Fundraising Galas & Events

Members Opening Reception | Paul Scott: New American Scenery

NA: Tuesday, August 16 • 5:30pm - 7:30pm

Please join us for a special members-only reception on Tuesday, August 16 at 5:30PM to celebrate the opening of Paul Scott: New American Scenery. The exhibition will be on view August 13-December 31, 2022.

 

Free to all museum members! Not yet a member? Sign up here!

Reception includes light refreshments and a cash bar. 

Registration is required. RSVP deadline is Monday, August 8, 2022.

To ensure the safety of all of our guests, the museum will follow current New York State COVID-19 guidelines. 

Jan-boree!

NA: Saturday, July 30 • 5:30pm - 7:30pm

Join us at the museum on Saturday, July 30, 2022 from 5:30—7:30PM for our special Jan-boree! to celebrate the exhibition Jan Brett: Stories Near and Far with special guest author and illustrator Jan Brett, a reception, book signing, activities, and more!

Space is limited and registration is required. We have a limited number of walk-in tickets available.

 

Jan-boree! will be a fun night at the museum!

Schedule of Activities

Explore the exhibition Jan Brett: Stories Near and Far, enjoy delicious hors d'oeuvres and beverages, create art with hands-on activities, say hello to Jan Brett and get books signed, and pose for a photo with Hedgie the Hedgehog! Plus, early registrants have the opportunity to watch a special drawing demonstration by Jan!

5:45PM-6:00PM: Drawing Demonstration by Jan Brett  | AT CAPACITY! WAIT LIST IS ACTIVE! Wait list generates automatically in order of registration

Please note! This demonstration has limited capacity and seating is available on a first-come, first-served basis to early event registrants. Once space capacity is reached, a wait list will start. Eligible attendees will need to arrive by 5:30 to get wrist-bands from our Admission Desk to secure their spot for the demonstration. Any wristbands that have not been claimed by 5:30PM will be distributed to guests by order on the wait list.

6:10PM-7:30PM: Book Signing with Jan Brett

Get your Jan Brett books signed by the author herself!

Check out our selection of specialty gift sets, available at a pre-order discount on our website through July 29, 2022 [link coming soon!] Pre-order your set now and have it ready for you to pick up the night of Jan-boree! to save time and get you in line for the book signing sooner.

**Please note: Jan will do her very best to sign books with personal inscriptions; depending on the number of attendees, she may provide hand-signed bookplates as an alternative; these will be available for all personal book copies.

5:30-7:00PM: Art Studio open for drop-in art-making activities

There's hands-on fun for all ages in our Art Studio! Come be creative with a Jan Brett inspired art activity.

 

 

Cost & RSVP

Cost for this event is $25 for adults and $6 for children 5-17.

Are you a museum member? Be sure to stop by the Admission Desk when you arrive for a special member thank you gift!

 

COVID Safety Measures

To ensure the safety of our guests, the museum will require proof of vaccination at check-in. 
 
Masks are encouraged where social distancing is not possible and may be required in certain activity locations (signs will be posted). 
 
Proof of vaccination includes: a vaccination card, a photo of a vaccination card, the New York State Excelsior Pass or Excelsior Pass Plus, or if you received your vaccination in another state, that state's equivalent passport. Please visit our website for any change in information. 
 

Parking

Free parking is available on a first-come, first-served basis in the museum's parking lot at the corner of Dove and Elk Streets. Free parking is also available on the weekends in downtown Albany.

 

More about the Exhibition

Jan Brett: Stories Near and Far has been organized by the Norman Rockwell Museum in Stockbridge, Massachusetts and will be on view at the Albany Institute from July 23—December 31, 2022.

Learn more about this exhibition

$25.00

2022 Museum Gala

Thursday, June 2 • 6:00pm - 9:30pm

We are delighted to invite you to the 2022 Museum Gala held at the museum on Thursday, June 2 from 6:00 to 9:30 pm. 

