Call for Applications: Reiwa 8 (2026) Overseas Training Program for Emerging Artists – Japanese Culture Promotion and Dissemination Project

公募｜令和8年度新進芸術家海外研修制度における「日本文化発信・普及事業」

Japan's Agency for Cultural Affairs (Bunka-cho) is now accepting applications for the "Japanese Culture Promotion and Dissemination Project" under the 2026 (Reiwa 8) Overseas Training Program for Emerging Artists. This separate track supports established cultural figures, artists, and researchers—not just emerging artists—to conduct activities that promote and disseminate Japanese culture abroad. The program covers travel, accommodation, and activity costs up to 1.5 million yen, with派遣 periods ranging from 20 to 80 days between October 1, 2026 and March 31, 2027. Applications must be received by June 5, 2025, and results will be announced by early September.

Collective-The Art Of Craft To Host Open Studio Weekend Information Center In Woodstock

Collective-The Art of Craft in Woodstock, Vermont, will serve as an information hub during the Vermont Craft Council’s Spring Open Studio Weekend on May 23-24. The statewide event features 175 artists at 133 locations, offering studio tours and artist demonstrations. The gallery will host a special exhibition from the Vermont Glass Guild and a live painting demonstration by artist Katie Roberts.

Tamarack to host opening for ‘Best of West Virginia’ art exhibition

Tamarack Marketplace in Beckley, West Virginia, will host the opening reception and award ceremony for its 18th annual “Best of West Virginia” Open Juried Exhibition on May 16. The event takes place in the David L. Dickirson Fine Arts Gallery, with the reception at 1 p.m. and the award ceremony at 2:30 p.m. in the theater.

WAC's new 'The Art of Jazz' exhibit now open

The Watauga Arts Council (WAC) has opened a new exhibition titled "The Art of Jazz" in its main gallery in Boone, North Carolina, running through June 30. The show features works by local and regional artists who interpret jazz music's energy, improvisation, and cultural roots through 2D mediums, translating sound into color, movement, and form. A special reception will be held at the Appalachian Theatre on June 11, where pieces will be transported for the event, offering a cash bar and opportunities to meet the artists. The exhibition coincides with the 5th annual High Country Jazz Festival, providing a visual counterpart to the music events in downtown Boone.

New Rotating Art Exhibit at the Broadway

The Broadway Theater in Rock Springs, Wyoming, has launched a new rotating art exhibit in its lobby, featuring local and regional artists. The program will display new artwork every 60 days, with all pieces available for purchase. The inaugural artist is Debora Soule, a longtime Rock Springs resident and former director of the Community Fine Arts Center, known for nature-inspired works reflecting the Western landscape. An opening reception with Soule is scheduled for May 12, and the theater is seeking additional artists for future exhibits.

IUP's University Museum to turn the spotlight onto stagecraft in upcoming artist talk, exhibition

Indiana University of Pennsylvania's University Museum is hosting an upcoming artist talk and exhibition that focuses on stagecraft, highlighting the intersection of visual art and theatrical design. The event will feature artists and designers who create sets, costumes, and props for the stage, showcasing their work in the museum space.

Leesburg Arts Center’s Inaugural Exhibition Reception: New Venue, Same Allure

The Leesburg Arts Center is launching its inaugural exhibition, "People, Places & Things," at its new permanent home in the historic Tropic Theatre. The reception, scheduled for April 17, debuts a diverse collection of works from the center’s artist membership, spanning various media. The exhibition will remain on view through July 11, marking a significant milestone for the organization as it establishes its presence in downtown Leesburg.

Solo Exhibit For Deerfield Artist Opens In North Shore

The Gallery Lake Forest has unveiled "Wax Poetic," a solo exhibition featuring the encaustic works of Deerfield-based artist Karen Ross. This marks Ross’s first solo showcase in Lake Forest, highlighting her mastery of the ancient and technically demanding medium of encaustic painting, which involves using heated beeswax and pigments. The exhibition focuses on themes of emergence and the seasonal transition of spring, drawing parallels between the natural world and the physical process of layering and revealing wax.

Young talent shines at Rochdale’s FAB Youth Arts Festival

Rochdale recently hosted the FAB Youth Arts Festival, a multi-disciplinary event marking the conclusion of the town’s tenure as the Greater Manchester Town of Culture 2025-26. The festival featured a diverse array of visual arts, including the unveiling of a major new mural by artist Hayley Garner (Aylo) on the Regal Moon building, an outdoor exhibition at the Square Gallery by Hopwood Hall College students, and interdisciplinary showcases at Ebor Studio. The event attracted over 1,500 visitors and focused on the themes of freedom, art, and belonging.

Upcoming in the Loveland area: Art exhibits, music, veterans monument groundbreaking

The city of Loveland, Colorado, is preparing for a series of cultural events on April 10, headlined by the opening of Michael Simms’ photography exhibition "Eye on Loveland" at the Loveland Museum. The local art scene will also feature the Aims Student Art Show, themed "Shapes and Figures," and the monthly "Night on the Town" art walk, which includes gallery openings and community events across the downtown area.

Noyes Arts Garage Exhibits Highlight College Students' Work and Contributions of Immigrants and Migrant Laborers

The Noyes Arts Garage of Stockton University has launched two concurrent exhibitions: "Monuments to Migration and Labor" and "Emerging Visions." The former, supported by the Mellon Foundation, features regional artists like Chung-Fan Chang whose work explores cultural identity and the immigrant experience through labor-intensive techniques. The latter serves as a massive collegiate showcase, featuring diverse media from over 50 students representing five different Southern New Jersey higher education institutions.

