Springfield News-Leader

article local schedule May 25, 2026

June's First Friday Art Walk in Springfield offers all-ages activities

Springfield's First Friday Art Walk on June 5 offers a wide range of all-ages activities, including gallery openings, author readings, live jazz, and a community block party. Participating venues such as Formed: An Artist Collective, Obelisk Home, Hotel Vandivort, and the Park Central Branch Library will feature new exhibitions, hands-on crafts, and extended hours until 10 p.m. The event is organized by the Springfield Regional Arts Council and includes contributions from local artists like Andi Snethern, Hailey Paige, and Colby Kern.

article local schedule Apr 24, 2026

Want a sneak peek at Springfield Art Museum's progress? Take a tour

The Springfield Art Museum, closed for over a year for renovations and expansion, is offering guided hard hat tours starting April 25, 2026. Led by Museum Director Nick Nelson and Foundation Executive Director Kate Francis, the free tours require advance registration and safety gear, and will run on select Saturdays through August and Tuesdays through September. The project includes a new special exhibition gallery, collection study room, and a naturalized creek and trail, with a second phase pending city funding.

article local schedule Apr 20, 2026

From the Darkroom recalls Springfield's Civil War centennial exhibit

The Springfield News-Leader, in partnership with the Springfield-Greene County Library District, is publishing a historical photograph from its archives. The 1961 image shows Kenneth M. Shuck, director of the Springfield Art Museum, examining Civil War artifacts—including a saber, a drum, and a painting of Union General Nathaniel Lyon—in preparation for a centennial exhibition.

article local schedule Apr 17, 2026

Jordan Creek renewal project isolates downtown Springfield gallery

The Renew Jordan Creek revitalization project in downtown Springfield has severely impacted Fresh Gallery, an award-winning local art space. Extensive road closures on Boonville Avenue and ongoing construction noise have cut off the gallery from its usual pedestrian and tourist traffic, leading to a drastic decline in sales and foot traffic. To combat these challenges, the gallery has launched a GoFundMe campaign and is attempting to reinvent its business model to survive until construction concludes in mid-2024.

museum exhibitions schedule Apr 13, 2026

Springfield couple sharing Route 66 artwork for centennial kickoff

Photographers Randy Bacon and Heidi Herrman-Bacon have launched their first collaborative exhibition, "Two Voices, One Road," at the C-Art Gallery in Springfield. The show features 37 black-and-white photographs and 18 mixed-media works that document the architecture and human history of Route 66. While Randy Bacon focuses on the soulful portraiture of desolate structures and signs, Heidi Herrman-Bacon utilizes vintage handkerchiefs and photography to highlight the often-overlooked contributions of women who maintained the diners and motels along the historic highway.

article local schedule Mar 3, 2026

First Friday Art Walk brings new exhibits to downtown Springfield

Downtown Springfield is set to host its First Friday Art Walk on March 6, featuring extended gallery hours and a wide array of new exhibitions across multiple venues. Highlights include the 2026 All School Exhibition at Brick City Gallery, student showcases at the Carolla Arts Exhibition Center, and solo presentations by artists such as Rick Atwell, Brandy Harris, and Tom Beale.

article local schedule Feb 2, 2026

What’s new at Springfield’s First Friday Art Walk this February

Springfield's February First Friday Art Walk is set to feature a diverse lineup of exhibitions and events across multiple downtown venues. Highlights include the Annual Foundations Exhibition at Brick City Gallery showcasing Missouri State University student work, a photography exhibition on English medieval architecture by Tom Russo at Drury Pool Arts Gallery, and a fifth-anniversary celebration for the artist collective Formed. Other participating locations include Hotel Vandivort, Obelisk Home, The Creamery Arts Center, and the Carolla Arts Exhibition Center, which will host a 40-year ceramic art retrospective by Keith Ekstam.