Erie Art Museum

09/01/2026

Fall is shaping up to be one of our busiest seasons yet for classes at the Museum — and there's something for pretty much every kind of curious.

Want to try your hand at improv? Sara Fisher's leading a beginner-friendly series that runs weekly through November. Never picked up a camera? Erica Whiting's Fundamentals of Photography starts you from the basics. Curious about jewelry making, sewing, special effects makeup, watercolor painting, or the folklore behind some of Erie's most haunted spots? We've got a class for that too, taught by Dan & Jan Niebauer, Deborah Sementelli, Kristina Dabrowski, Esther Hong, and Toni Mazanowski.

Classes fill up, so if something catches your eye, don't wait too long to register. Full details, dates, and pricing are on our website — link below 👇

08/26/2026

Meet the zebra holding a TV.

This is roughly 1/80th of a single painting by Patricia Bellan-Gillen — the full piece is larger than a person, and packed with this much detail throughout.

Monsters, Beloveds and Invisible Whales opens September 3 in the Main Gallery.

📷 Patricia Bellan-Gillen | Weaponed Memory/Sunny Days and False Nostalgia (detail) | Colored pencil, acrylic, on birch | 93" x 80" | 2021

08/25/2026

This month marks 40 years that Eternal Vigilance has stood watch on the Erie Art Museum steps.

Stewarding a museum takes the long view. It's built by countless hours of quiet, steady work—budget meetings, hard conversations, big decisions—the kind of dedication that rarely gets its own spotlight. But every so often, there's a moment to pause and celebrate it.

Eternal Vigilance is so woven into Erie's identity now that it's easy to forget it took vision to put it there, and commitment to keep it there. That vision belongs to the people who have served on our Board over the years.

We marked this anniversary by inviting past and present board members back to the Museum steps for a photo with the sculpture that's become one of Erie's most iconic landmarks.

Pictured: Kirk and Rosanne Steehler, Patty Holstein, Abigail Adams Greenway, Nancy Potter, Mary Gamble, Neala Eastman, Michelee Curtze, Connie Manus, Angie McClimans (current Board President), and Laura Domencic (Executive Director).

Thank you for 40 years of hard work, and for growing this Museum into the beautiful, dynamic space it is today.

08/23/2026

This piece just arrived at the Museum — still wrapped in the plastic it traveled in. Take a closer look at the label in the circle.
(Yes, that's what you think it is.)
Patricia Bellan-Gillen's Monsters, Beloveds and Invisible Whales opens September 3.

08/21/2026

There's a reason the Main Gallery wall is turning red.

Something new opens September 3. We'll let the color do the talking for now.

08/19/2026

OMG! We know these people! They've been causing a ruckus in our building for a while now--and we LOVE it! Thank you Erie Reader for covering the wonderful work Sara Fisher and the Improv crew are doing. Fall Improv classes are open, if you want to join: https://www.erieartmuseum.org/improv

Yes and… this month, Edwina gets way outside of her comfort zone as she tries out a session of improv, offered regularly at the Erie Art Museum. The warmth of the instructor and the welcoming nature of the other students put Edwina’s anxiety at bay for a fun evening. Follow the link below ⬇️

08/12/2026

🖤 THANK YOU, ERIE! 🖤

Thanks to 112 generous donors, we raised $22,486 during Erie Gives — support that goes directly toward keeping the Erie Art Museum open, accessible, and full of art for our whole community. We are so grateful.
And what better way to celebrate than to welcome everyone back to the newly renovated marble stairs?

Join us this Friday, August 14, 10 AM–2 PM, right here at the Museum, as we celebrate the return of Eternal Vigilance and the reopening of the Customs House stairs — timed perfectly with Celebrate Erie's Chalk Walk and Music Series. Stop by for music, community, and a look at the stairs in all their restored glory.

Details in the comments 👇

08/11/2026

We're at the Erie Gives Celebration taking place at the Erie Insurance Courtyard. If you're downtown stop by and say hi 👋 (did we mention there's food trucks and music?!)

Thank you fo everyone for supporting the Erie Art Museum today!

08/06/2026

🤩 Absolutely thrilled be hosting these great musicians on the Chalkwalk Stage

08/04/2026

Your Wednesday lunch break just got an upgrade. 🎶

Mid Day Art Break continues with Jack Stevenson — live music right at the Museum, free and open to everyone.
📍 Erie Art Museum courtyard (rain or shine — we'll move to the Holstein Gallery if the weather doesn't cooperate)
🕛 12:00 – 1:00 PM
🎟️ Free admission!

Grab your lunch, bring a friend, and take the midweek reset you deserve.