We are pleased to announce Barbara K. Hoehn and her late husband Dr. James G. Hoehn as this year’s Museum Gala honorees. Barbara and Jim moved to Albany in 1971. They were a team in their philanthropic efforts and strong advocates of the museum for the next 50 years. Barbara’s first introduction to the museum was as a volunteer for the Champagne Ball in 1971. She served as President of the Woman’s Council and chaired many Champagne Ball Committees. In 1991, she was elected to the museum’s Board of Trustees and over the years has served on many committees. Barbara was awarded The C. Jordan Vail Spirit of Philanthropy Award by The Community Foundation for the Greater Capital Region in 2013. She has been involved in many community groups including the Fort Orange Garden Club, the Junior League, the SPAC Action Council, and the Community Foundation – just to name a few!

James was known around the world for his leadership in the field of plastic surgery and in the Capital District for his devotion to history, stamps, and Jaguar sports cars. He served as president of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, American Association of Hand Surgery, the New York State Society of Plastic Surgeons, the Society of Plastic Surgeons of Upstate New York, and the International Confederation of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery. James organized teams of surgeons for annual trips to economically disadvantaged countries where he would lead two-week clinics working on conditions such as cleft-palate repair. Barbara accompanied him and served as a translator.

The Museum Gala is our largest annual fundraiser. This year’s gala, inspired by the current exhibition The Four Elements of Leigh Li-Yun Wen, will celebrate the museum with cocktails and dinner by Mazzone Hospitality in our galleries surrounded by artwork.

We have a limited number of tickets available. Please call Ellie Burhans at 518-463-4478 ext. 402 for questions.

MAKE YOUR DONATION NOW AND ENJOY THE PARTY LATER

During the Covid-19 pandemic, we closed our Explorer’s Gallery to ensure the health and safety of everyone. Re-opening the space to children and families requires new air filtration and circulation, and new furniture. This year, at the Museum Gala we are asking for your financial support to re-open the Explorer’s Gallery. The theme of the gallery will be inspired by our next exhibition, The World of Jan Brett, on view from July 23, 2022 to December 31, 2022. Jan Brett is an internationally known and beloved author and illustrator of books for children. The exhibition will feature over 120 works from 19 books.  The room will feature reading nooks, Lego building opportunities, and Jan Brett coloring pages. Please consider donating $500 or more to help us safely re-open the Explorer’s Gallery. We are excited to include your name the donor acknowledgement panel. Donate today.

Winter Exhibition Opening Reception

NA: Monday, February 7 • 5:30pm - 7:30pm

Join us to celebrate The Four Elements of Leigh Li-Yun Wen on Monday, February 7, 2022 from 5:30-7:30PM. Mix and mingle with the artist and enjoy a special treat and gift to bring home. Registration is required.

To ensure the safety of our guests, the museum will require masks and proof to vaccination to attend. Proof of vaccination includes: a vaccination card, a photo of a vaccination card, the New York State Excelsior Pass or Excelsior Pass Plus, or if you received your vaccination in another state, that state's equivalent passport. Please visit our website for any change in information. 
 
Cost is $15 per person | Register online

Learn more about this exhibition and artist Leigh Li-Yun Wen.

Presenting exhibition support is provided by the Taipei Cultural Center in New York, Ministry of Culture, Republic of China (Taiwan). Leading exhibition support is provided by Omni Development Company, Inc., the Taiwanese American Cultural Society of the Capital District, the University at Albany Foundation, Dorice Brickman, Mr. Alan P. Goldberg, William M. Harris and Holly A. Katz, Vicary and Peter Thomas, and Mr. Daniel L. Wulff.

$15.00

Work of Art

Wednesday, November 3 • 5:30pm - 8:00pm

Work of Art at the Albany Institute of History & Art is an annual cocktail party and silent art auction that celebrates and promotes one of our region’s greatest assets: its vibrant community of regional artists. 

This year, Work of Art will be on Wednesday, November 3rd from 5:30 – 8:00 p.m. at the Albany Institute. We are pleased to announce that we are honoring Tammis K. Groft.

Tammis recently announced her retirement as Executive Director of the museum, a role she has served in since 2013. We celebrate her work in achieving financial stability of the organization, experimenting with new community-based programs, upgrading the museum’s technological infrastructure, growing the museum and library collection holdings to better tell the stories of people in the region, and promoting our region’s contemporary artists.

Work of Art will be held at the museum with Covid-19 protocols to ensure the safety of staff and guests. A silent auction will feature works by contemporary regional artists, continuing the Institute’s support of our area’s vibrant arts community. Proceeds from the auction will be shared between the Albany Institute and the artists.

