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 - December 3rd
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.
Fall 2024 Opening Reception
Thursday, September 26th | 7:00 PM
GET TICKETS
Enjoy an evening with desserts, a bar, 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.
Preserving Your Old Tech
Wednesday, October 2nd | 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Register Through Extended Education
New! What does it take to care for older tech like a Bondi Blue iMac or an old GameBoy? We will introduce some basic concepts borrowed from the museum field--how do electronic objects deteriorate and what can we do to care for them? We will also discuss some general software and data migration strategies to keep your old tech (computers, PDAs, cell phones, video game systems, etc.) humming along. Feel free to bring an old laptop or other portable object and we will do our best as a group to "workshop" some solutions for you!
Second Sundays art projects
Sunday, October 13th | 1:00 - 3:00 PM
GET TICKETS
Take part in a vibrant participatory artistic experience every second Sunday of the month! From flower arranging and printmaking to painting and weaving, each session offers a unique and creative activity.
Free with museum admission. Drop-in event, no registration necessary.
Indigenous Peoples’ Day - Free Day
Monday, October 14th | 11:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Join us at the Dennos Museum Center for a free day of learning, celebration, and community as we honor the vibrant and enduring cultures of Indigenous peoples.
Something Old, Something New: An Introduction to Emerging Inuit Artists
Wednesday, October 16th | 10:00 - 11:00 AM
Register Through Extended Education
Join Dennos Museum Center staff for a brief lecture of contemporary Inuit artists and their artmaking practices. From contemporary sculpture to digital media and animation, we will review some of the recent trends in this unique field. We will also spend time together in the DMC’s world-class Inuit art galleries and discuss some of the ideas and concepts introduced during the lecture. This course also includes admission to the museum for the day or 10% off an annual membership to the Dennos.
Printmaking Extravaganza
Saturday, October 19th | 11:00 AM - 2:00 PM
GET TICKETS
Explore the 2024 Annual Cape Dorset Print Collection, engage with talented local artists, and try your hand at creating one of your own unique pieces. Enjoy a day filled with art, culture, and creativity as you learn more about the rich traditions of Inuit printmaking and support our vibrant community of printmakers. Event held in partnership with Traverse City Community Print Studio.
No ticket necessary. All activities are included with price of museum admission. Free for members.
Spooky Silent Disco
Thursday, October 24th | 7:00 PM
GET TICKETS
Get in the Halloween spirit, put on your best costume and dance until you’re dead at this 18+ party before Halloween weekend.
🎶 Groove to your pick of three music channels with your headphones and the sound mastery of 3 surprise DJs! Don your most spooktacular costumes and bring your dancing shoes because this is a night you won't forget. Each guest will receive a pair of wireless headphones, allowing you to choose from multiple channels of bone-chilling beats. Dance to your own rhythm or switch between channels to find the perfect spooky soundtrack for your moves.
🎃 Dress Code: Costumes are strongly encouraged! From witches and werewolves to zombies and superheroes, let your imagination run wild and be part of the eerie ensemble.
📢 Please Note: Headphones will be provided upon entry and must be returned at the end of the event.
Halloween For All
Saturday, October 26th | 11:00 AM - 2:00 PM
REGISTER HERE
Join us for the second annual sensory-friendly Halloween event held in partnership with Children’s Therapy Corner. Visitors may self-select activities they would like to participate in, with descriptive maps provided at the entrance to the museum.
Holiday Artist Market
November 1st & 2nd | 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
The Dennos welcomes visitors to the 25th Annual Holiday Artist Market kicking off the 2024 holiday shopping season. Visitors will discover a unique variety of artful gifts in a lively and festive marketplace. Admission is free to all. Special programming will be offered to enhance the experience for visitors of all ages. “I must remember to come back to do my holiday shopping!” We hear it all the time in the museum store. Remember to visit our holiday corner opening the first weekend in November for artisan ornaments and gifts, holiday greeting cards, and art-inspired calendars.
Participating artists and details at shop.dennosmuseum.org.
kids commute live!
Saturday, November 9th | 11:00 AM
REGISTER HERE
Five, six, seven, eight! ¡Cinco, seis, siete, ocho! Get out your dancing shoes for ¡Bailamos! A free family event from the team behind Interlochen Public Radio's daily show Kids Commute. Enjoy the rhythm and energy of traditional Latin American dancing on stage in a kid-friendly format featuring live musicians, hands-on activities, and opportunities for everyone to get up and dance!
This concert is free, but please RSVP in advance.
Second Sundays art projects
Sunday, November 10th | 1:00 - 3:00 PM
GET TICKETS
Take part in a vibrant participatory artistic experience every second Sunday of the month! From flower arranging and printmaking to painting and weaving, each session offers a unique and creative activity.
Free with museum admission. Drop-in event, no registration necessary.
Behind the Vault : Treasures from the Dennos Museum Center
Wednesday, November 20th | 10:00 - 11:00 AM
Register Through Extended Education
Explore behind-the-scenes and see how the Dennos Museum Center cares for paintings, sculptures, and works on paper when they are off public view. We will see some of the very earliest gifts to the DMC’s collection, including several Rembrandt etchings, modern and contemporary photographs, paintings, and more. Our tour will last approximately one hour and will involve standing and walking most of the time. This course also includes admission to the museum for the day or 10% off an annual membership to the Dennos.
Museum Store Sunday
Sunday, December 1st | 11:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Enjoy special savings one day only. As always, members, NMC employees and students receive 10% off in the store year-round so we hope to see you soon at your local art museum store!
Second Sundays art projects
Sunday, December 8th | 1:00 - 3:00 PM
GET TICKETS
Take part in a vibrant participatory artistic experience every second Sunday of the month! From flower arranging and printmaking to painting and weaving, each session offers a unique and creative activity.
Free with museum admission. Drop-in event, no registration necessary.
PAST PROGRAMS
An Evening with Michigan Poet Laureate Nandi Comer
Friday, September 13th | 7:00 PM
Nandi Comer is the first Poet Laureate of Michigan in 65 years, and the author of American Family: A Syndrome and Tapping Out. The evening will begin with two readings from a local highschool and NMC student, followed by a presentation by Comer.
Limited seating. Please register for a free ticket online in advance.
Second Sundays art projects
Sunday, September 8th | 1:00 - 3:00 PM
Take part in a vibrant participatory artistic experience every second Sunday of the month! From flower arranging and printmaking to painting and weaving, each session offers a unique and creative activity.
Free with museum admission. Drop-in event, no registration necessary.
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.
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.
Art of Louise Jones
Saturday, August 3rd | 1:00 & 2:30 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.
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.
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.
