Build Community. Spark Conversation. Inspire Change.
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
Tuesdays | 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.
SECOND SUNDAY ART PROJECTS
Every Second Sunday of the Month | 1:00 - 3:00 PM
Come to the museum and take part in a vibrant participatory artistic experience every second Sunday of the month! From printmaking to painting and weaving, each session offers a unique and creative activity.
Second Sundays are supported by the Linda O'Meara Fund for Arts Education. Second Sunday Art Projects are included with museum admission. Please pay admission when you arrive.
Holiday Artist Market
November 7 & 8 | 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
FREE
Step into the spirit of the season at the Dennos Museum Center’s cherished Holiday Artist Market—a festive, two-day indoor event celebrating the creativity of 30 talented Michigan artists. Set within the museum’s Sculpture Court and Milliken Auditorium entryway, this juried marketplace offers an inspiring experience for art lovers and holiday shoppers of all ages. Browse original, heartfelt artwork and handcrafted goods, indulge in treats from a local specialty food vendor, and explore the Museum Store’s Holiday Corner, brimming with artisan-made ornaments, holiday cards, and perfect stocking stuffers. Don’t miss the popular holiday raffle, with prizes donated by participating artists—all proceeds support educational programming for children. Admission is free for all!
Learn more about the participating artists at shop.dennosmuseum.org.
In Conversation with Dewey Blocksma
Thursday, November 20 | 4:00 PM
$0 - $10
Join us for an afternoon with artist Dewey Blocksma, whose solo exhibition Roundtable will be on view at the museum. A former emergency room physician turned full-time artist, Blocksma draws upon his global experiences, medicine, and memory to create folk-inspired assemblages. During this conversation, Blocksma will share stories from his unconventional path to becoming an artist, the influences and inspiration behind Roundtable, and what continues to inform his artmaking practice.
Museum Store Sunday
Sunday, November 30 | 11:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Shop with purpose and celebrate your local museum store while enjoying special discounts and treats!
Dennos Brand Refresh Public Presentation and Q&A
Sunday, November 30 | 2:00 PM
FREE | RSVP Here
Community members are invited to a public presentation and Q&A session at the Dennos on November 30th at 2:00 PM. Led by Dennos staff, the presentation will touch on the purpose of the brand refresh, an overview of the process, cover the museum’s new brand pillars to guide key messaging, and allow time for attendees to ask questions.
Visible Mending + CREAtive Soft-Sculpture Workshop
Saturday, December 6 | 1 - 3:00 PM
Hosted by artist Charlotte Richardson-Deppe
$10 - $20
All materials provided. Participants are encouraged to bring garments in need of mending or any scrap fabrics they would like to use in their mending / soft-sculptures.
In this workshop, Charlotte Richardson-Deppe will guide participants in designing their own projects: either creatively and visibly mending their own clothing items in need of repair, or creating playful, stuffed soft-sculptures from scrap fabric.
Charlotte will help participants develop project ideas and teach sewing techniques including strategies for visible / creative mending and methods for soft-sculpture construction.
Participants will leave empowered with creative sewing knowledge and a new appreciation for engaging with textiles Sustainably.
Limit of 20 attendees.
Solstice Silent Disco
Sunday, December 21 | 6 - 9:00 PM
$10 - $20
Join us just after sundown and celebrate the longest night of the year! Grab a pair of wireless headphones that give you the option to decide your musical vibe as you head to the dance floor or mingle in the galleries.
Whether you’re here to groove or simply soak in the ambiance, enjoy a unique evening experience in the museum. Warm drinks and light snacks will be available to keep the solstice spirits bright. Cash bar for those 21+.
This event is open to all ages. Parental guidance is advised.
a deeper dive into Backstories
Saturday, January 24 | 2:00 PM
$0 - $10
Join artist Doug Cannell as he takes you deeper into the unusual series of artworks he calls Backstories. Cannell is a muti-disciplinary artist who uses woodworking, sculpting, graphic design, writing and photography to create installations that entice viewers to explore them, each revealing a surprising and unconventional story.
These works are engaging, but in what many have described as a “post-truth era”, they might be particularly relevant, prompting people to question their own gullibility, their willingness to accept something as the truth just because it’s presented to them in a convincing and authoritative way.
Limit of 34.
