News

May 06, 2020

Tremendous Turnout for Hartford National Arts Program

There has been a National Arts Program show in Hartford, Connecticut for a remarkable 29 years. Not only has the show been running for so many years but it is also consistently one of our largest showcases with a whopping 348 entries this year! One particularly successful aspect of the show is there recurring “Teens looking out for Teens” category. This opportunity allows teens to learn about and express their feelings about social issues through their art.

May 06, 2020

Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport Celebrated their Fifth Anniversary NAP Exhibit

Here we are now, looking back at a time in early March when the busiest airport in the world was the stage for another amazing National Arts Program awards reception! As an artist, having your work professionally displayed in the Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport must be such a thrill. This year for their Fifth Anniversary NAP Exhibit, 221 pieces of art were hung throughout both the Atrium Gallery and T Concourse Gallery. The showcase opened on September 6th, 2019 and their awards reception was held on March 4th with 237 guests in attendance to enjoy the festivities.

May 04, 2020

Damien Hirst and Snapchat Launch Augmented Reality Spin Art

Featured on hypebeast.com

Snapchat teamed up with Damien Hirst on a new lens inspired by the acclaimed British artist’s Spin Paintings. The collaborative filter is now globally available, allowing users to virtually create their own spin paintings in the comfort of their homes.

May 01, 2020

Street Art Confronts the Pandemic

From Norway to Colorado, street artists depict a world of masks and hand-washing (and toilet paper). One recurrent theme: a deep appreciation of health care workers.

Featured on nytimes.com

Street art is the ultimate visual source of social commentary and the pandemic has lit a fire under the feet of muralists around the world.

Apr 28, 2020

Santa Rosa Captures the Artistic Spirit of the Community

In a local news article featured in The Press Democrat, the writer referred to the City of Santa Rosa NAP show as “a gateway to the artistic spirit of Santa Rosa.” This statement could not be more accurate at perfectly capturing the essence of this long running exhibit.  With more than 200 pieces of art from all walks of life transforming the walls of the Finely Community Center into a professional gallery, the exhibition is truly representational of the community. 
 
One of the main reasons that their annual show is such a beautiful representation of the community i
Apr 27, 2020

COVID-19 Is Accelerating The Art World’s Adoption Of Technology

Crowded art shows and galleries, auctions, and fairs seem a distant memory. The global COVID-19 pandemic has radically impacted many industries and art is no exception. 

Featured on forbes.com

“It’s a pivotal moment,” Frances Morris, director of Tate Modern told The Guardian. “We’re going to talk in terms of before and after. The virus will change a lot of things for art.”

Apr 23, 2020

Art projects for kids — from toddlers to teenagers — from the Philadelphia Museum of Art

Featured on inquirer.com

Quarantine parenting is partly about figuring out how to fill each day — without relying solely on endless streams of TikTok, cartoons, and video games.

We asked staff at the Philadelphia Museum of Art to share some of their favorite at-home projects — for toddlers to teenagers. All rely on everyday items that can be found around your house.

PRE-K AND YOUNGER

Apr 16, 2020

How the Art World Is Helping to Fight the Effects of Coronavirus

There’s power in creative thinking.

Featured on harpersbazaar.com

Apr 15, 2020

The Museum of Modern Art Now Offers Free Online Classes

The nine classes span contemporary art, fashion and photography

Featured on smithsonianmag.com

Looking to emerge from COVID-19 quarantine with more than just an overgrown hairdo? The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York City is here to help with an array of free online courses that will ensure you emerge from this pandemic with a more sophisticated appreciation of art, reports Howard Halle for Time Out.

Apr 14, 2020

Stockholm’s Subway Network Is the World's Longest Art Walk

Photographer David Altrath engaged in his own form of social distancing to capture these photographs when commuters weren’t around.

Featured on wired.com

For tourists obsessed with beating the crowds, Covid-19 is a catch-22. With the world’s great attractions empty, it’d be the perfect time to travel, but they’re only empty because a deadly new virus has forced everyone to stay home.

Apr 02, 2020

Google's Art App Now Turns Your Selfies Into Famous Masterpieces

Featured on gizmodo.com

In what promises to be an excellent way to kill a solid 10 minutes, the Google Arts & Culture app has been updated with a new Art Transfer feature that will apply the look of countless famous paintings and artists to your own photos using machine learning techniques.

Apr 01, 2020

The Getty Museum called for people to recreate works of art while in quarantine — and they did not disappoint

Featured on cbsnews.com

The world famous J. Paul Getty Museum in California may be temporarily closed due to the coronavirus crisis, but that doesn't mean it has stopped inspiring people to love art. The museum challenged its followers on Twitter to recreate works of art with what they have available in their homes — and the responses certainly did not disappoint. 

Mar 24, 2020

University of Arizona Creates Connections Through Art

Pamela Wagner has been coordinating the University of Arizona NAP exhibit since 2017 and commented that she believes the greatest impact is seeing the connection through art made by employees. “Seeing them make connections and have common ground, to me, take down so many silos,” she stated when interviewed about the program. These personal relationships developed through the arts are always driving Pamela to look for new ways to grow the program and is what ultimately prompted her to extend the invitation to participate to the UofA Phoenix campus. In previous years, it was the distance be
Mar 23, 2020

State of Delaware Provides In-Person and Virtual Exhibit Experiences

The State of Delaware employees and their family members once again showcased their amazing talents in the Ninth Annual NAP Exhibit with visitors commenting that the caliber of work was the highest quality they had seen yet.  Coordinator Kristin Pleasanton agreed with this sentiment and even mentioned that it was the “most exciting to date!” Kristin credits this to the inclusion of some really unique pieces in this year’s show.  The exhibit, which featured 242 pieces by distinctive individuals, included a hand-carved ceramic chess set, a king size quilt (which was awarded Best of Show) an
Mar 23, 2020

New Coordinator for Orlando International Airport

Vera Walker retired from Orlando International Airport after having coordinated their National Arts Program Art Exhibit for so many wonderful years. We are so grateful that Lindy Shepherd, the Events & Art Collection Coordinator from the Public Affairs department stepped up to coordinate this long running show! She was thrilled to embrace the “Showcasing the Artist Within” theme and ready to infuse some fresh new ideas into their program!