in white dress holds a flag with stars on it

We are thrilled to present Hindsight is, a three-episode podcast series in the radio play genre to be released weekly starting on Monday, October 19. The series will focus on vignette scenes with a range of local and regional historical figures in Connecticut including women’s Suffragist Alice Paul and former NAACP Connecticut Chapter President William Webb. Actors will portray these historical figures, dramatizing social and political issues intensified this year such as voting rights, racism, and fascism through their unique perspectives as citizens from the past.

Listen to Hindsight is here.

Ander Mikalson: Scores for the Stars, Part I

Painting of a golden sun surrounded by moons in varying phases of waxing and waning. — Ander Mikalson Score for the Stars, 2020 Watercolor and pencil on paper 12 x 18 inches Courtesy of the artist

Scores for the Stars, 2020-21, is a two-part series by artist Ander Mikalson commissioned by The Aldrich and dedicated to Frank Stella’s Stars. The first part, Scores for the Stars, Part I, was a two-channel sound installation on view in the Museum’s Sculpture Garden from December 21, 2020 to January 3, 2021. Signage with QR codes to access Mikalson’s score while viewing Stella’s sculptures was placed in the Sculpture Garden. Visitors were encouraged to explore the outdoor works by Stella and experience Mikalson’s installation together in real time.

Listen to Scores for the Stars, Part I here.

ILSSA Ballot for Twenty Twenty

The Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum is thrilled to present a participatory mail art project, “The ILSSA Ballot for Twenty Twenty,” created by artists Bridget Elmer and Emily Larned in concurrence with the upcoming Twenty Twenty exhibition.

Learn more here.

Funders

Generous support for Education and Public programs is provided by The Leir Foundation; Department of Economic and Community Development, Connecticut Office of the Arts; Institute of Museum and Library Services; National Endowment for the Arts; Ridgefield Thrift Shop; The Gage Fund; New England Foundation for the Arts; Connecticut Humanities; and Fairfield County Bank.

Generous support for Hindsight is podcast series is provided by the New England Foundation for the Arts and Connecticut Humanities. Funded in part by the New England States Touring program of the New England Foundation for the Arts, made possible with funding from the National Endowment for the Arts Regional Touring Program and the six New England state arts agencies.

Related Events

The art contents of the Aldrich Care Box featuring two artists' books and small sculptures.

June 19, 2021 at 1:00 pm

Empowering Connection on Juneteenth with the Community Mindfulness Project

Join the Community Mindfulness Project (CMP) and Education Assistant Lorena Sferlazza—outdoors in the Museum’s Sculpture Garden with your kids and loved ones—to reflect on the power of CONNECTION and how you can change the world with it.

An orange and yellow circle on a black background with multi-color lines

June 20, 2021 at 3:00 pm | Performances

Ander Mikalson: Scores for the Stars, Part II

Scores for the Stars, 2020-21, is a two-part series by artist Ander Mikalson commissioned by The Aldrich and dedicated to Frank Stella’s Stars.

June 21, 2021 at 2:00 pm | Performances

Make Music Day

We are delighted to have musicians from Western Connecticut Youth Orchestra perform on our campus for Make Music Day.

Clear plastic wrapped rectangular yellow mattress with an image of a shopping cart with assorted items inside.

July 14, 2021 at 6:00 pm | Talks

Virtual Artist Talk: Lucia Hierro

Join artist Lucia Hierro in conversation with Senior Curator Amy Smith-Stewart on the work and ideas behind Marginal Costs, the artist’s first solo museum exhibition.

Two large scale star shaped sculptures installed on the grass in the Museum's Sculpture Garden.

July 17, 2021 at 1:00 pm

Sparking Curiosity with the Community Mindfulness Project

Join the Community Mindfulness Project (CMP) and Education Assistant Lorena Sferlazza outdoors in the Museum’s Sculpture Garden with your kids and loved ones to activate joy with CURIOSITY, through guided meditation alongside the monumental sculptures of Frank Stella’s Stars!

Blue-gray transparent bag filled with items such as The New Yorker magazine, a shower curtain, fresh herbs, ginger root, sponges, eggs, and more.

August 21, 2021 at 1:00 pm

Building Resilience with the Community Mindfulness Project

Join the Community Mindfulness Project (CMP) and Education Assistant Lorena Sferlazza outdoors in the Museum’s Sculpture Garden with your kids and loved ones to learn ways we can build RESILIENCE, through guided meditation inspired by current exhibition Lucia Hierro: Marginal Costs!