Jambalaya Arts Inc., a non-profit art gallery in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, is expanding by opening a dedicated music venue called The Jamb on High Avenue. The new space, set for a soft opening at the end of March, will host live music events, allowing the gallery to stop the labor-intensive process of converting its existing Main Street gallery for performances.
Art in the Loft in Alpena is preparing for its SummerView 2026 exhibit, featuring roughly 30 local and regional artists in its 7,000-square-foot space. The exhibit has a soft opening on May 26 and an opening reception on June 2, showcasing original works in multiple mediums and techniques, all available for purchase. The gallery is also celebrating its 25th anniversary with a gala on November 7.
Elysian Gallery in Alton, Illinois, is closing its original location at Mineral Springs Mall on May 10, 2026, to relocate and expand into a new concept called Elysian Gallery and Cafe at 419 E. Broadway. Owner Jeff Bohnert, a photographer, is transforming the 500-square-foot gallery into a larger, pet-friendly cultural hub featuring a cafe serving Goshen Coffee, a book nook, workspaces, and art exhibitions. The new space will open with a soft launch on May 30 during Alton Main Street's Pup Crawl, followed by a grand reopening on June 6. Bohnert and his girlfriend Janel Freeman originally opened the gallery in August 2025.
Blue Fern Artists Collective Gallery will hold its grand opening and ribbon-cutting on Friday, Sept. 5, from 6 to 8 p.m. at 40B Main St. in Peterborough, N.H., in a space formerly occupied by Grey Horse Candles. The gallery, founded by Deborah Caplan and a group of local artists, had a soft opening during the Aug. 8 Night Market. It features 18 artists working in diverse media including paintings, drawings, collage, multimedia, ceramics, felting, jewelry, leather work, and photography. The collective is collaboratively owned and run, with each artist paying a nonrefundable buy-in and monthly dues, and working two shifts per month. Artists receive 82% of sales profits, far above the typical 40-50% gallery commission. The gallery is also partnering with MAXT Makerspace to showcase makers’ work and plans to host classes, art history lectures, poetry readings, and evening events in the adjacent alley.
Sophia Grace Gallery, a new art space founded by curator and artist Sophia Kidd, held its soft opening on May 17 in Ferndale. Artist He Gong attended and spoke with visitors at the event, which marks the realization of Kidd's decades-long dream to open a gallery bridging her experiences in China and her base in Bellingham.
The Quincy Art Center has announced the launch of Quincy Art Gallery on 6th, a new satellite exhibition space in downtown Quincy. Scheduled for a soft opening on April 1 followed by a grand opening on April 25, the gallery will feature rotating quarterly exhibitions of work by local and regional artists, all of which will be available for purchase.
Aluminum City Arts, a new arts organization in New Kensington, Pennsylvania, celebrated its soft opening with a community event. The gathering featured local artists, live demonstrations, and an opportunity for residents to explore the new space, which aims to serve as a creative hub for the region.