6th Annual Plein Air in Clifton Springs (2026)
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Apply now to the 6th Annual Plein Air in Clifton Springs: Saturday, September 12, 2026
Join us for a fun-filled day with friendly faces and inspiring places to paint. Paint a picturesque home or building within the town itself or venture out to the country and capture horses, farms, and more...
Artists first check-in at Main Street Arts the morning of the event. Following check-in, you'll select a plein air painting site in or around Clifton Springs and spend the morning painting en plein air. Turn in paintings by 1pm and enjoy an awesome supplied lunch from 1-3. Gallery staff reopens the building at 3pm for the exhibition opening to take place from 3-6pm. The exhibition runs September 12 - October 14, 2025.
Registration fee is $30 and includes lunch from Warfield's and a commemorative canvas tote bag filled with lots of fun goodies. Maps of potential locations with around Clifton Springs will be handed out from 8-9am at artist check in & sent prior to the event, by email, to all participating artists.
EVENT & EXHIBITION
(1) ONE PRIOR PLEIN AIR ARTWORK TO EXHIBIT: Artists should show (1) one previously completed en plein air painting. The dimensions should be 11x14 or smaller and it should be dry and ready to hang with hooks & wire.
ARTIST AGREEMENT & INVENTORY SHEET (of 1 prior plein air work): Due on or by Thursday, August 27th at 6pm. Please email or mail ahead of time IF possible.
Drop off this prior completed piece to us by Thursday, August 27th at 6pm (no late work accepted
(1) NEW PLEIN AIR WORK COMPLETED ON 9/12: Artists will exhibit (1) En plein air piece completed during the event on 9/12/26. Note: The size of the artwork you complete during event must not exceed 24 inches in any direction.
UPLOAD PRIOR PLEIN AIR ARTWORK IMAGES: Artists should upload (2) two prior works on submittable from which the gallery curator will select (1) one to hang in the exhibition. Check for a response in Submittable on which work has been selected. It must be 11x14 or smaller in size. Bring this to us to hang on or by Thursday, August 27th at 6pm.
IF SHIPPING ARTWORK: Please use only UPS (united parcel service) as we do not pickup artwork or drop of at the post office. UPS needs the H x W x D and weight of the work to mail it. If you would like it mailed back at end of show, please send us a pre-paid UPS label (based on the above dimensions and weight and we will use your same box/packaging material to do so within 1-2 weeks after show closes.
IMPORTANT DATES
Tues, AUGUST 25TH @ 11:59PM: Registration closes.
Thur, August 27th at 6pm: Drop off selected, prior completed plein air work to gallery
Thur, August 27th at 6pm: Artist inventory/agreement due to gallery
Wed October 14 - Fri October 16 Artwork pick-up at 10-6
PLEIN AIR PAINTING DAY: Saturday, September 12th
- 8:00 — 9:00am — Artist check in time at Main Street Arts for sign in, coffee & donuts, map & tote bag
- 9:00am — 1:00pm — Artists painting en plein air (in and around 14432 zip code)
- 10:00 — 11:00am — Free children’s art making event (at Main Street Arts)
- 1:00pm — Artists drop off new *en plein air* work at Main Street Arts Gallery-staff hangs new work 1 - 3 pm
- 1:00 - 3:00pm — Artists meet for lunch at Warfield's Restaurant from 1 - 3 pm
- 3:00pm — Gallery Re-Opens / Artist Reception for public at Main Street Arts
- 3:30pm — Award* announcements made by gallery staff
- 6:00pm — Gallery closes & end of event
*$1,000 in cash awards, best in show receives $500!
Note: MSA is closed from 10/15-11/6 and artwork cannot be picked up during that time.
See images from last year's event on Flickr
Questions? Email us at: contact@mainstreetartscs.org
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. Programming at Main Street Arts is also made possible in part by the Farash Foundation of Rochester, New York.