Tammis K. Groft started as an intern at the Albany Institute and was hired as Assistant Curator of Collections and Exhibitions. In addition to participating in the development of over 100 exhibitions, authoring several publications, and securing over 30 museum grants, Tammis has shared her knowledge and training with students of art and history. She has served as an Adjunct Professor for the Public History program at the University at Albany and as a study leader for the Smithsonian Travel Program on the Hudson River. Her presence and expertise will be missed.

Looking for a special preview of art available at the silent auction?

Click here.

Tickets are sold out.

To join our wait list, please call Ellie Burhans at (518) 463-4478 ext. 402.

If you would like to make a donation in honor of Tammis K. Groft, please call Ellie Burhans or donate online.

 

 

VIRTUAL PROGRAM | “This Little Corner of the World:” The Wyeths, Chadds Ford, and Sites of the Historic Artists' Homes and Studios Program

Thursday, October 14 • 7:00pm - 8:00pm

The Wyeth family lays claim to three generations of artistic contributions that have helped to share our nation's culture. Their preserved homes and studios in Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania provide tangible touchstones back to the environs that inform these artworks, as well as the familial creative culture that fueled these talented individuals. Join Valerie Balint in a discussion that places N. C. Wyeth, Andrew Wyeth, Jamie Wyeth, and their Pennsylvania homes and studios in the context of other preserved sites of major American visual artists. Discover the connections between these sites and individual works of art, but also the narratives of lesser known members of the family, such as Carolyn and Henriette Wyeth.

 

Valerie Balint is the Senior Program Manager for the Historic Artists' Homes and Studios (HAHS) program of the National Trust for Historic Preservation and author of the newly released Guide to Historic Artist Homes and Studios (2020).

This program is offered free with a suggested donation of $10. Registration is required. Please click here to register.

MEMBER EVENT Annual Meeting of the Membership 2020

Monday, September 21 • 5:30pm - 6:30pm

Members are invited to join the Albany Institute's Board of Trustees for a virtual meeting to learn about the museum's accomplishments in 2019 and its plans for the rest of this year. A link to the meeting will be sent the day of the meeting.

Free, but reservations are required. RSVP online or to Ellie Burhans at (518) 463-4478 ext. 402 or email burhanse@albanyinstitute.org.

Tea & Culture: Chinese Tea Ceremony

Saturday, April 25 • 10:30am - 12:00pm

Saturday, April 25, 2020
10:30AM—12PM

Join us in exploring China's unique history of tea and how it has influenced Chinese culture. Members of the East Asia Studies Department at the University at Albany will guide us through a thousand years of tea and history before performing a Chinese tea ceremony with special participant Ruby Silvious. 

Reservations encouraged. Please call Ellie at (518) 463-4478, ext. 402.

  • $10 for Albany Institute members | $12 non-members

$10.00

MEMBER ONLY PROGRAM Tour of Mohawk Fine Paper Company

Wednesday, April 22 • 9:00am - 11:00am

Wednesday, April 22, 2020 | 9—11AM

Inspired by the exhibit Recycled & Refashioned: The Art of Ruby Silvious, we are hosting a special members-only tour of the Mohawk Fine Paper Company in Cohoes, New York.

Mohawk cares about the environment and is committed to a sustainable future. They source pulp from sustainable forests, use recycled fiber, conserve water, and harness wind power for their mills' electrical energy. The company combines a legacy of the region's manufacturing with innovation to create a sustainable future. We will tour the facility and learn how recycled materials becomes paper.

Space is limited and reservations are required. Tour details and meeting place provided upon registration. No open-toed shoes permitted. 

To register, please call Ellie at (518) 463-4478, ext. 402.

  • Free for Albany Institute of History & Art members

MEMBER EVENT Member Appreciation Day in the Museum Shop and Cafe

Thursday, March 5 • 10:00am - 3:00pm Thursday, March 12 • 10:00am - 3:00pm Thursday, March 19 • 10:00am - 3:00pm Thursday, March 26 • 10:00am - 3:00pm

Exclusive to Albany Institute members!

All day, take 15% off on regular merchandise in the shop and enjoy free coffee in the cafe.

Not yet a member? Learn more here and sign up here!