Upcoming events
Adaptive Art: Free Visual Arts Class for Adults with Disabilities (18+)
Adaptive Art takes place on the second Friday of each month, from 10:30 am – 12 pm.
Adaptive Art is a monthly visual arts and creativity class designed for adults (18+) with disabilities. Thanks to a generous grant from Ronald McDonald House Charities, registration is currently free while funds last. In this class, participants will explore various adaptive mediums such as movement, drawing, painting, and poetry to find new ways of self-expression and PLAY alongside talented and passionate teacher, Sara Fisher. Don't miss this opportunity to discover the joy of art in a supportive and inclusive environment.
Parking & Accessibility Notice
Please note Adaptive Art program on August 14th takes place during CelebrateErie, when downtown Erie experiences increased traffic, road closures, and larger crowds. As a result, navigating to the Museum may take a little longer than usual and may present additional accessibility considerations for some participants.
We recommend allowing extra travel time and parking in the 5th & Peach Parking Garage, which offers convenient access to the Museum.
We appreciate your patience and look forward to welcoming you!
Welcoming week: Free admission
In celebration of Welcoming Week, a national campaign hosted by Welcoming America that brings neighbors of all backgrounds together to build stronger, more inclusive communities, the Erie Art Museum is partnering with the City of Erie to offer free admission on Saturday, September 12 and Wednesday, September 16, during regular Museum hours. Come experience Between Here and Elsewhere: A Portrait of the New American Experience, an exhibition centering the work of six contemporary artists exploring memory, identity, and belonging.
See a full list of Welcoming Week events.
Second Sunday
Second Sundays are a perfect way to spend time creating in the Museum with your family and loved ones! Admission is pay-what-you-wish, and donations are appreciated. Each Second Sunday of the month, from 2 – 4 pm.
Be part of the Bells Across PA Project! Join artist Aaron Homerski in painting a large-scale bell celebrating the aquatic life of Lake Erie as part of a community collaboration with the Erie Port Authority.
Programming supported by Erie Insurance
Example of a bell created for the Bells Across PA project created by artist Scott Saloney.
Art by Erie artist Aaron Homerski who will be designing one of Erie, PA’s bells.
Welcoming week: Free admission
In celebration of Welcoming Week, a national campaign hosted by Welcoming America that brings neighbors of all backgrounds together to build stronger, more inclusive communities, the Erie Art Museum is partnering with the City of Erie to offer free admission on Saturday, September 12 and Wednesday, September 16, during regular Museum hours. Come experience Between Here and Elsewhere: A Portrait of the New American Experience, an exhibition centering the work of six contemporary artists exploring memory, identity, and belonging.
See a full list of Welcoming Week events.
Opening Reception: Between Here and Elsewhere
Celebrate the opening of Between Here and Elsewhere: A Portrait of the New American Experience. Curator Maria Ferguson will be on hand as well as select artists. The event takes place during Gallery Night and is free. No registration required.
Gallery Night
Gallery Night is a citywide celebration of art. Businesses and local galleries and venues will remain open with some hosting their own events. Shop, eat, listen to music, and spend time with friends and family visiting as many local galleries as you can. There’s no better way to get a feel for Erie’s art and culture scene!
Access For All
The Art Bridges Foundation ‘Access for All’ initiative brings you free admission to the Museum the first Thursday of each month from 11 am – 3 pm and the third Saturday from 10 am – 2 pm.
Explore the Museum, participate in free art crafts, and more!
Fiber Arts Expo
The Lake Erie Fiber Arts Guild gathers monthly to share skills, exhibit work, and celebrate their passion for textiles and fiber art. This year marks the third Fiber Arts Expo at the Erie Art Museum. Stop by During Access for All (10:00 AM–2:00 PM) on Saturday, September 19th to learn more about the Guild, explore members’ creative practices, and meet local artists and makers, some of whom will have handmade items available for purchase. Admission is free.
The Art of Horror with Reel Rituals
Join us for a screening of the 1920 horror classic The Cabinet of Dr.Caligari. On display temporarily, German Expressionist work from the Museum’s permanent collection will accompany the programming. The evening concludes with a guided discussion on the film's impact and legacy in film and visual art.
