Season Art Exhibits 2026-2027
This is the full season list of art exhibits at our two galleries –
The MAC Downtown Gallery and the Firehouse Gallery in Walnut Beach
What can you find here?
- Exhibit Dates – including submission deadlines and opening receptions
- Artist Calls – themes, requirements and prospectus for each juried exhibit
- Favorite Genre – Landscape, Portrait, Photo Expo, Member Show, Milford Scenes
- Expanded Genre – Large Format Abstract, Whimisical Works, Small Works
- Award Winners – the judge’s award list after each opening receptions
- Community Events – links to events, calls, pop-ups, art sales in our community
There’s a lot to choose from and a lot going on in MAC’s Visual Arts arena.
MAC Gallery
August 12 – October 23, 2026
Mim Mills Retrospective
Works in Watercolor
Miriam (“Mim”) Mills was a gifted watercolor artist and a past president of the Milford Fine Arts Council. Mim played an instrumental role in transforming the Milford train station into the council’s home. In collaboration with her family, Milford Arts Council is proud to present a retrospective of her work.
Viewing Hours
Tues-Fri, 12-4pm
Reception
Thursday, September 17, 6pm
Firehouse Gallery
October 9 – October 18
The Face Before You
Portraiture is an act of attention. To paint, photograph, draw, or sculpt a face is to commit to the particular — this person, in this moment, seen clearly. The Face Before You invites artists to explore what it means to truly observe: not to idealize or diminish, but to witness. The result might be tender, austere, celebratory, or complex — but it begins with presence.
- Online Submission Deadline: September 20, 2026, at midnight
- Acceptance notification: 2-3 days following deadline.
- Works intake: Friday, October 2, 4–6pm and Saturday, October 3, 10am–12pm
- Installation: Tuesday, October 6, 9am–1pm
- Opening Reception: Thursday, October 8, 6–8pm
- Gallery hours: October 10, 11, 17, 18, 12–4pm
- Art pickup: Sunday, October 18, 4–6pm and Monday, October 19, 4–6pm
MAC Gallery
October 29 – December 25, 2026
MAC Member Show
There is no specified theme in the Member Show. Artists are free to imagine and explore any subject matter in any style or genre and in all the usual 2-dimensional media. Note the five award categories listed below.
- Submission Deadline: Sunday, October 4, 2026, at midnight
- Acceptance notification emails: October 6–7, 2026
- Works intake: Tue 10/13/2026 3-6 pm || Thu 10/15/2026 3-6pm
- Installation: Tuesday, October 27, 9am–3pm
- Opening reception: Wednesday, October 28, 6–8pm
- Gallery hours: October 29 – December 25, Tuesday–Friday, 12–4pm
- Art pickup: Tue/Wed: 12/29 – 12/30 3-6pm
Firehouse Gallery
December 4 – 13, 2026
Small Wonders
Great art doesn’t have to be grand in scale!
- Submission Deadline: Sunday, November 8th, midnight
- Acceptance notification: November 10–11, 2026
- Works intake: Friday, November 20, 5–7pm and Saturday, November 21, 10am–12pm
- Installation: Tuesday, December 1, 10am–1pm
- Opening reception: Thursday, December 3, 6–8pm
- Gallery hours: December 4–13, Fri/Sat/Sun 12–4pm
- Closing reception: Sunday, December 13, 2026 —
- People’s Choice winner announced
- Shortened hours Sunday, Dec 13 — closing day; time TBD)
- Art pickup: Monday, December 14, 3–6pm and Tuesday, December 15, 3–6pm
MAC Gallery
January 15 – March 5, 2027
Open Field
Large Abstract Art Exhibit
At large scale the work can become its own world.
Open Field is our first art exhibit dedicated entirely to abstract work. We think that scale changes the dynamic and perception. At 24 inches and beyond, a painting stops being an object on a wall and starts creating its own atmosphere.
