Monochrome in Color

The 22nd Annual 12x12 Community Art Exhibition

March 6th – April 18th, 2026

With over 60 submissions by artists of all ages, we are excited for the 22nd Annual 12x12 Community Art Exhibition! Each year the City Museum hosts a community art exhibition in which artists of all ages are encouraged to create works within the parameters of a square or a cube, measuring 12" x 12" (or 12" x 12" x 12") including the framing. Themes for the exhibition are suggested by museum visitors.



This year artists submitted pieces on the theme "Monochrome in Color". Artists were allowed to use any medium (sculpture, photography, paint, collage, colored pencil, etc.) but could choose only one color to create their piece. Every color comes in a variety of shades, tones, tints and values, and artists were encouraged to incorporate multiple varieties into their artwork.

Sydney Laurence

Supper on the Mendenhall Bar

1939, Oil on canvas

JDCM.2003.13.003

Slow Beauty

March – October 2026

This exhibition features six stunning artworks from our permanent collection that reflect both the beauty of Alaska and a range of artists from Alaskan Master Sydney Laurence (1865-1940) to contemporary local Juneau artists. The exhibition is inspired by the idea of slow looking, the Slow Art Day movement, and Patrick Bringley’s book All the Beauty in the World, in which he reflects on his experience working as a guard at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

According to Claire Bown, slow looking is “a practice, mindset and approach involving the study of objects with intention and attention.” The practice of slow looking can introduce elements of mindfulness, meditation, and “groundedness” or it can just be a way to relax or allow yourself to think more deeply. This notion of slow looking is also illustrated in Bringley’s book as he navigates a difficult time in his life by slowing down and giving himself permission to “stop and adore” to find some peace and calm.

Visitors to the City Museum are invited to slow down and enjoy this exhibition. Find a chair, have a seat, and take a moment to view the incredible paintings. Free sketchbooks for reflecting and/or drawing are provided in the gallery.

Registration is required!

Call 907-586-3572 to reserve a spot!

Slow Art Day

Saturday, April 11th, 2026

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.

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.

Space is limited to 6 participants for each FREE session and pre-registration is required. There will be 2 sessions on Saturday, April 11th. The first begins at 11:00 a.m. and the second begins at 12:00 p.m.

Members of the Burn Thompson Writing Group meet to read and critique their work. The group is open to the public.

Celebrate National Poetry Month at the City Museum

Poetry Reading by the Burn Thompson Writing Group

Saturday, April 18th | 1:30 – 3:30 p.m.

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. The group was named in her honor after her death in October 2013.

For more information about the

Juneau History Grant and application instructions visit our website at juneau.org/museum.

The Juneau History Grant

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.

For more information about eligibility and submission instructions, please visit the Friends of the Juneau-Douglas City Museum’s website at fojdcm.org 

The Marie Darlin Prize

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.