Community Programs
The Dennos Museum Center presents a variety of programs for all ages, seeking to build community, spark conversation, and inspire change. Check out the listings here to find out what's happening.
DROP-IN TOURS
Tuesday, January 2nd - August 27th
12:00 PM
Come to the museum and join an informal tour of our current exhibitions with one of our docents. Tours are free with museum admission and will begin at 12:00 PM. Please meet by the front desk a few minutes before the tour begins.
College for Kids Museum Camp
July 22-25th
10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Museum Camp for kids ages 8-11! Combining hands-on art projects with interactive museum exploration to foster creativity and curiosity.
Art of Louise Jones
Saturday, August 3rd — 1:00 PM
Discover the fascinating world of painter and muralist Louise Jones, aka Ouizi, as she discusses her solo exhibit. Explore themes of flowers, folk craft, and contemporary life.
Please register in advance. Price reflects the cost of admission to the museum. Limit of 35.
Second Sunday Art Project: Watercolors with Rocco Pisto
Sunday, August 11th
1:00 - 3:00 PM
Join renowned artist Rocco Pisto for an engaging workshop perfect for families! With over 50 years of experience in abstract watercolor painting, Rocco brings a wealth of knowledge and creativity to the table. Learn from his expertise and explore the world of watercolor in a fun and interactive setting suitable for all ages.
Please register in advance. Price reflects the cost of admission to the museum. Limit of 30.
Outdoor Sculpture Tour
Friday, August 23rd | 12:00 PM
Join DMC staff for a tour of our outdoor sculpture collection and get an update on some of the changes and plans for the collection. Bring walking shoes and dress for the weather. Rain date is Saturday, August 24th.
Please register online in advance, Limit of 20.
PAST PROGRAMS
Second Sunday Art Project: Ikebana Flower Arranging
Sunday, July 14th
1:00 PM | Ikebana Flower Arranging for Littles
2:00 PM | Ikebana Flower Arranging for Ages 9-16
Ikebana Flower Arranging for Littles
Discover the art of ikebana with your child in this hands-on workshop! Learn the ancient Japanese art of flower arranging as you create beautiful, balanced compositions together, fostering creativity and mindfulness. Limit of 8 children (8 and under), each with a parent or guardian.
Ikebana Flower Arranging for Ages 9 - 16
Get inspired by the Ikebana Pop-Up Exhibit before you create your own Ikebana flower arrangement. Limit of 15 participants.
Ikebana Pop-Up Exhibit
July 13-14th
11:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Traverse City’s Ikebana International chapter will present original floral arrangements in the sculpture court and galleries for visitors to enjoy. Join us for a weekend of botanical creation and artistic inspiration!
Dennos Anniversary Free Day
Saturday, July 6th
11:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Celebrate our 33rd anniversary on Saturday, July 6th with a free day at the museum. Bring your friends and family, enjoy some snacks, and participate in activities that invite you to explore our collection and summer exhibitions.
destination: space - Celebrating Sally Ride
Thursday, June 27th
2:00 - 4:00 PM | Meet the NASA Scientists, STEAM activities, and NASA giveaways
4:00 PM | Zero Gravity Screening | Run time: approx. 72 min
Join us for a Space-themed celebration honoring Sally Ride! Enjoy hands-on STEAM activities in our Discovery Gallery and a screening of "Zero Gravity," a film about middle-school students competing in a national satellite coding tournament aboard the ISS. Be the first to see our new exhibit from the Smithsonian’s National Air & Space Museum.
Event Highlights:
- EVA (NASA mascot astronaut)
- Glove Box demos and Legos
- Selfie Station with props
- First Woman fabric backdrop (learn more about Callie Rodriguez here)
- ISS tangram magnetic puzzle, Artemis SLS and Orion tangram puzzles
- ISS model and posters
- Michigan astronaut posters
Special NASA Guests:
- Kelly Korreck, lead astrophysicist for NASA, who built instruments to study the Sun's corona and managed the SWEAP Suite on the Parker Solar Probe. Currently, she is the NASA Program Manager for the 2023 and 2024 Solar Eclipses.
- Tricia K. Mack, with a 30+ year career at NASA, specializes in human space flight. She has extensive experience in EVA, ISS operations, and international collaboration, particularly in Russia.
Celebrate the impact of science, technology, engineering, and math in our lives. Free freeze-dried astronaut ice cream for the first 50 visitors!
This project received support from the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum.
Summer 2024 Exhibit Opening
Friday, June 21st | 7:00 PM
Enjoy an evening with light refreshments, a bar (2 drink max), and music. Members get free admission and double discounts in the Museum Store the night of the event. Guests of members and the public are welcome to attend for a small fee. Please RSVP in advance. Limit of 300.
Our Summer Exhibitions
Louise Jones: 10,000 Flowers
Michigan Watercolor Society 77th Annual Exhibition
Hard Edges, Vibrant Colors: Op Art from the Permanent Collection
Before the opening, you may join the Michigan Watercolor Society in Milliken Auditorium at 5:30 PM for their awards ceremony for their 77th annual exhibition.
Juneteenth Free Day
Wednesday, June 19th
Free Day | 11:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Film Screening | 3:00 PM
Enjoy a free day at the museum in recognition of Juneteenth, America’s second Independence Day. You might even get to see Detroit-based artist Louise Jones working on her solo exhibition in the museum’s Sculpture Court.
At 3:00 PM catch a film screening of One Person, One Vote?. The film tells the untold story of the electoral college, its slavery origins, and its impact on American politics and society then and now.
This film is free to attend, but please register in advance. Limit of 34 tickets.
Then, join NMC and Northern Michigan E3 for a block-party style celebration and educational programs at 5:00 PM on NMC’s main campus.
Second Sunday Art Project: Give Your Old Clothes A Second Life
Sunday, June 9th
1:00 - 3:00 PM
Breathe new life into your used shirts or cotton sweaters with the help of relief printmaking!
In this workshop, artist Jamie John will demonstrate how they print their designs on second-hand garments using soft rubber blocks and fabric ink. You’ll be guided through the process of designing and carving your own print(s), offered tips and tricks for printing with fabric ink, and by the end of the workshop, you’ll be able to walk away with your own personal customized clothing!
Jamie John will be giving a demonstration from start to finish for this process, and be discussing printmaking, the fast fashion industry, and how to use our creativity to resist mass consumption.
*Please bring along a garment to print. Cotton, linen, or cotton polyester blend garments are recommended for first-time printers.
Presented by Jamie John, a multi-disciplinary Anishinaabe and Korean-American artist from Traverse City, MI. Learn more about Jamie John.
Please register in advance. Price reflects the cost of admission to the museum. Limit of 30. Recommended for grades 3 and up.
Rainbow Story Time
Saturday, June 8th
10:00 - 11:00 AM
Join us before the NMC Pride Carnival for a family-friendly storytime focused on love for oneself and others. Held in partnership with Wild & Wonder TC, Mindful + Musical, Brilliant Books, and Up North Pride. Then, enjoy the carnival on NMC’s main campus and visit the Dennos table for an outdoor activity.