- Online Submission Deadline: Sunday, December 20, 2026, at midnight
- Acceptance notification: December 22–23, 2026
- Works intake: Tuesday, December 29 – Thursday, December 30, 3–6pm
- Installation: Tuesday, January 5, 2027, 9am–1pm
- Opening reception: Thursday, January 14, 2027, 6–8pm
- Gallery hours: January 15 – March 5, Tuesday–Friday, 12–4pm
- Art pickup: Saturday, March 6, 10am–1pm and Sunday, March 7, 12–3pm
Firehouse Gallery
February 26 – March 7, 2027
New England Seasons
This show invites artists to choose a place and a season and bring it to life so fully that a viewer doesn’t just see it — they feel it.
- Online Submission Deadline: Sunday, February 7, 2027, at midnight
- Acceptance notification: February 9–10, 2027
- Works intake: Friday, February 19, 4–6pm and Saturday, February 20, 10am–12pm
- Installation: Tuesday, February 23, 9am–1pm
- Opening reception: Thursday, February 25, 6–8pm
- Gallery hours: February 26 – March 7, Fri/Sat/Sun, 12–4pm
- Art pickup: Sunday, March 7, 4–6pm and Monday, March 8, 10am–12pm
MAC Gallery
March 11 – May 28, 2027
The Milford Photo Expo
- MAC Downtown Gallery — 40 Railroad Ave South, Milford, CT
- Online Submission Deadline: Sunday, February 21, 2027, at midnight
- Acceptance notification: February 23–24, 2027
- Works intake: Saturday, March 6, 10am–1pm and Sunday, March 7, 12–3pm
- Installation: Tuesday, March 9, 9am–1pm
- Opening reception: Thursday, March 18, 6–8pm
- Gallery hours: March 11 – May 28, Tuesday–Friday, 12–4pm
- Art pickup: Friday, June 4, 4–6pm and Saturday, June 5, 10am–12pm
Firehouse Gallery
This Color, This Echo
Friday, April 16 – Sunday, April 25, 2027
Verse & Vision. Art and Poetry in Conversation. This exhibition brings together visual artists and poets to explore a color echo.
- Submission Deadline: Sunday, March 28, 2027, at midnight
- Acceptance notification: By April 1, 2027
- Works intake: Friday, April 9, 4–6pm and Saturday, April 10, 10am–12pm
- Installation: Tuesday, April 13, 9am–1pm
- Opening reception: Thursday, April 15, 6–8pm
- Gallery hours: April 16–25, Fri/Sat/Sun, 12–4pm
- Art pickup: Sunday, April 25, 4–6pm and Monday, April 26, 10am–12pm
Firehouse Gallery
Friday, May 14 – Sunday, May 23, 2027
Whimsical World
Where imagination softens the real world.
This is a show for work that makes you smile, wonder, or look twice. The charmingly eccentric. The imaginatively quirky. A world that feels slightly magical, or atmospheric in ways that are hard to explain — but easy to feel.
+
- Submission Deadline: Sunday, April 25, 2027, at midnight
- Acceptance notification: By April 28, 2027
- Works intake: Friday, May 7, 4–6pm and Saturday, May 8, 10am–12pm
- Installation: Tuesday, May 11, 9am–1pm
- Opening reception: Thursday, May 13, 6–8pm
- Gallery hours: May 14–23, Fri/Sat/Sun, 12–4pm
- Art pickup: Sunday, May 23, 4–6pm and Monday, May 24, 10am–12pm
MAC Downtown Gallery
June 10 – August 4, 2027
Milford Student Exhibit
Where imagination softens the real world.
The student show welcomes any K-12 student attending school, living or homeschooled in Milford. There is no particular theme — any genre is welcome. One submission per student.
+
- Pre-Reg Deadline: Friday, June 4, 2027, at Noon
- Deliver Work: Fri, June 4, 4–6pm // Sat, June 5, 10am–12pm
- Gallery hours: June 10 – August 4, Tue–Fri, 12–4pm
- (check for Camp conflicts in July)
- Closing Reception & Awards: Thurs, Aug 5, 2027, 5:30–6:30pm
- Art pickup immediately following the reception and awards
More Arts & Entertainment Choices from MILFORD ARTS COUNCIL
Concerts Eastbound Theatre Productions Laugh Tracks Standup Comedy
Community Events Calendar Firehouse Gallery Calendar
✮✮✮