The Benton hosts final open house of the academic year 

The William Benton Museum of Art held its final open house on Thursday, May 1, featuring activities like tissue paper flower making and spending time with a therapy dog. 

The Benton, located at the University of Connecticut, hosts open house events on the first Thursday of every month, featuring a variety of activities. The Benton’s in-house café, the Beanery Café, provided refreshments throughout the evening. 

The open house began at 3:00 p.m. with food and drinks at the Beanery. 30 minutes later, the Benton started its open mic portion of the evening. Although some students took advantage of the open mic, it received little attention throughout the event. 

The more substantial portion of the open house began at 4:30 p.m. in the galleries upstairs. After leaving their backpacks below and taking in the exhibits, students could participate in various activities hosted by the Benton. 

The activities took place in the main gallery of the museum. Staff from the Homer Babbidge Library ran a table with a mobile library for visitors to check out books, and Benton staff handed out free stickers. Additionally, visitors could take part in a scavenger hunt around the gallery, following a list made by the Benton. 

The most exciting parts of the event, however, came in the form of Millie the therapy dog and tissue paper flower making. 

“I saw—in my Res Life hall, there was like a poster for it,” said attendant Kai Farese, a fourth-semester student majoring in art and psychology, about the event. “And I was like, oh, flowers and dog therapy? Yeah, I need to go.” 

Farese visited the Benton for the final time this year with their friend Ryann Remias, a fourth-semester student majoring in pathobiology. Farese had attended multiple open houses in the past, but this was Remias’ first time. 

Millie the therapy dog attended multiple open houses at the Benton throughout this academic year, and students were allowed to pet her and look through a book of photos featuring her. 

For tissue paper flower making, visitors were provided with sheets of scalloped tissue paper and green wire ties. Those who wanted to participate would collect a set of sheets to then fold, tie together and layer to create a colorful flower. 

“I think arts and crafts are a really good way just to de-stress in general,” said Remias. “Especially with finals coming up. And I enjoy doing something, like, tactile.” 

Remias and Farese noted that they specifically enjoyed the flower-making portion of the event, each having created multiple during the evening. 

“Having this activity and being able to make something to bring home to, like, my roommate, was fun,” said Remias. “So now I get to just have it up in the dorm. And I think it’ll be cute to look at.” 

Farese also expressed satisfaction with the open house as a whole. As an art major, they enjoyed seeing people interact with the Benton when they might not otherwise go. 

“I feel like a lot of people don’t go to the Benton unless they need coffee from the Beanery,” said Farese. “So, like having these events also gets them to look at all the MFA work that we have here.” 

The room used to host the open house was also home to the 2025 Studio Art & Digital Media and Design Master of Fine Arts Thesis Exhibition. The exhibition features the work of artists graduating from the MFA program and will be available until May 11. 

“People don’t go to the Benton as much,” said Farese. “Especially if they’re not an art major. So, having these events encourages more people to go. Like, they get to see all of the art when they walk through, whether or not they want to.”