10 Best Places to Hold an Art Exhibit in the United States

It's no secret that the arts are alive and well in the United States. With more independent artists joining the ranks of the commercial artistic movement, more and more venues are opening up as exhibition spaces. This creates opportunities to see, be seen, and display your artwork in a variety of settings to appreciative art lovers. 

If you're looking for a great new place to hold your next art show, Navis has you covered. Here are some of the best places to hold an art exhibit in the United States.

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1. The River Arts Center in Maine is a thriving artistic community that supports local artists. It’s a luxurious art space that rents galleries to regional artists at an affordable $350 per two weeks. Artists are also allowed to keep all of the commission on their pieces.
2. One Of A Kind is located at the historic Merchandise Mart in Chicago and is an epic extravaganza of artistic expression for all types of artwork.  Every December, over 600 artists exhibit their works ranging from paintings to paper to glass and photography to wood.
3. Art in Public Places solicits artwork from local artists in Bristol, Va., and Bristol., Tenn. And then displays it in public places. They are an outstanding group to get involved with because they are always striving to increase the number of pieces in public areas.
4. Redding, Calif. is a majestic city built that fosters a community of vibrant artists. Every year the city hosts an open call for artists and then three exhibitions are held with over 220 artists participating.
5. Sacramento, Calif., also has a several opportunities for artists to display their work in public. The city’s Art in Public Places program already has a collection of of 400 pieces and 80 percent of the art they use is by local artists.
6. The Chicago Cultural Center is just one of the many public exhibition venues for artists. The Exhibit Hall on the Fourth floor of the Cultural Center is host to several innovative and avant-garde exhibits.
7. The Atlanta Beltline is billed as the “largest temporary public art exhibition” in the country.  The exhibition is nine miles long and uses work from every type of artist. All submissions must be in by April 21, 2014 for the next Beltline.
8. The city of Sarasota, Fl. has one of the most extensive public art programs. The city consistently commissions work from local artists that can display their pieces in four major locations.
9. One of the most artistic cities in America is Austin, Texas and every year they show scores of local work in The People’s Gallery.  The gallery and exhibition opens in February and lasts for a year.
10. Arguably the most artist friendly state in the Untied States, New Mexico also has one of the most comprehensive programs for art exhibits in the country. Over 2,500 works are displayed across the state with a focus on bringing new and fresh artistic voices to the public eye. 

This list is just the beginning of amazing and unique places where artists can connect and enjoy the work of their peers. Do you have any suggestions to add to the list? Let us know in the comments!

  By Steve Goble, VP of Marketing Communications for Navis Pack & Ship. When he's not spilling packing and shipping secrets, he's spending time with his family at a San Diego Padres or Chargers game. Connect with Steve on Google+ and LinkedIn.