Access For All
The Art Bridges Foundation ‘Access for All’ initiative brings you free admission to the Museum the first Thursday of each month from 11 am – 3 pm and the third Saturday from 10 am – 2 pm.
Explore the Museum, participate in free art crafts, and more!
Eileen Woods: Artist Talk
Eileen Woods's The Waiting Room draws on her own experience of major surgery and the suspended, sterile time of hospital waiting rooms, rendering portraits of people absorbed in thought, on their phones, or staring quietly into space. Join Woods for a conversation about the series and her decades-long exploration of memory, mortality and the transitions we all eventually face.
Design and Social Justice with Shelle Barron
Join Shelle Barron (emeritus professor of design and visual artist) for a visual lecture on activism in graphic design and its ability to alter opinions and perceptions. Historically, design has been used as an agent for propaganda as well as social justice. A comprehensive survey of the effect of design on protest and social movements will ask the question: in today’s world (flooded with social media and artificial intelligence) can design make a difference in the public’s perception of contemporary issues, or even change minds in an election year?
Adaptive Art: Free Visual Arts Class for Adults with Disabilities (18+)
Adaptive Art takes place on the second Friday of each month, from 10:30 am – 12 pm.
Adaptive Art is a monthly visual arts and creativity class designed for adults (18+) with disabilities. Thanks to a generous grant from Ronald McDonald House Charities, registration is currently free while funds last. In this class, participants will explore various adaptive mediums such as movement, drawing, painting, and poetry to find new ways of self-expression and PLAY alongside talented and passionate teacher, Sara Fisher. Don't miss this opportunity to discover the joy of art in a supportive and inclusive environment.
Parking & Accessibility Notice
Please note Adaptive Art program on August 14th takes place during CelebrateErie, when downtown Erie experiences increased traffic, road closures, and larger crowds. As a result, navigating to the Museum may take a little longer than usual and may present additional accessibility considerations for some participants.
We recommend allowing extra travel time and parking in the 5th & Peach Parking Garage, which offers convenient access to the Museum.
We appreciate your patience and look forward to welcoming you!
Second Sunday
Second Sundays are a perfect way to spend time creating in the Museum with your family and loved ones! Admission is pay-what-you-wish, and donations are appreciated. Each Second Sunday of the month, from 2 – 4 pm.
Transform an ordinary milk or juice carton into a spooky, or silly, haunted house
Programming supported by Erie Insurance
Access For All
The Art Bridges Foundation ‘Access for All’ initiative brings you free admission to the Museum the first Thursday of each month from 11 am – 3 pm and the third Saturday from 10 am – 2 pm.
Explore the Museum, participate in free art crafts, and more!
Patricia Bellan-Gillen: Artist Talk
Patricia Bellan-Gillen, whose exhibition Monsters, Beloveds and Invisible Whales is on view in the Main Gallery through March 2027, will give an artist talk on Sunday, October 18, from 2–4 PM. Bellan-Gillen will speak about the drawings and mixed media works in the show, which mine personal narrative, fairytale, and pop-culture ephemera in pursuit of what the artist calls "a weird elegance." It's a chance to go beyond a single look at the work and hear directly from the artist behind it.
Free for members. Standard Museum admission applies for non-members.
Second Sunday
Second Sundays are a perfect way to spend time creating in the Museum with your family and loved ones! Admission is pay-what-you-wish, and donations are appreciated. Each Second Sunday of the month, from 2 – 4 pm.
Create a zine using mixed media
Programming supported by Erie Insurance
Adaptive Art: Free Visual Arts Class for Adults with Disabilities (18+)
Adaptive Art takes place on the second Friday of each month, from 10:30 am – 12 pm.
Adaptive Art is a monthly visual arts and creativity class designed for adults (18+) with disabilities. Thanks to a generous grant from Ronald McDonald House Charities, registration is currently free while funds last. In this class, participants will explore various adaptive mediums such as movement, drawing, painting, and poetry to find new ways of self-expression and PLAY alongside talented and passionate teacher, Sara Fisher. Don't miss this opportunity to discover the joy of art in a supportive and inclusive environment.
