The Institute Library

Illuminated Messages: A Gallery Upstairs Workshop at The Institute Library
2026-02-11 17:30 - 19:00 (America/New_York) | The Gallery Upstairs at The Institute Library, 847 Chapel Street, New Haven, CT, 06510, United States
Spend an evening enjoying thoughtful calm at one of our tables: create your own message of love. To send to anyone. Everyone needs to be appreciated, plain and simple — or elaborate and baroque! The curators of The Gallery Upstairs, Martha Willette Lewis and Maxim Schmidt, invite you to sit down and create a special message to a kind friend, a sweet relative, a lovely neighbor, a helpful stranger, a favorite artist… an idol of yours, a famous star? A wonderful nonprofit? You get the idea: someone deserves a sweet message from you and we are giving you the chance to make it happen! The Gallery Upstairs will be providing supplies (paper, envelopes, stamps) but you are welcome to bring your own as well! Show the postal service some love, make someone smile, return a kindness with a handmade note, share your appreciation & affection.

BRIDGE
2026-02-09 19:00 - 20:30, 2026-01-12 19:00 - 20:30, 2025-12-08 19:00 - 20:30, 2025-11-10 19:00 - 20:30 | The Institute LIbrary, 847 Chapel Street, New Haven, CT, 06510
A low key evening of bridge, for people who know how and people who don’t know anything at all.

Opening Reception | Forecast: Reading the Signs
2026-02-07 17:00 - 19:00 | The Gallery Upstairs at The Institute Library, 847 Chapel Street, New Haven, CT, 06510, United States

In the Gallery | Forecast: Reading the Signs
2026-02-07 - 2026-03-28 | The Gallery Upstairs at The Institute Library, 847 Chapel Street, New Haven, CT, 06510, United States

Jazz
2026-02-06 17:15 - 20:00, 2026-01-30 17:15 - 20:00, 2026-01-23 17:15 - 20:00, 2026-01-16 17:15 - 20:00, 2026-01-09 17:15 - 20:00, 2026-01-02 17:15 - 20:00, 2025-12-26 17:15 - 20:00, 2025-12-19 17:15 - 20:00 and 9 more dates | The Institute LIbrary, 847 Chapel Street, New Haven, CT, 06510
Although always subject to change as to artistic spotlight, Friday Night Jazz will continue a swinging tour of that great American art form, “LP Jazz”, meeting at 5:15 or so every Friday, in the third floor music room, to consider, contemplate and appreciate the wonders in the Collection.
Friday Night Jazz is, as always, a BYOB, BYO Snack evening; the crowd’s always appreciative and always excited to see what people bring. Updates to the schedule, including inclement weather closures, will be provided via the internal Jazz email list. Want to be added to that list? Let us know!
Please consider making a $5 donation when you come to Friday Jazz.
Friday Night Jazz is presented with support from Jazz Haven www.jazzhaven.org

Frèdèric Acquaviva and Kombat Diva perform LIVE at the Institute Library
2026-01-28 19:00 - 20:30 | The Institute LIbrary, 847 Chapel Street, New Haven, CT, 06510
Frèdèric Acquaviva and Kombat Diva have been performing in collaboration for many years but it has been nearly a decade since New Haven’s seen them; the Institute Library is proud to host their return to town. This evening, Kombat Diva will perform excerpts from Acquaviva’s The 120 Days of Musica, and selections from her own Panic Room: The Singterviews.
The self-taught experimental composer Frédéric Acquaviva (born January 20, 1967) splits his time between Paris, Berlin, and London. In 2020 he was awarded the SWR prestigious KARL SCZUKA PRIZE for his electronic opera ANTIPODES, the third French composer to receive it after Pierre Henry and Luc Ferrari.
Acquaviva has been prolific on the underground/experimental music scene, working with major figures of the historical avant-garde including Isidore Isou, Pierre Guyotat, Henri Chopin, Dorothy Iannone, and mostly mezzo-soprano Loré Lixenberg. Creator of “chronopolyphonic” installations, he works on the notion of “oxymoron” and in the intersection of instrumental or voice, with computer editing since 1990, sometimes including video-texts or live streams, mixing a conceptual approach with physical body sounds.
Mezzo-soprano KombatDiva is a singer/soundartist working across opera, sound art, film, radio, installation and experimental comedy. She has performed and premiered major works from Cage to Walshe, Acquaviva to Aperghis to Sciarrino, collaborating with leading composers, ensembles and institutions worldwide. Her work explodes operatic structure into participatory systems, from singing blockchains and dating-app operas to political parties, film-operas and extended-voice ritual. KombatDiva is the founder of The Voice Party, winner of the Rose d’Or, as well as Phonurgia Nova, Prix Italia and John Cage Awards.
This hour-long performance will be a rare experience; those with an interest in extremely unsual aural experiences and interdisciplinary art will not want to miss this evening. Doors at 6:30; Performance at 7:00. Seating is limited. Please email Eva@Institutelibrary.org if you have any questions.

PURCHASE TICKETS

A Cozy Evening with Brian Ember: Roasting Holiday Chestnuts in the Institute Library
2025-12-11 18:30 - 21:00 | The Institute LIbrary, 847 Chapel Street, New Haven, CT, 06510
Some know the vocalist Brian Ember for his operatic turns in Vermont; some know his dramatic performances at local music venues in New Haven. This evening, Brian will realize a dream: performing a run of classic secular holiday songs. Think Bing Crosby, think Bowie; think Irving Berlin; think of a pink feathered boa. Think and make plans to be here for this very special evening.
Doors at 6:30
Start time: 7:00
End time: 9:00
Tickets required: $25 each; seating limited to 50.
TWO WAYS TO BUY TICKETS:
• To purchase with a credit card, click here.
• To purchase using a cash app, click here.

Join Us for a Creative Evening
2025-11-19 17:00 - 19:00 | The Institute LIbrary, 847 Chapel Street, New Haven, CT, 06510

Listen Here!
2025-11-18 18:30 - 21:00 | The Institute LIbrary, 847 Chapel Street, New Haven, CT, 06510
Short stories read by members of the New Haven Theater Company, with talkback afterwards led by Bennett Lovett-Graff. Tea and cookies available for those who need caloric sustenance and warmth; stories and dialogue takes care of warming heart and soul. This event is free and open to the public; donations to the Institute Library are, however, welcomed.

Jazz at the Institute Library
2025-11-14 17:15 - 19:30 | The Institute LIbrary, 847 Chapel Street, New Haven, CT, 06510

Come As You Aren’t: A Masquerade, a Dream, a Moment of Levity, a Fundraiser for the Institute Library
2025-11-01 18:00 - 20:00 | The Institute LIbrary, 847 Chapel Street, New Haven, CT, 06510
Be simultaneously seen and unseen: Dress up as something other and join us for an evening of games, cocktails, elegant morsels, and fun. We’ll have live music, gorgeous company, endless goodwill, and surprises… This event is for people 21 and over, please.
Tickets are $50, and can be purchased at our website or at the Library.
Link to buy tickets and RSVP!
