Events & Activities

These Walls Can Talk

Poetry Reading & Community Art Inspired by the Vanka Murals

Sunday, October 19, 2025 at 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM

Join us for an afternoon where words and art intersect, inspired by Maxo Vanka’s powerful murals.

Writers from Carlow University’s Madwomen in the Attic program will hold a public poetry reading, sharing work inspired by the murals’ themes of justice, labor, immigration, and motherhood. This special event is the culmination of their fall course, “These Walls Can Talk,” a collaboration with the Society to Preserve the Millvale Murals of Maxo Vanka and Anthropology of Motherhood.

A Creative Space for Everyone

While the poetry readings are happening upstairs, the church hall will host an all-ages artmaking space. Vanka Educators will lead hands-on activities, perfect for kids (under 5 must be accompanied by an adult) and anyone who wants to create.

GLEDAJ! Sketching

Vanka’s Views of Pittsburgh

Sunday, September 14, 2025 10am – 2:30pm
University Art Gallery, University of Pittsburgh

In 1935 and 1937, Maxo Vanka took advantage of extended stays in the region – including when he was painting his famous murals in Millvale – to observe and sketch Pittsburgh. For this sketching session, we’ll return to sketch in the shadow of one of Vanka’s favorite buildings: the Cathedral of Learning.

Join us for a sketching workshop inspired by Vanka’s views of Pittsburgh led by local artists: Kate Lundy, John Martine & Suzanne Werder. We’ll start with a behind-the-scenes look at drawings from the Vanka Collection and related works from the UAG Collection with UAG director and curator, Dr. Sylvia Rhor.

Vanka Block Party

Sunday, April 27, 2025

FREE: All ages & abilities welcome

Join us for the 3rd annual Vanka Block Party, a free community event featuring local food and drink, music, art making, tours, and more!

Made possible by the generous support of the Jack F. Buncher Foundation.

Check out photos from the event

A Feast for the Murals

Friday, March 28, 2025

Indulge your senses with an evening of food, art, community, and music at the Vanka Murals. Enjoy a special dinner menu from Sprezzatura featuring both pescatarian and vegan options. In the sanctuary, Jennifer Baron of The Garment District/The Ladybug Transistor will be spinning Croatian records from her grandparents’ collection of original 78s, along some new finds, including 45s and LPs, while local artist Maggie Negrete creates zines for an all-ages scavenger hunt of the Murals. Vanka Tour Volunteers will be on hand to guide you through the stories of the Murals in this Open House.

Creative Happening

Love Letters

Sunday, February 2, 2025

A new way to engage with the Murals! Explore Maxo Vanka’s stunning work on an interactive tour, as we draw connections to Vanka’s depictions of love for humanity and justice.

Use this inspiration to create your own love letter as you craft and create one-of-a-kind cards to keep for yourself – or send to a loved one.

Each registration includes all necessary art materials and light refreshments. BYOB and art supplies welcome.

The two-hour session will take place inside St. Nicholas Croatian Church, both in the sanctuary and the Church Hall.

Holiday Lights Tours

December 26 – 31, 2025

Holiday celebrations continue with the one-and-only Vanka Murals!  Enjoy pre-tour performances and a 60-minute docent-led tour surrounded by the splendor of the season.

Discover the stories behind these striking works—painted in 1937 and 1941—and how they reflect the lives of working-class Pittsburghers and be among the first to see the awe-inspiring results of recent conservation.

Guests will also be treated to homemade Croatian Cookies, and special merchandise.

Make a visit to the Vanka Murals part of your holiday traditions!

Holiday Family Program

December 27 & December 30

Join us for a festive, family-friendly 60-minute interactive tour crafted for young children and their families to explore history and art together. Set amidst the season’s lights and decorations, this multi-generational experience brings the Vanka Murals to life with hands-on activities for little ones.

After the tour, enjoy refreshments in the cozy church basement and connect with other families. All ages welcome, with up to three adults per child for an engaging experience.

Chatham Baroque

Friday, December 6, 2024

Chatham Baroque returns to the Vanka Murals!

Featuring Pascale Beaudin (soprano) and an array of superb instrumentalists playing on violins, viols, and lutes, Chatham Baroque brings to life rarely heard jewels of music by Jean-Baptiste Lully and his predecessors.

Pre-concert Mural tour begins at 6:30 PM, concert begins at 7:30PM

Conservation Celebration & Open House

Tuesday, October 29, 2024

Creative Happening

Thanks for joining us for the 2024 Vanka Sketching Sessions!

Together we took a closer look at four iconic Pittsburgh sites: Allegheny Cemetery with John Martine & Scott Brozovich, Carrie Furnace with Rick Landesberg & Laura Vinchesi, Allegheny Commons Park with Jourinoe (Dejouir Brown) & Juliandra Jones, The Vanka Murals with Jon Funari, Kate Lundy & Suzanne Werder.

Join us again in 2025!

These sketching sessions are made possible in part by a Mini-Grant from Rivers of Steel and DCNR

Creative Happening

Foraging the Murals: Flower Workshop & Tour

Sunday, August 25, 2024

This Creative Happening unfolds in two parts. First, join Vanka educator Maggie Negrete  as she guide guests through foraging the flowers depicted in the Murals. Participants will delve into the symbolism behind each flower that Maxo Vanka meticulously included in his Murals.

In the workshop portion, participants will explore the art of Tatakizome under the guidance of local fiber artist and passionate gardener, Amy Garbark. Tatakizome is an innovative technique that imprints the delicate details and vivid colors of flowers onto fabric. Each participant will leave with their own printed bag, filled with seeds of native species.

Creative Happening

Family Button Making at the Millvale Music Festival

Saturday, May 18, 2024

• Join us at two locations — in the heart of the festival in Millvale and up the hill at the Vanka Murals.
• Free for all ages.
• Co-lead with our partners from the LIGHT Education Initiative.

This program is part of the Remake Learning Days. Read more at remakelearningdays.org or on Facebook.

Creative Happening

The Millvale Music Festival

Friday, May 17, 2024

• Music in the sanctuary
• Free for all ages

Saturday, May 18

• Music in the sanctuary
• Free for all ages

Learn more at millvalemusic.org or check them out on Facebook.