Parking & Accessibility Notice
Please note Adaptive Art program on August 14th takes place during CelebrateErie, when downtown Erie experiences increased traffic, road closures, and larger crowds. As a result, navigating to the Museum may take a little longer than usual and may present additional accessibility considerations for some participants.
We recommend allowing extra travel time and parking in the 5th & Peach Parking Garage, which offers convenient access to the Museum.
We appreciate your patience and look forward to welcoming you!
Artist Talk: Between Here & Elsewhere
Artists featured in the exhibition Between Here and Elsewhere: A Portrait of the New American Experiencewill share their work and perspectives.
Free for members. Non-members, price of Museum admission.
Adaptive Art: Free Visual Arts Class for Adults with Disabilities (18+)
Adaptive Art takes place on the second Friday of each month, from 10:30 am – 12 pm.
Adaptive Art is a monthly visual arts and creativity class designed for adults (18+) with disabilities. Thanks to a generous grant from Ronald McDonald House Charities, registration is currently free while funds last. In this class, participants will explore various adaptive mediums such as movement, drawing, painting, and poetry to find new ways of self-expression and PLAY alongside talented and passionate teacher, Sara Fisher. Don't miss this opportunity to discover the joy of art in a supportive and inclusive environment.
Parking & Accessibility Notice
Please note Adaptive Art program on August 14th takes place during CelebrateErie, when downtown Erie experiences increased traffic, road closures, and larger crowds. As a result, navigating to the Museum may take a little longer than usual and may present additional accessibility considerations for some participants.
We recommend allowing extra travel time and parking in the 5th & Peach Parking Garage, which offers convenient access to the Museum.
We appreciate your patience and look forward to welcoming you!
Gallery Night
Gallery Night is a citywide celebration of art. Businesses and local galleries and venues will remain open with some hosting their own events. Shop, eat, listen to music, and spend time with friends and family visiting as many local galleries as you can. There’s no better way to get a feel for Erie’s art and culture scene!
Second Sunday
Second Sundays are a perfect way to spend time creating in the Museum with your family and loved ones! Admission is pay-what-you-wish, and donations are appreciated. Each Second Sunday of the month, from 2 – 4 pm.
Programming supported by Erie Insurance
Boutique Nights
An evening that brings creativity and community together in the heart of downtown.
Check out live art demonstrations as local artists showcase their talents, shop unique goods from downtown retailers and pop-up vendors, and enjoy live music that sets the tone for a vibrant, walkable experience downtown.
Learn more at the Flagship City District website
Monsters, Beloveds and Invisible Whales Opening Reception
Opening reception of Monsters, Beloveds and Invisible Whales: Patricia Bellan-Gillen, a new exhibition of drawings and mixed media works on view in the Main Gallery through March 7, 2027.
Bellan-Gillen's work blurs the boundaries between memory and myth, drawing on personal narrative, fairytale, and pop-culture ephemera to create what she calls "a weird elegance" — compositions that hold beauty, humor, and the uncanny all at once. Come see it in person before you decide what to make of it.
Free for members. Standard Museum admission applies for non-members.
Access For All
The Art Bridges Foundation ‘Access for All’ initiative brings you free admission to the Museum the first Thursday of each month from 11 am – 3 pm and the third Saturday from 10 am – 2 pm.
Explore the Museum, participate in free art crafts, and more!
Improv at the Museum
This class is open to everyone, no matter your experience level, whether you’re a total beginner or have dabbled in theater, you’ll find a supportive, playful space to explore.
Led by Teaching Artist Sara Fisher, a seasoned improviser with a rich background in musical improv, physical storytelling, and adaptive arts, this class blends fun, curiosity, and discovery. Sara is passionate about creating inclusive environments where everyone can shine, drawing on her experience teaching adults with disabilities, leading community workshops, and performing across Chicago, Boston, and here in Erie.
