Upcoming Events

3:00pm–4:30pm Join us at the Albany Institute for a relaxing evening of observational drawing in the galleries! This week, we will explore the fundamentals of landscape using the museum's Hudson River School collection as a guide. Learn the foundations of composition and form from the masters of landscape. Supplies are provided, but participants are encouraged to bring their own sketchbooks and pencils. All abilities are welcome. Free with admission, no pre-registration required. Sketch in the Galleries is a weekly series held Wednesdays from 3–4:30PM at the Albany Institute from April 1–29, 2026.

5:00pm–7:00pm Albany Institute of History & Art holds extended hours for the city of Albany's popular First Friday program! Enjoy free gallery admission from 5–7PM, a docent-led tour from 6–6:45PM, hands-on activities, and a pop-up bar.  

10:00am–5:00pm This Saturday, Bank of America cardholders receive free museum admission! For the past 25 years, Bank of America has offered cardholders free general admission during the first full weekend of every month to more than 225 cultural institutions in cities across the United States via the Museums on Us initiative. Museums on Us is available to Bank of America, Merrill or Bank of America Private Bank (U.S. Trust) credit or debit cardholders.

11:00am–11:45am Enrich your experience of our current exhibitions through an insightful docent-led tour of the galleries. Docent tours are an excellent way to learn more about the artworks and objects on display, in addition to the stories they tell. Interaction and questions are encouraged and visitors of all ages are welcome. The tour is free with museum admission, no registration required. Please meet in the museum atrium main level near the admission desk before the tour begins.

12:00pm–4:00pm Art for All is free with museum admission every Saturday from 12–4PM. All ages are welcome to participate. Enjoy your visit to the museum and explore your artistic side with a hands-on project inspired by the museum's exhibitions and collections. This month, participants will create colorful, geometric paintings with white lines inspired by Blanche Lazzell and the Provincetown Printers’ white-line woodcuts. Apply painter’s tape to your paper to create an abstract, geometric design. Then, using multiple colors, paint within the lines, creating the appearance of one of Blanche Lazzell’s geometric white-line woodcuts once the tape is removed.   Blanche Lazzell (1878–1956), Planes II, printed 1952, color woodblock print,14 x 12 in. Art Museum of West Virginia University Collection, gift of Harvey D. Peyton.

Albany Institute of History & Art is closed Sunday, April 5, in observance of Easter Sunday. Standard museum hours resume on Wednesday, April 8.