Third Thursday

Events and Activities

• 

  July Museum Playdate: Summertime Fun ☀️

  10:00 AM — 12:00 PM

  This month, we'll explore all things Summer through gallery activities and summer fun sculpture-making inspired by the warmth and sunshine. Free admission. No registration is required. Designed for children ages 6 and under and their caregivers. Bring the little ones and experience our beloved Teddy Bear Talks (bring your favorite Stuffy!), make art together, and find community! Need a boost? Caregivers can grab free coffee from the PMA Cafe. No schedules, no sign-ups—just a relaxing morning at the museum.Museum Playdate at the PMA is a monthly morning for young children and their caregivers to slow down, explore, and make things together. Our educator-led experiences are designed for our youngest visitors and their adults. Every gathering has its own theme, with gallery adventures, art projects, story time, and family activities—plus free coffee and a chance for caregivers to connect with others.

  Learn More
• 

  Drop-in Mobile Making with ArtVan

  3:00 PM — 7:00 PM

  Join ArtVan’s teaching artists for a drop-in mobile-making activity using mixed media and spiral-cutting techniques. This relaxed, hands-on experience encourages presence and experimentation, with each participant creating a mandala mobile to take home. ArtVan delivers free art therapy services to fifteen neighborhoods across Central, Western, and MidCoast Maine. Art Therapists and dedicated support staff drive a colorful van to housing authorities, public schools, libraries, and community centers to provide free Art Therapy sessions for participants ranging in age from 3 to 93 years old. By bringing services directly into the neighborhoods where people live, ArtVan removes financial and transportation barriers, advancing equity and access to mental health and social supports; as well as offering preventative care so that participants may avoid acute care later on. For more info visit www.artvanprogram.org

  Learn More
• 

  Concerts on Congress with Melissa Ferrick

  5:00 PM — 6:00 PM

  Melissa Ferrick performs a free, all ages outdoor set in the David E. Shaw and Family Sculpture Park Third Thursday. This event is part of Concerts on Congress presented by The Portland Museum of Art, State Theatre, Friends of Congress Square Park, One Longfellow Square, and Portland Downtown. Visit the galleries while the museum is open late, grab a drink at the outdoor bar in the David E. Shaw Sculpture Park at the PMA, order from Meet on the Street food truck and picnic from Arts District restaurant take-out. ArtVan will be onsite with a pop-up mandala mobile making station.  All events are free + all-ages as space allows.   Check out the other performances:  4:30pm Tiger Bomb at Monument Square with Portland Downtown 6pm Portland Jazz Orchestra at Congress Square Park presented by One Longfellow Square   About Melissa Ferrick: Ferrick’s impact reaches far beyond her music. As one of the few openly queer artists in the 1990s, she navigated and challenged the sexism, homophobia, and rigid gender expectations of the music industry. Her trailblazing journey not only paved the way for future generations of artists but also created a space where they could express their identities and be celebrated on their own terms. Melissa is a proud member and supporter of organizations that assist artists in recovery from addiction. Most recently, Melissa'a focus has been on producing, co-writing, and being an agent. She joined the team at Paladin Artists Agency in October 2024. She currently represents: Sandra Bernhard, Trixie Whitley, Elizabeth and the Catapult, Gail Ann Dorsey, Tania Elizabeth, Vandoliers, Mt. Juliet, Sweet Petunia, Pete Droge, Antonia Bennett, and Janis Ian. Melissa is also a Professor of Practice at Northeastern University, teaching courses in music business, songwriting, and the psychology of creativity. She holds an Ed.M. from Harvard University.

  Learn More