Through games, exercises, and collaborative activities, you’ll:
Build confidence and presence in a group setting
Strengthen your listening, collaboration, and quick-thinking skills
Explore character, movement, and storytelling in playful, hands-on ways
Access For All
The Art Bridges Foundation ‘Access for All’ initiative brings you free admission to the Museum the first Thursday of each month from 11 am – 3 pm and the third Saturday from 10 am – 2 pm.
Explore the Museum, participate in free art crafts, and more!
Adaptive Art: Free Visual Arts Class for Adults with Disabilities (18+)
Adaptive Art takes place on the second Friday of each month, from 10:30 am – 12 pm.
Adaptive Art is a monthly visual arts and creativity class designed for adults (18+) with disabilities. Thanks to a generous grant from Ronald McDonald House Charities, registration is currently free while funds last. In this class, participants will explore various adaptive mediums such as movement, drawing, painting, and poetry to find new ways of self-expression and PLAY alongside talented and passionate teacher, Sara Fisher. Don't miss this opportunity to discover the joy of art in a supportive and inclusive environment.
Parking & Accessibility Notice
Please note Adaptive Art program on August 14th takes place during CelebrateErie, when downtown Erie experiences increased traffic, road closures, and larger crowds. As a result, navigating to the Museum may take a little longer than usual and may present additional accessibility considerations for some participants.
We recommend allowing extra travel time and parking in the 5th & Peach Parking Garage, which offers convenient access to the Museum.
We appreciate your patience and look forward to welcoming you!
Welcome back, eternal vigilance
We're celebrating the return of Eternal Vigilance and the reopening of the Customs House stairs, just in time for Celebrate Erie's Chalk Walk and Music Series.
Stop by the stairs on August 14th, 10 AM–2 PM, to enjoy music, community, and the energy of Celebrate Erie's Chalk Walk.
Improv at the Museum
This class is open to everyone, no matter your experience level, whether you’re a total beginner or have dabbled in theater, you’ll find a supportive, playful space to explore.
Led by Teaching Artist Sara Fisher, a seasoned improviser with a rich background in musical improv, physical storytelling, and adaptive arts, this class blends fun, curiosity, and discovery. Sara is passionate about creating inclusive environments where everyone can shine, drawing on her experience teaching adults with disabilities, leading community workshops, and performing across Chicago, Boston, and here in Erie.
Through games, exercises, and collaborative activities, you’ll:
Build confidence and presence in a group setting
Strengthen your listening, collaboration, and quick-thinking skills
Explore character, movement, and storytelling in playful, hands-on ways
Second Sunday
Second Sundays are a perfect way to spend time creating in the Museum with your family and loved ones! Admission is pay-what-you-wish, and donations are appreciated. Each Second Sunday of the month, from 2 – 4 pm.
Rhythmic Storytelling through Kathak: A North-Indian Classical Dance
This workshop is an introduction to Kathak, a dance style that was born in the temples of North India almost 2500 years ago. Learn about its journey through the centuries, from ancient temple courtyards to medieval royal courts to modern concert halls, and try out some signature steps, rhythms, poses, and hand gestures that Kathak dancers employ to bring stories of gods and goddesses to life, as well as to aid their own contemporary artistic expressions and storytelling.
Access For All
The Art Bridges Foundation ‘Access for All’ initiative brings you free admission to the Museum the first Thursday of each month from 11 am – 3 pm and the third Saturday from 10 am – 2 pm.
Explore the Museum, participate in free art crafts, and more!
Improv at the Museum
This class is open to everyone, no matter your experience level, whether you’re a total beginner or have dabbled in theater, you’ll find a supportive, playful space to explore.
Led by Teaching Artist Sara Fisher, a seasoned improviser with a rich background in musical improv, physical storytelling, and adaptive arts, this class blends fun, curiosity, and discovery. Sara is passionate about creating inclusive environments where everyone can shine, drawing on her experience teaching adults with disabilities, leading community workshops, and performing across Chicago, Boston, and here in Erie.
Through games, exercises, and collaborative activities, you’ll:
Build confidence and presence in a group setting
Strengthen your listening, collaboration, and quick-thinking skills
Explore character, movement, and storytelling in playful, hands-on ways
Mid Day Art Break
Mid Day Art Break continues with Jack Stevenson. Mark your calendars for live music on the first Wednesday of each month from 12 - 1 pm. This event will be held rain or shine and will move indoors to the Holstein Gallery in the event of inclement weather. Free admission!
