Dear Area Artists, 

It's a new year & Main Street Arts is eager to see your new work as January 2025 marks a transition in leadership-with Bradley Butler departing and Heather Olson arriving as director and curator. With this, we are especially interested in seeing submissions from artists located within or with ties to upstate New York.  

It should be noted that we are open to all media.  When submitting, please keep in mind that we review these submissions twice annually and will respond according to that schedule. 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.  If you have questions please reach out.

As always, thank you for your interest in showing your work at Main Street Arts of Clifton Springs, New York.

Submit your 3-dimensional work for consideration to the newest gallery space at Main Street Arts! 

We are hoping to launch this dedicated gallery exhibition space in early summer of 2025.

The Window Front Gallery will be a smaller space but includes street frontage and large glass windows.  It has 2 spaces, one to the left and right, of our main entry doors.  This space has AMAZING VISIBILITY onto the sidewalk and streetscape-with the opportunity for an artist to show 3d work on pedestals, the wall, the ceiling, or a combination thereof.  Traditional 2-D work only (such as framed printmaking or framed photography) is not accepted. 

The focus here is strictly 3-D; So if you are a printmaker-submit accordion books as well as perhaps wall pieces.  If you are a mixed media artist-submit large hanging mobiles, suspended work, or a vertical installation piece.  If you are a sculptor-submit work for the floor or for pedestals.  This space is dimensional and tall and has equal amounts of wall and floor space able to be used.

Combined the left & right window gallery spaces includes the below rough dimensions:

2-WALL SPACES: 

36" wide x 88" height max (RIGHT SIDE) 

48" wide x 80" height max (LEFT SIDE)

2-FLOOR SPACES: for pedestal or large sculpture pieces 

aprox. 44" x 54" rectangular floor space (RIGHT SIDE)

aprox. 44" x 54" rectangular floor space (LEFT SIDE)

2-CEILING SPACES: Available for suspended or hanging work

Aprox. 44" x 54" rectangular (mirrors floor shape below) (RIGHT SIDE)

Aprox. 44" x 54" rectangular (mirrors floor shape below) (LEFT SIDE)

*note: if hanging from ceiling-the work will need to be installed using installation hooks into trim at corners; Suspended work hanging from ceiling shall have a do not exceed weight limit to be discussed at time of submittal/review*

THE WINDOW FRONT GALLERY-is Open to artists ages 18+ residing in New York State. 

There is no fee to submit your work. 

Artwork is accepted on a rolling basis and will be rotated aprox 4-6 x per year.  If submitting suspended work it is highly desirable for the artist to be present and work directly with the curator in hanging the work (and if possible also the removal of the suspended art work) to ensure it is installed and deinstalled properly.

Because Main Street Arts is a nonprofit we must promote positive, considerate, and appropriate work as we host weekly children's classes with youth and support and welcome audiences from 1 to 100.  As such we ask that submissions and themes by artists be considerate of our audience and community.  We look forward to reviewing your submissions and thank you for your time.

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. Artwork should be 12 inches or less with framing no larger than 16 inches.

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.

Are you interested in teaching a workshop at Main Street Arts? Let us know! We are looking for artist/instructors to lead a variety of workshops throughout 2026.

Our facility includes an etching press, an electric kiln, easels, access to a sink, and workshop tables and chairs which can be raised and lowered depending on needs of the workshop.  We also have an art resource library with dedicated digital library catalogue, lovely table and chairs and a private setting for incorporating discussions about art history, architecture, materials, artists and more.  This library sits adjacent to our workshop room with large table and chairs and wonderful natural light with several windows.