The Newport Art Museum is reviving its Members Annual Juried Exhibition, titled "Springboard," on January 22, after discontinuing the tradition years ago. The show features 140 works by 112 artists, including local Newport figures like brothers Rupert and Sandy Nesbitt, Natasha Harrison, and James Baker, as well as international participants such as Salvadoran artist Oscar Molina, who will represent his country at the 2026 Venice Biennale. The museum is also launching a companion watercolor exhibition by longtime member Pamela Granbery and inaugurating its 97-year-old Winter Speakers Series on January 24 with stone carver Nick Benson.
The revival matters because it signals a deliberate effort by the museum to reconnect with its local artist community after administrative changes and complaints that the institution had drifted away from its roots. By prioritizing regional artists—70 percent of the exhibitors are from the Newport area—and offering a platform for emerging and established creators, the museum reinforces its role as a community anchor. The exhibition also highlights the value of such shows for artists' careers, as noted by painter Kathy Hodge, who credits past members shows with attracting buyers and building her resume.