Thomas Paquette: Artist Talk & Gallery Walk
5:00 – 5:30 PM: Meet & Greet
5:30 – 6:30 PM: Artist Talk & Gallery Walk
Join us for an evening with celebrated painter Thomas Paquette, whose work has been featured in 71 solo exhibitions across the U.S., from New York and Minneapolis to California, and has been shown in 21 U.S. embassies worldwide, with two embassies including his work in their permanent collection. Paquette’s paintings explore nature, place, and personal vision, and his career has been shaped by residencies in national parks, Greece, and Rome.
This talk and gallery walk will focus on works from a specific time range, including pieces from Scotland, as part of a two-part exhibition. Enjoy a relaxed evening with a meet and greet, followed by Paquette’s artist talk and guided gallery walk. Wine and beer will be available for purchase.
Thomas Paquette | Sky Befalling Skye II | Oil on Canvas | 2005
Fred Scruton: Outsider Artists Talk
Included with Museum admission.
Join Fred Scruton at the Erie Art Museum for a lecture on Outsider Artists. A retired PennWest Edinboro professor of art based near Erie, Scruton has spent decades documenting artists working outside the mainstream of contemporary art.
Through photography, video, and writing, he highlights creators often described as “self-taught,” “outsider,” or “visionary.” His work, part archive, part travelogue, is shaped by long-term relationships with artists across the country, offering an intimate look at their creative lives and environments.
Scruton’s interest began in 1980s New York, where he encountered deeply personal, self-made artistic spaces that continue to inform his practice today.
Improv at the Museum
This class is open to everyone, no matter your experience level, whether you’re a total beginner or have dabbled in theater, you’ll find a supportive, playful space to explore.
Led by Teaching Artist Sara Fisher, a seasoned improviser with a rich background in musical improv, physical storytelling, and adaptive arts, this class blends fun, curiosity, and discovery. Sara is passionate about creating inclusive environments where everyone can shine, drawing on her experience teaching adults with disabilities, leading community workshops, and performing across Chicago, Boston, and here in Erie.
Through games, exercises, and collaborative activities, you’ll:
Build confidence and presence in a group setting
Strengthen your listening, collaboration, and quick-thinking skills
Explore character, movement, and storytelling in playful, hands-on ways
Access For All
The Art Bridges Foundation ‘Access for All’ initiative brings you free admission to the Museum the first Thursday of each month from 11 am – 3 pm and the third Saturday from 10 am – 2 pm.
Explore the Museum, participate in free art crafts, and more!
Improv at the Museum
This class is open to everyone, no matter your experience level, whether you’re a total beginner or have dabbled in theater, you’ll find a supportive, playful space to explore.
Led by Teaching Artist Sara Fisher, a seasoned improviser with a rich background in musical improv, physical storytelling, and adaptive arts, this class blends fun, curiosity, and discovery. Sara is passionate about creating inclusive environments where everyone can shine, drawing on her experience teaching adults with disabilities, leading community workshops, and performing across Chicago, Boston, and here in Erie.
Through games, exercises, and collaborative activities, you’ll:
Build confidence and presence in a group setting
Strengthen your listening, collaboration, and quick-thinking skills
Explore character, movement, and storytelling in playful, hands-on ways
Second Sunday
Second Sundays are a perfect way to spend time creating in the Museum with your family and loved ones! Admission is pay-what-you-wish, and donations are appreciated. Each Second Sunday of the month, from 2 – 4 pm.
Adaptive Art: Free Visual Arts Class for Adults with Disabilities (18+)
Adaptive Art takes place on the second Friday of each month, from 10:30 am – 12 pm.
Adaptive Art is a monthly visual arts and creativity class designed for adults (18+) with disabilities. Thanks to a generous grant from Ronald McDonald House Charities, registration is currently free while funds last. In this class, participants will explore various adaptive mediums such as movement, drawing, painting, and poetry to find new ways of self-expression and PLAY alongside talented and passionate teacher, Sara Fisher. Don't miss this opportunity to discover the joy of art in a supportive and inclusive environment.
