Main Street Arts is a non-profit arts organization located in the historic, picturesque village of Clifton Springs, NY. Programming includes exhibitions, youth programming, an art resource library, workshops, and events.
Main Street Arts also owns Sulfur Books, an independent bookstore located at 18 East Main Street in Clifton Springs, NY.
Apply for juried exhibition opportunities and open call for work below.
Our eleventh annual national juried exhibition of small works (12 inches or smaller in any direction*) is open to artists working in all media excluding video/sound and installation art. This exhibition is open to all U.S. residents 18 years or older. *Framing may extend to 16 inches.
Please note, artwork for this juried exhibition will be selected from images submitted through Submittable—please do not send artwork unless it has been selected.
Juror: Bradley Butler, executive director and curator of Main Street Arts
Important Dates
- Submission Deadline: 11:59 p.m. (EST) on Saturday, August 24, 2024
- Notification to artists: September 10, 2024
- Accepted artwork due: Saturday, October 12, 2024
- Exhibition Dates: November 2–December 21, 2024
A total of $2,000 in cash awards, "Best in Show" receives $1,000! This exhibition will be in the main floor gallery at Main Street Arts and online. See images of exhibitions from previous years: 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019.
Attention Painters! Registration is now open for our 4th annual Plein Air in Clifton Springs event, which will take place on Saturday, September 14, 2024. Join us in Clifton Springs for a day of painting and an exhibition of work made that day. Registration fee is $25 and includes lunch from Warfield's and an awesome tote bag filled with goodies.
A plein air event AND exhibition: The daylong painting event will culminate with a show and sale. Afterwards, the exhibition will be rehung to include an additional plein air painting—not made during the event—by each of the participating artists. This exhibition will be on display through October 16.
Event Details:
- 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. — Artists painting (in and around 14432 zip code)
- 10:00 a.m.– 12:00 p.m. — Free children’s art making event (at Main Street Arts)
- 1:00 p.m.–2 p.m. — Artist lunch
- 2:00 p.m.–4:00 p.m. — Public exhibition and sale at Main Street Arts
- 3:00 p.m. — Award* announcements made by executive director Bradley Butler
*$1,000 in cash awards, best in show receives $500!
See images from last year's event on Flickr
Programming at Main Street Arts is made possible in part by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.
Submit your work for consideration to the newest gallery space at Main Street Arts! The Stairwell Gallery will feature small solo exhibitions by artists from our region. Please note, this opportunity is available for artists ages 18+ residing in New York State, with a focus on the regions of central NY, western NY, and Finger Lakes regions. There is no fee to submit your work.
Main Street Arts is always interested in seeing your new work. We are looking for submissions from artists located in upstate New York working in all media.
When submitting, please keep in mind that we review these submissions twice annually and will respond accordingly. The gallery calendar is planned 1 or more years in advance. Submissions will be considered for inclusion in future exhibitions, not necessarily within the calendar year submitted.
Thank you for your interest in showing your work at Main Street Arts.