Programs & Events
Poetry Reading by the Burn Thompson Writing Group April 18th at 1:30 pm
Celebrate National Poetry Month by attending a poetry reading at the City Museum. On Saturday, April 18th, members of the Burn Thompson Writing Group will read original works sure to entertain and inspire. This is a free event with refreshments provided. The Burn Thompson Writing Group is named in honor of writer and long-time group member Burn Thompson. Thompson came to Juneau in the late 1980’s from Roanoke, Virginia and took charge of a flagging writing group, nursing it back to health. Thompson had an undergraduate degree in physics and graduate degrees in creative writing, a rare mix. The group was named in her honor after her death in October 2013. Members of the Burn Thompson Writing Group meet bimonthly to read and critique their work. During meetings, writers share their work and offer each other gentle critiques. The group is open to the public.
Slow Art Day, April 11th 2026
CELEBRATE SLOW ART DAY AT THE CITY MUSEUM ON APRIL 11TH
WHAT IS SLOW ART DAY? Slow Art Day is a global annual event celebrating art. On Slow Art Day, participating museums invite visitors to look slowly at a piece of art for ~5 minutes and then the museum host facilitates a discussion about the experience.
WHAT IS HAPPENING AT THE CITY MUSEUM ON SLOW ART DAY? The City Museum’s exhibition entitled Slow Beauty was inspired in part by Slow Art Day and the book All the Beauty in the World by Patrick Bringley. This exhibition is composed of six pieces of art curated by museum staff. The pieces on display include artwork by contemporary Juneau artists and iconic Alaska painters. Participants will view one of the pieces in this exhibition and City Museum Curator of Collections and Exhibitions, Dara Lohnes-Davies, will facilitate a discussion.
WHEN IS THE SLOW LOOKING EVENT? There will be 2 sessions on Saturday, April 11th. The first begins at 11:00 a.m. and the second at 12: p.m.
DO I NEED TO SIGN UP? Yes! Space is limited to 6 participants for each session and pre-registration is required.
Call 907-586-3572 to sign up.
Slow Beauty will be on display through October 17th, 2026.
The Juneau History Grant Applications Due April 3rd or October 1st, 2026
Applications Due Annually on April 3rd or October 1st
Do you have a good idea for preserving or sharing Juneau's history or culture? Are you a teacher looking for an authentic history project for your students? Do you have an interest in a specific aspect of our local history? If you answered yes to any of these questions, consider applying for a Juneau History Grant. The Juneau History Grant supports and encourages research, learning, dissemination, recording, and archiving of all types of information pertaining to the human history of Juneau and Douglas, and it is open to organizations, groups, or individuals of all ages.
The Juneau History Grant is administered by the City Museum with funding from the Friends of the Juneau-Douglas City Museum and the Juneau Community Foundation. Projects are typically funded at the $500-$1500 level; however, the Committee will consider all worthy projects within its ability to subsidize. Examples of projects include: live performances, public presentations, recordings (audio or video), publications, community signage or memorials, or any other project that produces a tangible product that can be shared with the public.
The next deadline to apply for a Juneau History Grant is April 3rd, 2023; however, deadlines occur biannually, so if you would like more time to plan your project, you can aim to complete your application by October 1st, 2023 instead.
For more information about the Juneau History Grant and applications instructions, click here.
The Marie Darlin Prize Applications Due May 1st, 2026
Applications Due Annually on May 1st
The Marie Darlin Prize recognizes outstanding works of artistic, literary, performative, or scholarly merit that concern the cultures and peoples of Southeast Alaska. The prize is awarded annually to an individual or collaboration whose work expresses a commitment to the region’s social or cultural history, community advocacy, or Indigenous identity.
In accordance with the wishes of Marie Darlin and donors, the Juneau-Douglas City Museum administers the Marie Darlin Prize, and the Juneau Community Foundation oversees the fund. Prize contenders are writers, visual artists, performing artists, or scholars from Alaska or elsewhere who have completed a significant work that emphasizes community values and regional identity. Applicants are reviewed by a selection committee which determines the winner. A cash prize of $5,000 is awarded annually and may be used as the recipient wishes.
For more information about eligibility and submission instructions, please visit the Friends of the Juneau-Douglas City Museum’s website at fojdcm.org