The 23rd Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest has announced its 60 finalists, selected from over 17,000 submissions. The images span six categories: American Experience, Artistic, Drone/Aerial, People, Travel, and Wildlife. The magazine is now inviting the public to vote for a Readers' Choice award winner, with polls open through March 30.
PlayLab, a new hands-on learning and play space for children and families, will officially open on Saturday, May 16, at the Southwest Art Gallery and Science Center in Dickinson, North Dakota. Located beneath the gallery's main floor, the interactive space features 12 themed labs—including motion, discovery, building engineering, design, spark, construction, magnet, sensory, logic, space, and eco areas—each equipped with materials to foster creativity, motor skills, critical thinking, and problem-solving. Admission is $10 per child, and regular hours will be Saturdays from 10 a.m. to noon and Sundays from 1 to 3 p.m.
Sixteen graduating seniors from Southern Illinois University Carbondale’s School of Art and Design are presenting their thesis works in a week-long exhibition at the Surplus Gallery in the Glove Factory Studio Art Building. The show runs from May 7 to May 8, 2026, with a public closing reception on May 9. Students display works across glass, metals, industrial design, communication design, and studio art as part of their Bachelor of Fine Arts degree requirements.
Cumbria's largest museum, Tullie House Museum and Art Gallery Trust in Carlisle, has appointed six new trustees to its board, expanding the total to 15 members. The new trustees include Lord Richard Inglewood, a former government minister; Lisa Middleton, head of marketing at National Museums Liverpool; Joanne Orr, former director of Tullie and ex-chief executive of Museums Galleries Scotland; Malcolm Rogers, a banking and finance specialist; Helen Smout, chief executive of Culture Perth and Kinross; and John Stevenson, a former MP for Carlisle. The appointments were announced by Tullie chair Andrew Smith and director Andrew Mackay.
A new free exhibition at The Oxfordshire Museum will showcase the works of local artists David Lockett and Peter Ross, whose friendship and professional collaboration spans over six decades. Opening on September 6 and running through September 21, the show features landscapes, portraits, and abstract works, with many pieces available for purchase. Lockett presents recent landscapes and seascapes painted from direct observation, while Ross exhibits a selection spanning fifty years, including his 2024 Open Art Competition-winning portrait “Emma Groves, Belfast 1978.”
Art League Houston (ALH) has issued an open call for exhibition proposals for its 2027 season, inviting artists, curators, and collectives from around the world to apply for six total exhibitions across winter and summer sessions. Proposals are accepted in all disciplines, including visual arts, installation, performance, video, and interdisciplinary practices. An artist advisory board will review submissions between November 2025 and January 2026, with a free application deadline of October 31, 2025. Selected artists will receive stipends ranging from $700 to $2,700, and ALH will host a FAQ session in mid-September to assist applicants.
LJ Bergren has opened Collected Gallery in Northeast Minneapolis, a small house-turned-gallery that prioritizes affordability and accessibility. The gallery sells a range of mediums including prints, ceramics, jewelry, and lithography, with artists on six-month contracts to ensure a rotating selection. Bergren, an artist and collector herself, aims to make art available to all budgets, offering shipping nationwide and planning extended summer hours as many employees are students at Minneapolis College of Art and Design. The grand opening in April drew a wide community response, with visitors praising the approachable atmosphere and accessible prices.
The 30th annual High Energy exhibition at the Art Gallery of St. Albert (AGSA) features over 120 artworks from students at three local high schools: École Secondaire St. Albert Catholic High School, Paul Kane High School, and Bellerose Composite High School. The 2025 theme, 'Look Up and Marvel,' encourages exploration of wonder and perspective. Curator Emily Baker notes a rise in car and truck imagery due to changing student demographics, alongside recurring subjects like music celebrities, fantasy landscapes, and pop culture. Bellerose marks Black History Month with pieces honoring figures such as Zendaya, Nina Simone, and Tupac Shakur. The exhibition opens May 8 with a reception where six Christopher Kazaleous Awards will be presented.
The Venkatappa Art Gallery in Bengaluru has reopened after months of renovation, coinciding with its Golden Jubilee year. The refurbished space now features dedicated sections for artists K Venkatappa and KK Hebbar, five mini galleries for rotating exhibitions, a curated bookstore, a state-of-the-art restoration room, a sculpture park, and improved accessibility with ramps and elevators. The gallery displays 436 objects by Venkatappa, 68 works by Hebbar, and 26 sculptures by Rajaram. The renovation, led by Brigade Foundation at a cost of Rs 10 crore, began in March 2024.
