December 2023

Bennington Museum Monthly

December is here! This is a month of celebration at Bennington Museum: a time to savor what made this year so special, and to make plans and resolutions for the year ahead.

In these last days of 2023, as so many of you make donations to your favorite non-profits, we ask that you please consider our Museum. Our Gala and auctions are a key part of our end-of-year fundraising efforts, but we know that not everyone can attend. We invite you to give in your own way, and please know that every dollar makes a difference.

Whether your joy lies in art, nature, history, or music, we at Bennington Museum work all year to bring it to you. It is your generosity that sustains us.

We hope to see you out and about before we close for the winter break (January 1 - March 31).

With gratitude, and all best wishes for the new year,

The Bennington Museum staff and board

Upcoming Events

Saturday, 12/2

10am- 4pm

Family Day

Children ages 5 to 12 are invited to browse the selection of new and gently used items, all priced from $1 to $12, with the assistance of our Shoppers’ Helpers.

Admission

$5 per person for everyone!

Kids 17 and younger can get in free IF…they bring an item to donate to this year’s Family Day Donation recipient, Bennington County Open Arms.

Friday, 12/8

6pm- 9pm

All That Glitters: Gala

Join good friends for a good cause and enjoy live music and a seated 3 course dinner and drinks by Pangea!

Don't forget, the Silent Auction online closes on December 7th and final bids may be placed in person at the Gala. Most items/experiences/gift cards can be shipped if picking up in person is not possible.

Also the Closed-Bid art auction and exhibition is open in-person and online. Bids may be placed through December 19th, and pieces can be shipped for an additional fee or picked up in time for the holidays.

All proceeds support Museum programming in the coming year.

Sunday, 12/17

2pm- 3pm

Inside the Battle of Bennington

The umbrella theme for the American and Vermont 250th commemorations of the Battle of Bennington is inclusion, especially relating to the stories and voices of individuals and groups who have been omitted from, marginalized, or misrepresented in past commemorations. The past 50 years of scholarship and exhibitions have greatly broadened our views of the American past. The 250th gives us an opportunity to reflect on our famous Battle and to reconsider who and what should be included in the story.

The Bennington Historical Society offers its programs at no charge with support from Nexus Consulting. You can support the efforts of the BHS to share the history of our region by making a donation.

Thursday, 12/21

1:30pm- 2:30pm

Museum ABCs: For the Birds

In the winter, it is harder for birds to find the foods they need. We can help our feathered friends by making bird feeders! At this month’s Museum ABCs, we will learn about how our feathered friends make it through the winter and how you can help them! We’ll decorate wooden birdfeeders, share birdy stories, and look for birds in the galleries.

Museum ABCs is a collaboration between Bennington Museum and the Bennington Free Library. It is designed for children ages 3 to 5 and their adult companions. Siblings welcome! Free thanks to support from The Bank of Bennington and Stewart’s Shops.

Sunday, 12/31

11:15am- 12:15pm

Noon Year's Eve

Want to celebrate the arrival of 2024 but bedtime is at 8:00? No problem! Put on your party clothes and join us at Bennington Museum as we welcome in the “Noon” Year with music, party hats, noisemakers, sparkling grape juice, and the countdown to Noon!

Admission is $5/child. Adults are welcome to join the party at no charge, but to explore the galleries, regular admission will be charged. Registration is not required. We hope you can join us.

Shopping for the Holidays

You might get swept up in the excitement of the Silent Auction and Closed-Bid Auction, but for last minute gifts and stocking stuffers, nothing beats the Bennington Museum store. We are open whenever the Museum is open, and you do not need to pay admission to visit. You can also make a purchase online and we will ship it. Stop in, or click on the link below to see what we have to offer!