Location: Morse Auditorium

In 2026, as part of the Salem 400+ initiative, PEM will present “Salem as Muse,” a series of talks that highlight works represented in PEM’s collection. These programs will explore a diverse range of subjects that connect to the unique history and character of Salem, Massachusetts.

Curator-at-Large Paula Richter will give a presentation centered on Lucy Cleveland: textile artist, children’s book author, 19th-century reformer and abolitionist. Born in Salem in 1780, Cleveland traveled to China and Indonesia with her husband, a sea captain, and published more than a dozen books. One of her artworks is on display in Salem Stories.