Free activities will be available on the UNL campuses at the Great Plains Art Museum, International Quilt Study Center and Museum and Sheldon Museum of Art on Aug. 7, in conjunction with Lincoln’s First Friday art walk.

The Great Plains Art Museum will hold an opening reception for “Art of the Plains,” the American Plains Artists 30th annual juried exhibit, from 4-7 p.m. Aug. 7.

The 30th installment of American Plains Artists annual juried exhibition features artists working in any traditional 2D or 3D fine art media in a realistic or representational manner with a thematic focus on the American Plains. Organized by the American Plains Artists, the exhibition is part of its ongoing efforts to educate the public about the diversity found in artistic depictions of the American Plains.

At 4 p.m., awards juror Tom Tierney, co-publisher for Art of the West magazine, will speak and hold a question and answer session about the exhibition. The reception and awards begin at 5 p.m.

The International Quilt Study Center and Museum will offer a unique program about a quilt made to honor Holocaust victims during First Friday Aug. 7.

Peter Fischl is an advocate and author of the poem, “To the Little Polish Boy Standing with His Arms Up.” In 1999, fifth-grade students at Ella Barnes Elementary School in Corpus Christi, Texas, wrote their own responses to Fischl’s poem and the photo. They inscribed their words on a quilt, which was sent to Fischl in appreciation for his work. He donated the quilt to the International Quilt Study Center & Museum in 2014.

At 5:30 p.m. Fischl, Ducey and Katie Wisian, one of the students who contributed to the quilt, will give a presentation on the poem. Documentarian Peter Musurlian will be filming to include the event in a feature about Fischl’s life.

Sheldon Museum of Art will hold a reception in celebration of the re-opening of Sheldon’s permanent collection galleries. Members of the music faculty of the University of Nebraska campuses in Lincoln and Kearney will perform.