The Newport Art Museum announced Wednesday that season subscriptions are now on sale for the 2026 winter speaker series, marking the 98th year of the beloved community tradition.
The series kicks off Jan. 24 with Nick Benson, a third-generation master stone carver and owner of The John Stevens Shop. Benson will explore the tension between humanity’s relationship with the physical world and our growing interaction with the digital realm.
“The Newport Art Museum is eager to kick off a new year with a program that has been a staple of our community for nearly a century,” said Executive Director Harry Philbrick. “By exploring new ideas and an important slate of topics together this season, we further cement the role of the museum as an inclusive space for learning and connection.”
The six-week program features speakers covering art history, archaeology, conservation and more. The full lineup includes:
- Jan. 24: Nick Benson, stone carver
- Jan. 31: Dr. Robert Quinn, founder of Scholars at Risk
- Feb. 7: Stephanie Plunkett, chief curator of the Norman Rockwell Museum
- Feb. 14: Dr. Steven Tuck, archaeologist at Miami University
- Feb. 21: Dr. Charles Clarkson, director of avian research for the Audubon Society of Rhode Island
- Feb. 28: Asako Katsura, assistant curator of Japanese art at MFA Boston
Each lecture includes an audience Q&A followed by refreshments. Presentations will be held in person at the museum and virtually on Vimeo.
Season subscriptions are available at newportartmuseum.org/wss. Individual tickets will go on sale at a later date.