Lectures and Performances
Click here for Art Talk and the International Lecture Series.
To register for any program, use the links provided, or call us at 772.231.0707 x 116
By entering the Museum, you consent to be photographed and filmed for promotional purposes.
All programs are subject to change.
ALL SALES ARE FINAL
Public Programs Inspired by Exhibitions on View
The VBMA is excited to offer a selection of public programs designed to complement and enhance the vibrant array of exhibitions on view.
Lecture with Richard P. Townsend
Picasso and the Masters…and Dora Maar Too
Saturday, November 1, 2025 at 11 a.m.
Leonhardt Auditorium
$12 per person for VBMA Members; $15 per person for non-members
Space is limited; pre-registration required.
Tickets include admission to the galleries. Come early to see the exhibition.
Pablo Picasso’s (1881–1973) late linocuts featured in Picasso and the Progressive Proof reveal one of the most significant themes of his entire career. Early trained as an academic artist, Picasso strove his entire life to enter the ranks of the great artists of the past. That he in effect accomplished this during his lifetime is a tribute to his ambition, drive and that quality that defines him as truly great, the innate sense of the received artistic tradition to which he was heir. Titian, Cranach and Goya are the “grands maîtres” he converses with in the exhibition. Underscoring this dialogue will be Townsend’s exciting new research on the previously unknown and unpublished drawings of Picasso’s lover and leading Surrealist artist in her own right, Dora Maar. She also was a product of the academic tradition and even while documenting with her camera the creation of Picasso’s Modernist masterpiece Guernica, she returned to painting, making drawings after Raphael, Durer, Vermeer and Velazquez. Townsend’s lecture will reveal the inexorable pull of the Old Masters on two of the most unforgettable icons of Modern art.
Register for Picasso and the Masters…and Dora Maar Too
Space Coast Symphony Orchestra, Woodwind Quintet – Pinocchio
Saturday, November 8, 2025 at 11 a.m.
Leonhardt Auditorium
Free; No preregistration required.
Designed for preschool and kindergarten-aged children and their families, the 45-minute story time will feature members of the the woodwind family, including the flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, and French horn. The entertaining musical score depicts characters and scenes from Pinocchio including Geppetto, Pinocchio, Harlequin, The Fox and the Cat, The Fairy Godmother, Candlewick, Toyland, the Whale, and more. Narrated by Aaron Collins, Artistic Director and Conductor. Following the performance, join the performers for a chance to try out instruments of the woodwind family!
Free Film Screening: F11 and Be There (2018)
Saturday, November 8, 2025 at 1:30 p.m.
Leonhardt Auditorium
No preregistration required. Doors open at 1:00 p.m.
Join us for a special screening of F11 and Be There, the acclaimed documentary on photographer Burk Uzzle. The film traces Uzzle’s remarkable career, from his days as the youngest photographer ever hired by Life magazine to his ongoing exploration of American identity through the lens of his camera.
Ballet Vero Beach
Reflections
Saturday, November 15, 2025 at 12pm and 3pm
Leonhardt Auditorium
$30 per person for VBMA Members and Ballet Vero Beach Members; $36 per person for non-members
Space is limited; pre-registration required.
Tickets include admission to the galleries. Come early to see the exhibition.
Experience an unforgettable performance where movement meets imagery in Reflections, a special program presented by Ballet Vero Beach. Featuring original choreography inspired by themes of identity and expression found in the Museum’s fall exhibition Double Portraits, this program offers a fresh perspective on the human form through the language of dance. Join us for a captivating interdisciplinary afternoon and witness art come to life.
Register for Reflections at 12pm Register for Reflections at 3pm
The Art of the Cocktail
Drawing inspiration from the exhibitions on view, guests will immerse themselves in the evening’s theme through a lively docent-guided tour and by creating a carefully selected cocktail with an expert mixologist. Sip your beverage and savor light hors d’oeuvres in the Holmen Hall and take home a recipe card to recreate the experience at home. All ingredients are provided. A mocktail option will be available upon request.
$40 per person for VBMA Members; $50 per person for non-members
Space is limited; pre-registration is required. Participants must be 21 years of age or older.
Friday, October 17 at 6:30pm | American Mule – An American twist on the classic cocktail.
Friday, November 21 at 6:30pm | Perfect Pearing – A fruity pairing with a smooth finish.
Friday, December 19 at 6:30pm | Double Take – A sparkling sip with a festive flair.
Photo Walk: Snapshot Photography
Friday, December 5, 2025 at 6:00 p.m.
Meet in front of Main Street Vero Beach
No preregistration required. Group will depart at 6:05 p.m.
Meet us on 14th Street in Downtown Vero Beach for an engaging photo walk led by teaching artist and photographer Kenneth George. This one-hour session will focus on the art of snapshot photography; discovering moments in everyday life, framing compelling images, and practicing observational skills in real time. Participants of all skill levels are welcome; camera or smartphone required.
Ballet Vero Beach
Made in America
Saturday, February 28, 2026 at 12pm and 3pm
Leonhardt Auditorium
$30 per person for VBMA Members and Ballet Vero Beach Members; $36 per person for non-members
Space is limited; pre-registration required.
Tickets include admission to the galleries. Come early to see the exhibition.
Ballet Vero Beach responds with a series of original dance works that reflect the spirit, resilience, and innovation found throughout more than a century of American art. This performance serves as a living, breathing complement to the visual experience, bringing movement to the themes and stories captured in paint and sculpture. Join us for this extraordinary performance that reimagines American artistry through the transformative lens of dance.
Register for Made in America at 12pm Register for Made in America at 3pm
Vero Beach Opera
Puccini’s Girl of the Golden West
Sunday, March 1, 2026 at 2:30pm
Leonhardt Auditorium
$20 per person for VBMA Members and Vero Beach Opera Members; $25 per person for non-members
Space is limited; pre-registration required.
Tickets include admission to the galleries. Come early to see the exhibition.
The first opera to have its world premiere at the Metropolitan Opera, The Girl of the Golden West confused audiences and critics in 1910. It had a different shape from Butterfly and Tosca, it seemed to lack arias, and Puccini was trying to create a new musical style for the twentieth century. In this lecture, Ian Campbell, Vero Beach Opera’s master of ceremonies, will discuss the impact of the libretto and its historical background, as the California gold miners of 1849 come to America from all corners of the world seeking their fortunes. Minnie, the beautiful, chaste owner of the Polka Saloon, is courted by lonely miners, the sheriff, and a Mexican bandit. She finds love with her first kiss but must save her chosen man from a lynch mob. Is it the first “spaghetti western”, an “American opera”, an “Italian opera” set in America, or a story of love, hope and moral redemption?
Space Coast Symphony Orchestra, The Strings – Princess and the Pea
Saturday, March 14, 2025 at 11 a.m.
Leonhardt Auditorium
Free; No preregistration required.
Designed for preschool and kindergarten-aged children and their families, the 45-minute story time will feature members of the string family, including the violin, viola, and cello. The Princess and the Pea is a literary fairy tale by Hans Christian Andersen about a princess who is tested. Narrated by Aaron Collins, Artistic Director and Conductor, the string quartet brings this story to life through music and props. There are many features in this work that are sure to interest audiences of all ages. Different motifs are used to differentiate between characters and settings. Following the performance, join the performers for a chance to try out instruments of the string family!