The Reading Public Museum has announced the return of its signature Gala, to be held on April 25.
(Courtesy of the Reading Public Museum)
After nearly two decades, the tradition — originally launched in 1992 and celebrated annually through 2007 — will once again take center stage. Revived by popular demand, the 2026 Gala promises to honor its storied legacy while ushering in a new era of celebration, community and support for the museum.
In recent years, museum staff, the board of directors and the broader community have expressed a renewed passion for the elegance and excitement the Gala once brought to the region.
The Gala committee, including Ann Calvaresi-Barr, Dr. Mark Dougherty, Caroline Hill, Laurie Kirkpatrick, Zerena Klajbor-Boyer and Frederick Nice, has embraced this momentum and is preparing an extraordinary evening — one that will match and even exceed the grandeur of past events.
“For generations, the Gala served as a hallmark occasion for our supporters,” said Geoffrey K. Fleming, museum executive director and CEO. “Its return symbolizes not only a tribute to our past, but a bold step toward our future.”
For more than 120 years, the Reading Public Museum has thrived as a vibrant, accessible hub for lifelong learning. With dynamic offerings in art, science and culture, the museum welcomes visitors of all ages to explore engaging exhibitions, rotating star shows at the Neag Planetarium, interactive educational programs, community events, school tours, workshops, lectures and its beautifully maintained 25-acre arboretum.
The museum’s ability to deliver these transformative experiences is made possible entirely through the generosity of its supporters. As a privately funded institution, the Reading Public Museum receives no regular federal, state, local or taxpayer funding.
Proceeds from the 2026 Gala will directly sustain the museum’s mission-driven operations, helping ensure it remains a vital cultural cornerstone for years to come. Tickets will be available for sale in late winter.
Sponsorship opportunities for the 2026 Gala are available. For more information, contact Ashley Houston, director of development, at Ashley.Houston@readingpublicmuseum.org or 610-371-5850, extension 228.
The Reading Public Museum, 500 Museum Road, is open daily from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. For more information, visit readingpublicmuseum.org.
Art
The Berks Art Alliance has announced it is hosting a public talk and demonstration featuring St. Lawrence artist Zoungy Kligge.
St. Lawrence artist Zoungy Kligge (Courtesy of the Berks Art Alliance)
“Sketching an Animal Portrait” will be held on Feb. 13 at 7 p.m. at Yocum Institute for Arts Education, 3000 Penn Ave., West Lawn.
Kligges, an award-winning plein air sketch artist, is known for realist and imaginative works in pencil, pen, watercolor, gouach and acrylic.
He is is an instructor at the GoggleWorks Center for the Arts in Reading and Historic Yellow Springs in Chester County. He also writes a regular substack Artist’s Cheat Sheet: https://zoungyart.substack.com.
Attendees will both observe and ask questions of the artist as he sketches a portrait of a Floridian animal from photo reference. They may also bring their own photo references, sketchbooks and pencils to sketch together if they want.
The Berks Art Alliance, with more than 200 members, was founded in 1941. It is a fellowship of artists, both professional and amateur, with a common goal: to encourage artists by providing educational workshops, inspiration through trips to museums and art events, exhibition opportunities for both members and non-members and sharing information about the local arts scene.
It is a co-sponsor of Plein Air West Reading, an annual national competition, as well as an annual juried exhibition at the Goggleworks.
The event is free. In the event of severe weather, the meeting will be broadcast via Zoom. Check https://berksartalliance.com for a link on the day of the meeting.