About Art in the Park
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.
Upcoming Show Dates:
Art in the Park is always held on the second Saturday in August (unless storms arise). There is NO rain date for this event. The following are the upcoming show dates:
August 8, 2020
August 14, 2021
August 13, 2022
August 12, 2023
August 10, 2024
Kids in the Park and Shows
KIDS IN THE PARK
This year's theme has yet to be determined. Please check back for updated information.
There will also be free arts and craft activities as well as face painting from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 a.m.
Food Vendors 2019:
Crepe Elizabeth
CVC Catering
South Portland/Cape Elizabeth Rotary
Cannoli Joe's
Falafel Mafia
India Palace
O'Oysters
Mainly Treats
Betsy's Homemade Fudge
Open from 11am - 3pm, the food court features good things to eat ranging from sandwiches and hamburgers to ethnic cuisine to frozen treats. Located in the Broadway/Ocean Street area of the park near Kids in the Park, the food court offers tables and chairs for you to enjoy your meal, or you can relax on the grass under a tree and listen to musicians.
The 2019 food vendors have not yet been confirmed but to give you an idea to the variety of food served last year included: CVC Catering serving pulled pork, wraps, Baked Goods, sodas and water; Falafel Mafia serving Falafel sandwiches and bowls, and flavored tea; India Palace serving Somosa, Pokora, lamb curry, chicken tikka masala, vegetable curry, soft drinks; Mainely Treats; serving ice cream sandwiches, floats and novelties; O Oysters serving clean, fresh, full bodied, cold water oysters; and the Rotary Club of South Portland-Cape Elizabeth serving Fried Dough, hamburgers, hot dogs, coffee, soda and water.
Scholarship:
Every year Art in the Park gives a $1000.00 scholarship to a student graduating from South Portland High School who is going on to study art in college. Arthur Hahn, for whom the scholarship is named, was one of the founders of Art in the Park and a well-known promoter of the arts in the Greater Portland area.
Students:
Art in the Park is proud to showcase art by students in South Portland schools. The students' art will be on exhibit from 9:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. (weather permitting) in the Student Tent across from the Judges' Tent. Every year, the Committee chooses three student art works to use in promotional materials for the show: posters that are distributed throughout the community, the show t-shirtand the cover of the program. Click on the images below to see a larger version of the art and the artist(s) information. The show also exhibits works by students in the Student Art Tent. Each art teacher selects and mats works for the exhibit. The judges select six student prize winners from art by high school students exhibited at the show. In lieu of individual awards for elementary and middle school students, Art in the Park gives a $50.00 Class Award to each art teacher to supplement class supplies.