Arts events feature a book launch, art gallery opening, soap carving … soap carving?

Northland Pioneer College’s Performing Arts Department is set to debut a world-premiere theatrical adaptation of Jane Austen’s classic novel, "Emma." The production, which opens on April 10 at the college’s Performing Arts Center in Snowflake, Arizona, offers a fresh take on the beloved story of a well-meaning but meddlesome matchmaker.

Art Center to Feature Gallery Artist Studio Collection

The Elk Grove Fine Arts Center has announced its upcoming April programming, headlined by the Gallery Artist Studio Collection exhibition running from April 4 to 29. This showcase features work from over 20 local artists across various mediums, including painting, sculpture, and ceramics, offered at studio prices. Additionally, the center will host the Fifth Annual Elk Grove Festival of the Arts on April 25 at Old Town Plaza, featuring over 40 vendors and a dedicated showcase for student artwork.

New York State Museum begins $150m modernisation project

The New York State Museum in Albany has launched a comprehensive $150 million modernization project funded by the state. Led by new director Jennifer Saunders and supported by Governor Kathy Hochul, the initiative includes infrastructure upgrades, the formation of a visioning task force, and a plan to double the number of annual major exhibitions. The project aims to update the museum's aging displays with more interactive technology and contemporary narratives, beginning with a Barbie retrospective and an upcoming exhibition marking the 250th anniversary of the United States.

“Produce” Exhibition Opens at Third Street Gallery

The City of Moscow and the Moscow Arts Commission have announced the opening of the "Produce" exhibition at the Third Street Gallery, running from January 15 to March 13, 2026. The show features works by 14 regional artists including Elizabeth Adan, Nancy Bowman, Mary Katherine Clancy, Julene Ewert, Rebecca Lewis, Maria Marx, Debbie McCormick, Martha McIver, Toya Pham, Megan Phelps, Belinda Rhodes, Ludmilla Saskova, Evelyn Simon, and Heather Woolery. An artist reception on January 15 from 4-6 p.m. will coincide with Moscow's Artwalk event, with refreshments from Goose House Bakery.

Artists to highlight environment issues in 'Sacred Waters' exhibit

The Guam Daily Post reports on an upcoming exhibition titled 'Sacred Waters' that will feature artists addressing environmental issues, particularly those affecting water resources. The exhibit aims to use visual art as a platform to raise awareness about ecological concerns, likely focusing on Guam and the broader Pacific region's environmental challenges.

Saratoga Arts to reopen after $2 million renovation to gallery, theater, classrooms

Saratoga Arts, a community arts organization, is set to reopen after completing a $2 million renovation to its gallery, theater, and classrooms. The project upgraded the facility's infrastructure and spaces to better serve local artists and audiences.

Night of Modern Art History, Night of Spectacle at Sotheby’s

Sotheby’s held a high-profile evening auction featuring major works of modern art, drawing significant attention from collectors and the art world. The event was characterized by record-breaking bids and a theatrical atmosphere, with several iconic pieces selling for tens of millions of dollars, underscoring the enduring appeal of blue-chip modern masters.

Rivoli Arts District opens immersive Halloween exhibit

The Rivoli Arts District (RAD) in downtown La Crosse is hosting an immersive Halloween-themed art experience called "The Uncanny Exhibit" from October 16 through November 1. The exhibit features 13 rooms, each designed by a different local artist, with interactive installations that combine visual, auditory, and tactile elements to create a multisensory, unsettling atmosphere. Marketing specialist Aidan Schmidtknecht describes it as more artsy and immersive than a traditional haunted house, focusing on atmosphere and weirdness rather than jump scares.

24th annual Juried Art Exhibition and Reception coming up this fall

The Auburn Arts Association (AAA) is hosting the 24th annual Juried Art Exhibition and Reception at the Jan Dempsey Community Arts Center (JDCAC) in Auburn, Alabama. The exhibition opens on September 22 and runs through October 31, with a reception on September 24 from 5:30 to 7 p.m. The show features 56 works by local artists from Lee County and adjacent counties, and merit awards will be announced during the free, public reception.

Hertel guides student team to create sail cloth art exhibition in Erie

Heather Hertel, a professor of art at Slippery Rock University, led a team of students to create a floating art exhibition at the Erie Yacht Club on August 14. The artworks were painted directly onto recycled J22 yacht sails, attached to working yachts, and sailed out on Presque Isle Bay. The project began in 2015 when Hertel, an experienced sailor, wondered why she had never painted on sails. The team conducted material investigations to find paint that would stick to sail cloth, ultimately producing nine large-scale paintings. The exhibition also involved cross-disciplinary learning, with engineering professor Louis Christensen giving a presentation on sailboat physics to ensure the sails moved correctly.

A Creative Culmination

Three graduating seniors at Syracuse University—Lily Ryan, Rumini “Rumi” Nguyen, and Zoe Requena Bustillo—are preparing capstone projects for a final exhibition at the Warehouse Gallery, culminating their studio arts B.F.A. program. Ryan’s work explores queer identity, nostalgia, and the uncanny through mixed-media tinkering; Nguyen crochets objects from memory to process homesickness; and Requena Bustillo creates a puppet theater addressing Venezuelan history, displacement, and immigration.

Goodbye to Leoma Lovegrove: Fort Myers, Matlacha events celebrate beloved SW FL artist

Leoma Lovegrove, a beloved Southwest Florida artist known for her vibrant, colorful paintings, is being celebrated through events in Fort Myers and Matlacha following her death. The community is honoring her legacy with gatherings that reflect her joyful spirit and artistic contributions to the region.