Indiana University Museum of Archaeology & Anthropology hosted “Spring at the Museum” Thursday, welcoming families, students and community members to celebrate the arrival of spring with crafts, food and live music. The two-hour event was free and offered an interactive way to experience and enjoy the season.
The event is part of the museum’s ongoing “Night at the Museum” series, which takes place on the second Thursday of each month and aims to make the space more engaging for the public. This was the second year the museum has hosted its spring-themed installment, one of several seasonal programs offered throughout the year.
Thursday’s “Spring at the Museum” embraced a tea party theme, featuring activities such as flower crown making and garden tag decorating, alongside cakes and sweets. Attendees could move freely throughout the space, chatting and exploring exhibits while engaging with staff.
For museum leadership, events like these serve as a way to connect the public with collections they might not otherwise experience. Director of Curatorial Affairs Jean-Luc Howell showcased spring-related items from the museum’s collection including toys, birdhouses and vases decorated with flowers, all with the goal of making the museum feel more open and inviting.
“It brings people into the museum,” Howell said. “It allows people great access to the types of exhibitions and collections we have. It’s just good outreach.”
Learning and Community Engagement Manager Shelbie Porteroff said the event’s seasonal structure is intentional, with changing seasons heavily influencing theme selection. She added that staff aim to balance consistency with creativity in the activities offered each year.
“We were coming up with rotating themes that would make sense throughout the year, and we realized we wanted a few pillars that stay the same,” Porteroff said. “One of the natural pillars was to have one for the four seasons.”
Porteroff also emphasized the thought that goes into selecting activities, ensuring they are accessible for all age groups while still being something attendees would want to take home and appreciate.
The event featured a wide range of hands-on activities, including a photo booth, bouquet building, natural bird feeder crafting and terrarium making. For attendees like IU sophomore Claire Davis, the interactive stations were one of the highlights.
“You could build your own bouquet, and they had so many different flowers,” Davis said. “Tulips are really big in Bloomington, so it was cool to see those and how everyone made something unique.”
Master’s student in flute performance Emma Fusco and harpist and Doctor of Musical Arts candidate Theresa Labuda from the Jacobs School of Music played live music, blending traditional and contemporary selections that were light and airy to emphasize the spring aesthetic.
The event drew a wide range of attendees, from infants to older community members, with activities designed to be engaging for all ages. Bloomington resident Jody Black, who has attended events at the museum for years with her children, said she regularly looks out for the museum’s programming because of how inclusive the events are.
“I think it lowers the threshold of feeling like you're welcome,” Black said. “It was clear that it was a free event and that there were going to be things that were family-friendly and easygoing.”
Porteroff said beyond the activities and live music, the event plays an important role in building connections between the museum and the local community.
“I think people really crave attention and connection, and we don’t always get that when we’re alone on a university campus,” Porteroff said. “Bloomington is a close-knit community, and it’s important to have spaces where people can come together, make memories and build those connections. That’s a huge part of anthropology.”
