Past Events

An illustration of a window with a ghost and glowing eyes behind it.

Looking for a spook-tacular way to start off your Halloweekend? Check out our Halloween events!

Detail of a painting depicting a social event in the fourteen century.

This year marks the 650th anniversary of Giovanni Boccaccio’s passing. We explore his legacy in a interdisciplinary panel of Vassar faculty, followed by a keynote speech by Grace Delmolino (University of California, Davis) titled: “Boccaccio and Consent.” No reservation required

Campus community only, please

 A mixed-media assemblage with layered red-tinted photographs, including African masks, sculptures, and archival images, arranged on a background printed with repeating black-and-white circular motifs. These motifs alternate between skulls wrapped in patterned cloth and portraits of a family framed by laurel leaves, with the phrase “Owu Sɛ Fie” repeated across the fabric ground. The central collage glows in deep red, contrasting sharply with the neutral beige and black patterned border.

Artist Lyle Ashton Harris will give a lecture which will explore the intersections between his practice in photography and collage, examining ideas of gender, sexuality, and belonging.

This event is open to the public.

Vassar barn exterior

Join us for Poughkeepsie Farm Project’s 3rd Annual Harvest Fest, our biggest celebration of the year! The Fest is a family-friendly music festival featuring food trucks, maker market, kids activities, craft beer & wine, and community on the farm! Funds raised help feed Poughkeepsie families. RAIN OR SHINE!

Film still of a close up of a seated person holding a cigarette while looking on.

A Screening of Jennifer Reeves’ The Gloria of Your Imagination followed by a Q&A with the director.

People gather at an indoor event, walking among rows of tables where representatives share information and materials.

The Engaged Pluralism Open House is a campus-wide celebration where students, staff, faculty, administrators, and organizations share passions, talents, and creative practices to spark curiosity, conversation, and community.

Campus community only, please.

Adult and child crouching and below a painting on the wall while looking at. The adult is pointing at the painting.

Join us for free drop-in family programs on select Sundays. Each date will feature different hands-on art activities inspired by art on view. Activities can be modified for all ages, but are best suited for children 5 and up.

Detail of performance focused on a violinist actively playing.

Eduardo Navega, conductor

This event is open to the public.

This is an in-person event that will also be streamed live

Installation view showing layered mixed textiles integrated with existing wallpaper in a weathered interior room.

Elana Herzog is an installation artist and sculptor who uses material culture to consider aspects of ephemerality, entropy, pleasure, and pain, focusing on the global migration of culture and technology as seen through the lens of textiles. Herzog will give a talk on her work titled “Being Always in Relation.”

This event is open to the public.

Portrait of Thomas Sauer in profile.

A recital of works by Mozart, Chopin, Robert Schumann, György Ligeti, Unsuk Chin and Hans Abrahamsen evoking experiences of day and night. Performed by Thomas Sauer, piano, Adjunct Artist in Music.

This event is open to the public.

Alana Fest poster. A purple graphic background with decorative silhouettes of singers and dancers.

ALANA Fest is one of the Jeh Vincent Johnson ALANA Cultural Center’s core events, and it makes visible, celebrates, and builds community with students of color at Vassar.

This event is open to the public.