About the show:

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 185 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 5:00 p.m.

Prize winners are announced at noon at the gazebo. Prizes range from Best in Show ($800) to Merit Awards (five at $150 each) and include Best Photo in Show ($500). Six $30 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, is open to the public between 11:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. The Student Art Tent, featuring art by students in South Portland schools, is open to the public from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 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. Julie & Brownie provide upbeat and fun musical shows for the kids. 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, a $500 contribution to the city’s Greenbelt Walkway, and $1000 toward the plaque for Arvin “Ge” Erskine Park. In 2005, Art in the Park donated $250 toward assisting artists affected by Hurricane Katrina.

Art in the Park also awards a $1000 scholarship every year to a student graduating from South Portland High School who is going on to study art in college.

Upcoming Show Dates:

Art in the Park is always held on the second Saturday in August (unless storms arise). The following are the upcoming show dates:

August 13, 2011
August 11, 2012
August 10, 2013
August 9, 2014
August 8, 2015
August 13, 2016
August 12, 2017
August 11, 2018
August 10, 2019

About the Committee and Volunteers:

Mary Kahl, Bill Cary, Linda Eastman, Alison Schneller, David L. Mishkin, Alexandrea Taylor, and Kiley Perry serve on the 2010 Art in the Park Committee. Linda Eastman is the chair, Mary Perry does the administrative work, and David L. Mishkin is the official event photographer.  The South Portland art teachers mat and select the art for the Student Art Tent.  Show day volunteers include city employees and their families, employees of neighborhood businesses and local residents.  The South Portland Parks Department sets up the park and tears down after the show. Please contact us if you would like to volunteer.