Roma: apre a Trastevere un nuovo spazio culturale (c’è anche un radio sull’arte)
A new cultural space called ASIF has opened in Rome's Trastevere district at Via della Lungara 24, launching on May 8 with an exhibition titled "Educazione sentimentale per architetti" by artist and illustrator Chiara Carrer, running until June 20. The space is distinguished by an accompanying radio station that extends its reach through programs exploring art and the city, with a team including Yasmin Rosciglione, Arturo Zanaica, Novella Hoffer, Iacopo Taddia, Monica Dell'acqua, Edoardo Taddia, and Blanca Castro Xiques. The inaugural show, curated by Bonvini 1909 (named Artribune's gallery of the year in 2025), features over sixty works including collages, engravings, and sculptures centered on the theme of dwelling.
DON NADIE THE LATIN AMERICAN PROJECT AT MILANO DESIGN ART WEEK
The design collective DON NADIE, founded by Ecuadorian industrial designers Lisandro Carrasco and Mono Alvarado, is presenting its project "1 m² / 1 second" at Milano Design Week. The installation, part of the IN BETWEEN collective at the Fuorisalone circuit, consists of sixteen folded-paper pieces within a cubic meter, each referencing native plant morphology. It translates the rate of deforestation into a tangible measure of time, representing one square meter of forest lost every second.
Vicino Firenze c’è un castello che ricorda l’Oriente. Al via la rinascita dei giardini con l’architetto Tommaso del Buono
The Castello di Sammezzano, a Moorish-style castle near Florence, Italy, is set for a major revival. Built in the 19th century by the Marquis Ferdinando Panciatichi Ximenes d'Aragona, the castle is one of Italy's most important examples of Orientalist architecture, featuring over sixty uniquely decorated rooms, a monumental park, and rare botanical species. After decades of neglect, auctions, and sporadic openings, the property was purchased in 2025 by the family of entrepreneur Giorgio Moretti, who plans a €50 million restoration. The first phase will focus on rehabilitating the historic gardens, with work beginning in June 2026.
Six contemporary artists have created new works reimagining the Gothic aesthetic for an exhibition at Tyntesfield, a Victorian Gothic Revival house in Somerset, England. The artists were invited to respond to the architecture, collections, and atmosphere of the National Trust property, producing paintings, sculptures, and installations that engage with themes of the macabre, the supernatural, and the uncanny.
The City of Raleigh has detailed its diverse range of public art venues and exhibition programs, highlighting key spaces such as the Block Gallery, Pullen Arts Center, and Sertoma Arts Center. These sites collectively host a rotating schedule of five to six exhibitions annually, specifically designed to showcase the work of North Carolina-based creators and emerging artists from Wake County. Additionally, the city manages a Municipal Art Collection comprising over 600 pieces, including Telvin Wallace’s "Window Pain," which are integrated into the city's public infrastructure.
Around 200 contemporary art galleries across Spain will close for a six-day strike from February 2 to 7. The action is a protest against the country's 21% value-added tax on art sales, which gallery owners argue cripples their competitiveness and sustainability.
Limerick City Gallery of Art (LCGA) has announced an open call for its annual Test Space Residency programme for 2026, now in its sixth year. The residency offers two awards: one for early-career art practitioners and one for those at a more advanced stage. Selected artists will receive an 8-week studio residency with a €5,000 stipend, curatorial support, promotion, and the opportunity to engage with LCGA's audiences and community. The programme was established in 2020 in response to the Arts Council's EDI Policy and prioritizes projects involving public engagement, workshops, talks, or community inclusion events. Applications are open to writers, filmmakers, dancers, performers, academics, and visual artists across all disciplines.
The Fundación Botín has opened applications for its 2026–2027 Art Grants program, offering six grants of €23,000 each to support individual artistic projects. The nine-month grants fund research, training, or production, with selected artists' work to be featured in the Itinerarios exhibition at Centro Botín. Applications close on 8 May 2026.
Quincy Art Center is celebrating the grand opening of its new downtown space, Quincy Art Gallery on 6th, on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 127 N. Sixth St. The debut exhibit features works by five regional artists, who will give talks about their work and process throughout the day. Activities include a pottery wheel throwing demonstration, and neighboring businesses are offering specials such as themed cocktails, lattes, and desserts to mark the occasion.
The article highlights six local art exhibitions taking place across various Chicago neighborhoods in April, moving beyond the city's major art fair. It details shows in areas like Pilsen, Logan Square, and West Town, featuring a mix of emerging and established artists working in diverse mediums.
