41st Annual Art in the Park Show & Sale

From 41st Annual Art in the Park Show & Sale Website:

Hello Everyone! We'd like to give you an update on where the show stands in light of the Covid19 epidemic. It is our sincerest hope that the show will go on as planned on August 8th but we will be keeping a close eye on what other events are doing as well as taking guidance from the Governor of Maine's health and safety declarations.

We are still welcoming applications but will hold off on cashing checks until we make a final determination in June.

In the event that we decide that the show is unable to go forward we will be refunding everyone the full $100 application fee as this is a unique circumstance above and beyond our "act of God" policy.

South Portland's annual Art in the Park Show & Sale is a summer favorite of participating artists and the public. Held on the second Saturday in August in beautiful Mill Creek Park, the show features original art and photography by up to 170 artists, a food court, an activity area for kids, and music in the afternoon. Admission is free. The show opens at 9:00 a.m. and closes at 4:00 p.m.



Prize winners are announced at noon at the gazebo. Prizes range from Best in Show ($800.00) to Merit Awards (five at $150.00 each) and include Best Photo in Show ($500.00). Six $30.00 student prizes are also awarded to South Portland High School students whose art is exhibited in the Student Art Tent. Sponsors' Choice selections are also announced at noon.

The Judges' Tent, with one submission by each artist in the show will not be open to the public so as to allow the artists to retrieve his/her artwork and allow it to be shown at their individual stands. The Student Art Tent, featuring art by students in South Portland schools, is open to the public from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Kids can make their own artistic creations in the Kids in the Park area between 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. Facepainting is also offered. All Kids in the Park activities are free.

The Food Court, located in the Broadway/Ocean Street corner of the park next to Kids in the Park, features a variety of food from hot dogs and ice cream to international cuisine. The Food Court is open between 11:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m.

Art in the Park is proud to use art by students in South Portland schools for promotional materials for the show. Three pieces of art are chosen each year: one for the show poster, one for the show t-shirt and one for the program cover.

Costs of the show are paid for by artists' fees and donations from sponsors. All committee members are volunteers, as are almost all show day workers. Revenues over and above costs are used for park improvements. Past improvements have included the gazebo, the fountain, a contribution toward holiday lighting, as well as to the city's Greenbelt Walkway and the re-design of the park itself. A new sound system was donated in 2013.

Art in the Park also awards a $1000.00 scholarship every year to a student graduating from South Portland High School who is going on to study art in college.