America the Beautiful
The Annual New Providence Community Art Show 2026
Celebrating 250 Years
The Annual New Providence Community Art Show 2026
Celebrating 250 Years
America the Beautiful
Celebrating 250 years of our nation!
We invite all artists and photographers from New Providence and the surrounding areas to participate in our annual Community show in this milestone year marking the 250th anniversary of our nation.
This three-month Community art show, exhibiting throughout June, July, and August each year, invites a mix of the arts, crafts, and photography in a celebration of the American Spirit, while reflecting our country's landscapes, peoples, cultures, and artwork.
Celebrating 250 years of our Country
Expressed in any medium: painting, drawing, collage, photography, quilting, fiber works, woodworking, ceramics, etc...
* Landscapes * People * National Identity * Urban Life * Regional diversity * Pioneer spirit * Folk traditions *
Call for Artists:
Submissions will be accepted through May 8, 2026, in any medium—painting, photography, quilting, fiber art, woodworking, ceramics, and more—that expresses the idea of America.
Suggested themes for America’s 250th celebration include American landscapes (rural to urban), everyday life, folk traditions such as barn quilts, patriotism and pioneer spirit, cultural and historical experiences, regional identity, industrial and social change, and allegorical or symbolic representations of the nation and its influential figures.
We hope this theme will motivate the artists and crafters in our New Providence community to use your creativity to be a part of this celebration. So grab your camera, paintbrush, fabric and sewing machine, embroidery thread, woodwork tools, or clay and get inspired! It’s time to start creating!
Please be aware that since it is a public space, the submissions must be appropriate for all ages, no nudity, graphic, or violent images. The acceptances of art will be limited by the wall space available for the show and appropriateness for this year's theme.
• Submit your application here •
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScXdQVcKFB5Z059nkpOQ6kSnpeLbjP7XH-Cm9x7b_Ql0bgNbg/viewform
Please be sure to completely fill out the application form, including the sizes of you entries, and an upload a photo of your submission(s).
Thank you,
The curators of the Friends of the Library:
Louise Wheeler, Lynn Celler, Denise Moser, Beth Spiegel, Joel Francisco, and Joyce Luzzi
The deadline is Friday, May 9 for any local resident to submit a maximum of 4 photos of their artwork to be considered for the show. We are accepting all media - paintings, drawings, printmaking, photography, ceramics, fabric arts, and 3D sculptures (3D to be displayed in glass cabinet, no taller than 15 "). You must upload your photos of your work into the application form online:
What qualifies as "artistic expression of America?" - Any artistic creation that evokes a vision of the United States. It could be:
Scenes as simple as an American landscape, or cityscapes, or scenes of American industry or transportation.
People in American daily life, or folk traditions, or the crafts, as barn quilts.
Patriotism could also be the subject, capturing the pioneer spirit, or historical images or representations of our nation through symbols or figures.
Brainstorming art ideas for America’s 250th celebration can include:
American landscapes, from wilderness and farmland to urban and architectural cityscapes
Interior or exterior scenes portraying gritty urban life or rural communities
Folk crafts, such as barn quilts, highlighting regional identity and community pride
Expressions of the nation’s ideals, struggles, and evolving identity
Reflections on patriotism and the American pioneer spirit
Explorations of American identities, industrial change, regional diversity, and modern life
Depictions of American cultures or significant historical experiences
Allegorical representations of the nation through symbols or influential figures, such as Martin Luther King Jr.
Who may submit? Anyone, any age, who lives or works in the New Providence area. Students are welcome
How many works can I submit? Up to 4 - We accept a maximum of 4 works per artist, but we are constrained by space so we cannot guarantee all will be accepted.
When is the Deadline? Applications are accepted until Friday, May 8th
Where are the works displayed? In the Conti Family Community room and the walls of the adult reading area in the front of the library.
What is the Address?: New Providence Memorial Library, 377 Elkwood Avenue, New Providence
When must we drop off our artwork for the installation of the show?: Saturday, May 30th - 10 am to 12 noon
How long is the exhibit? 3 months: June, July, and August (specifically from Sunday, May 31 to August 31st, 2025)
When is the reception? Tentatively: Monday, 6/22, from 6:00-7:30pm - hosted by all the artists participating
When will we pick up our art, after the show comes down?: Tuesday, Sept 1, 10am-12 noon
Drop off date for your framed and wired, ready to hang artwork on Saturday, May 30th - 10 am to 12 noon. There will be a curator at the library, 377 Elkwood Avenue, New Providence, to receive your works and we will be hanging the works between 1 and 4pm.
Actual span of the exhibit for public viewing: Sunday, May 31 to August 31st, 2025
The reception, hosted by all of the artists, is to be determined (tentative to be held Monday, 6/23, from 6:00-7:30pm).
Pick up date: Tuesday, Sept 1, 10am-12 noon: Please come retrieve your art from the Conti Room between 10am and 12 noon
(This is advice for those who inquired about framing solutions):
Typically, if the work is on paper, the frame size is 5” more than the image size because it typically includes a 2.5" mat, but mat Is not necessary.
For ordering online to be delivered to your home, for you to frame yourself
Approx $22 for a set of 5 frames: 11x14 frames with mat for 8x10 photos
For in-person shopping for you to frame yourself, or use their services to frame for you:
https://www.michaelscustomframing.com/frame-your-art/?lang=en_US
Address: 1515 US-22 Ste #34, Watchung, NJ 07069 - in Watchung Square
Positive Image Photography & Custom Framing
For in-person customer service with professional advice on site
Address to go in person: 1283 Springfield Ave, New Providence, NJ 07974