Improv at the Museum
This class is open to everyone, no matter your experience level, whether you’re a total beginner or have dabbled in theater, you’ll find a supportive, playful space to explore.
Led by Teaching Artist Sara Fisher, a seasoned improviser with a rich background in musical improv, physical storytelling, and adaptive arts, this class blends fun, curiosity, and discovery. Sara is passionate about creating inclusive environments where everyone can shine, drawing on her experience teaching adults with disabilities, leading community workshops, and performing across Chicago, Boston, and here in Erie.
Through games, exercises, and collaborative activities, you’ll:
Build confidence and presence in a group setting
Strengthen your listening, collaboration, and quick-thinking skills
Explore character, movement, and storytelling in playful, hands-on ways
Access For All
The Art Bridges Foundation ‘Access for All’ initiative brings you free admission to the Museum the first Thursday of each month from 11 am – 3 pm and the third Saturday from 10 am – 2 pm.
Explore the Museum, participate in free art crafts, and more!
Mid Day Art Break
Mid Day Art Break continues with Brian Hed . Mark your calendars for live music on the first Wednesday of each month from 12 - 1 pm. This event will be held rain or shine and will move indoors to the Holstein Gallery in the event of inclement weather. Free admission!
Light Brunch & Mimosas with Sarah Jacobs
Included with Museum admission, one complimentary mimosa included with admission.
Join us at the Museum on June 27th from 11 AM – 1 PM for a light brunch & mimosas followed by an artist talk and gallery walk with Sarah Jacobs.
Sarah Jacobs is a contemporary maximalist and surrealist painter whose work explores existential themes through richly symbolic, dreamlike compositions. Drawing on both personal and traditional motifs, her paintings use bold color, dramatic lighting, and layered imagery to reflect the complexity and curiosity of lived experience.
Gallery Night
Join us for Gallery Night on June 26th from 5 to 10 PM — a free, open-to-the-public celebration of art and community. The evening features the opening of two exciting new exhibitions: Thomas Paquette’s Intimate Landscapes and Eileen Woods’ The Waiting Room, both debuting that night. Visitors will also have the rare opportunity to meet featured Artist SarahmJacobs, who will be onsite throughout the event. To round out the evening, live music will be provided by Reflect and Reform, creating the perfect atmosphere to explore the galleries and connect with fellow art lovers. We hope to see you there!
Second Sunday
Second Sundays are a perfect way to spend time creating in the Museum with your family and loved ones! Admission is pay-what-you-wish, and donations are appreciated. Each Second Sunday of the month, from 2 – 4 pm.
Adaptive Art: Free Visual Arts Class for Adults with Disabilities (18+)
Adaptive Art takes place on the second Friday of each month, from 10:30 am – 12 pm.
Adaptive Art is a monthly visual arts and creativity class designed for adults (18+) with disabilities. Thanks to a generous grant from Ronald McDonald House Charities, registration is currently free while funds last. In this class, participants will explore various adaptive mediums such as movement, drawing, painting, and poetry to find new ways of self-expression and PLAY alongside talented and passionate teacher, Sara Fisher. Don't miss this opportunity to discover the joy of art in a supportive and inclusive environment.
Spring Show Pechakucha
Pechakucha is a concise storytelling format where speakers show 20 slides for 20 seconds each. Join us for these exciting artist talks featuring four Spring Show award winners: Greg Zbach, Justin Elliot Poole, Janet Dodrill and Adrienne Borkowski.
Open to all visitors. Museum admission applies.
Pride in the Collection
Join the Erie Art Museum on Saturday, June 6, 2026 from 5–7 PM for Pride in the Collection, an inaugural annual evening reception celebrating LGBTQ+ artists in our permanent collection and community.
Access For All
The Art Bridges Foundation ‘Access for All’ initiative brings you free admission to the Museum the first Thursday of each month from 11 am – 3 pm and the third Saturday from 10 am – 2 pm.
Explore the Museum, participate in free art crafts, and more!