OLD LYME – Beginning Sunday, April 3, the Florence Griswold Museum invites visitors to shake off any leftover winter blues and celebrate the beginning of Discovery Sundays. In addition to the popular “Make-A-Painting” activities, where visitors of all ages use the museum’s supplies to create their own masterpieces, Discovery Sundays now include an outdoor Art Cart that guides families to explore the grounds and its connection to the artists who famously painted there.

In addition, seasonal buildings including the Chadwick Studio and the Rafal Landscape Center will open for the season. And who knows! With any luck you’ll find some pops of color starting in the garden!

The museum is open every Sunday from 1 to 5 p.m. and all activities are included with admission ($10 for adults, $9 for seniors, $8 students). Children 12 and under are always free.

The museum is located at 96 Lyme Street, Old Lyme. For more information, visit www.FlorenceGriswoldMuseum.org or call 860-434-5542 x 111.

AREAWIDE – Madhatters Theatre Company is currently accepting registration for its youth summer theater programs at Chester Meeting House.

The junior program, open to ages 6-12 years, will be “The Little Rascals, The Musical.” The program runs Monday through Friday, July 25 through July 29, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., with a performance on Friday.

The senior program, open to ages 13-18 years, is “The Roaring 20’s Musical.” The program runs Monday through Friday, Aug. 1 – 5, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., with a performance on Friday.

For further information and/or to register, e-mail: madhattersctc@aol.com or call (860) 395-1861. Information is also available at www.ctkidsonstage.com/madhatterstheatrecompany.

The Chester Meeting House is at 4 Liberty Street in Chester.

‘Ratatouille’ by Cheryl Weyman in oil is the signature painting of the Palate to Palette segment of the exhibition.

Four new exhibitions, each with a different theme, will be on view in the Lyme Art Association’s (LAA) beautiful historic galleries from Friday, March 4, through April 15.  A Contemporary Look, Drawing Attention, Palate to Palette, and Urban Landscape run concurrently.  An opening reception for all four exhibitions will be held on Sunday, March 13, from 1 to 3 p.m.

The Exhibition in Four Acts is one of the LAA’s most dynamic and exciting exhibitions, bringing together four distinct types of representational art. Urban Landscape showcases the work of talented artist members who set out to capture the architecture and life of town and city.  A Contemporary Look is an exhibition of abstracted, yet still representational work. Drawing Attention features work of all themes in charcoal, graphite and ink, and Palate to Palette focuses on food, dining and cooking. Each exhibition is shown in one of the four skylit galleries in our historic building.

“A visit to the Lyme Art Association to see the Exhibition in Four Acts feels like visiting four different galleries.  There is a variety and a shift in mood as you move from one gallery to the next,” states gallery manager, Jocelyn Zallinger.  “This show also allows a visitor to focus on each genre in a way that is not possible in other exhibitions.”

The opening reception for all four exhibitions is free to the public and will be held on Sunday, March 13, from 1 to 3 p.m. at the gallery located at 90 Lyme St., Old Lyme, Conn.

The LAA was founded in 1914 by the American Impressionists and continues the tradition of exhibiting and selling representational artwork by its members and invited artists, as well as offering art instruction and lectures to the community. The Association is housed in a building designed by Charles Adams Platt and located within an historic district. Admission is free with contributions appreciated. Gallery hours are Wednesday through Sunday, 12 to 5 p.m., or by appointment.

For more information on exhibitions, purchase of art, art classes, or becoming a member, call 860-434-7802 or visit www.lymeartassociation.org

Registration for all Summer Dance classes at Eastern Connecticut Ballet has begun.

AREAWIDE – Eastern Connecticut Ballet’s Summer Dance program will help all young dancers to grow and improve. The school for classical ballet training is offering many different workshops at its East Lyme studio in July and August with options of taking a single or multi-week program.

The youngest dancers (ages 3½-6) may enroll in a Storybook Magic Adventure featuring ballet, jazz and special crafts. The Petite Dancer Workshop (ages 6-8) is designed to bridge the gap between the young children’s program and the graded classical ballet program. Older children (ages 8-12) will build their skills and have fun in the Young Professional Summer Workshop.

More experienced students will benefit from the Intermediate/Advanced Workshop and/or the Summer Intensive, “In Balanchine’s Footsteps.”

Headlining the guest faculty for the Intensive is New York City Ballet’s extraordinary principal dancer Sara Mearns, described by Alastair Macaulay of the New York Times as “the great American ballerina of our era.” “In Balanchine’s Footsteps” will also be taught by Pennsylvania Ballet principal Amy Aldridge and Gloria Govrin, ECB Artistic Director, master teacher and former New York City Ballet soloist. These distinguished artists were either students of Balanchine or members of companies in the Balanchine tradition. To round out the program, students will enjoy jazz with Broadway veteran Mary Ann Lamb and modern dance with Paul Taylor Company member Eran Bugge.

“There’s no better way for a young dancer to learn than from master teachers who were either students of Balanchine or members of companies that embrace his style and choreography,” said ECB executive director Lise Reardon.

In addition, teens and adults may take classes in ballet and jazz on summer evenings. A full schedule, costs and registration form are available at easternctballet.com. Register by April 8 and receive a $15 discount. For inquiries, call 860-739-7899 or visit ECB at 435 Boston Post Road in East Lyme.