Art Works in Richmond, Virginia, is presenting six new exhibits from May through June 2026, featuring artists Heidi Peelen, Geneva Dinh, Anna Demovidova, RVA Clay Founding Members, and Meagan Samuel. Highlights include the May All Media Show, a juried exhibition of regional artists, and a collaborative Bridge Project with Richmond Public Schools, the Children’s Museum of Richmond, and Richard Harding. The venue also offers over 80 working artist studios, free admission, and free parking, with exhibits running through various dates in June and July.
Wesley Dallas Merritt won Best of Show at the Lakeland Art Association's 22nd annual Spring Juried Art Show, held at the Lakeland Art Gallery in Warsaw, Indiana. The show featured 53 works by 19 artists from Fort Wayne, North Manchester, and surrounding counties, including paintings, photographs, metal sculptures, and ceramic works. Judge Andrew Tomasik, a Warsaw Community High School visual arts teacher, also awarded first place to Brenda Stichter, second place to Merritt, and third place to Sherri Johnson, along with six honorable mentions.
Vernon's Community Arts Centre (VCAC) is hosting its sixth annual Mugs of May: Art Show and Sale through May 26. The exhibition features hundreds of handmade ceramic mugs by artists from across the Okanagan, ranging from emerging to established ceramicists, alongside wall and fine art inspired by coffee and daily rituals. Visitors can also participate in a coloring contest for a chance to win a gift card.
The Quincy Art Center is opening a new downtown gallery called Quincy Art Gallery on 6th, located at 127 N. Sixth St. in Quincy. The grand opening is scheduled for Saturday, April 25, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., featuring work from five regional artists. The day will include artist talks, a wheel throwing demonstration, and light refreshments. The gallery aims to support local and regional artists year-round and provide an accessible space for the community to experience and purchase art.
The article highlights six free art exhibitions taking place in Seattle during April, spanning both museums and commercial galleries. It provides a curated list of accessible cultural offerings for the public.
The Village Theatre Art Gallery in Danville is launching its spring exhibition, "Aligned Again," featuring the work of six women artists. Opening with a reception on April 18, the show highlights a diverse range of mediums and styles that explore themes of connection and creativity. The exhibition will remain on view through June 19, serving as a centerpiece for the town's seasonal cultural programming.
A recent exhibition titled “Seni Mekar: Art in Bloom” at KEN Gallery in Kuala Lumpur showcased works by 18 young artists aged six to 31 who live with disabilities and health conditions. Featured artists included Ainaa Farhanah Amali, who has spinal muscular atrophy and creates batik-inspired works despite physical challenges, and 13-year-old Dhia Fadzli, who is autistic and paints abstract pieces inspired by galaxies. The exhibition was organized by FriendenArt in collaboration with Yayasan Hasanah under the ArtFas 2025 initiative.
Maryland Art Place (MAP) is hosting KIDOOO INSTALL DAY on Saturday, April 4, 2026, from 12 pm to 4 pm, a youth version of its annual Out of Order event. Elementary, middle, and high school artists ages five to sixteen are invited to hang one original framed work (24" x 24" or less) on a first-come, first-served basis at MAP's 5th floor Gallery in Baltimore's Bromo Arts and Entertainment District. Registration is free, and all works must be priced to sell, with a silent auction taking place virtually on April 10, 2026.
Old Town Cape is calling for artists to apply for the 2026 Downtown Sculpture Exhibition, a revamped public art program that will install six large-scale sculptures along Cape Girardeau's Broadway corridor from June 2026 to June 2027. The juried exhibition is open to local, regional, and national sculptors, with applications due by June 5. A kickoff event on June 27 at Historic Ivers Square will feature artist meet-and-greets, demonstrations, live music, and family activities.
Four senior students at Latin School showcased six artworks each at the Senior Art Show on April 24, held in the second-floor gallery. The exhibition featured intricately crocheted animals, architectural structures, and photographs, representing the culmination of their high school visual arts careers. Students like Justin Canelo incorporated personal heritage and architectural interests, while Peyton Remmer explored self-portraiture and photography, supported by teachers Christine Holloway and Ian Merritt.
The Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of the American Indian, in collaboration with Museums on Main Street, has launched its nationally touring exhibition "Americans" at the Cornell Creative Arts Center in Kingston, New York. Kingston is the first of 125 communities across the country to host the exhibition, which will travel for six years as part of the Rev250 commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the United States. The exhibition explores how Native American history and identity have been portrayed and often misunderstood, challenging visitors to reconsider familiar narratives like Pocahontas, the Battle of the Little Bighorn, and the Trail of Tears through interactive elements and digital content.