CELEBRATING 53 YEARS!
2026 CALENDAR:
Happening Now: Annual Membership Drive.
Your annual membership ensures that your Arts Council can offer important cultural programs and events, art classes for youths, adults, and the elderly & disabled at local nursing homes, and more!
Join now to receive special discounts (on art classes, events such as the Annual Oyster Roast Fundraiser, and more),
and other special perks like coupons for the Arts Council Gallery, and early registration for our Annual Jingle Bell Bazaar!
(see Membership tab for more details)
SAVE THE DATE: The 12th Annual Jingle Bell Bazaar: Indoor Holiday Art Market will be on Saturday Nov. 14, 2026!
May 19 until sold out: Vendor Applications will open for the Jingle Bell Bazaar for all Arts Council Members and previous vendors.
All previous vendors will be emailed directly on this date.
May 26 until sold out: Vendor Applications for the Jingle Bell Bazaar will open to new vendors. If you are new and want to be added to our email list, contact us at artschester@gmail.com and provide a brief description of what you want to sell at our event.
*If you are new but want to register the week prior, contact us to join as an Arts Council Member for early registration privileges!
May 28: Adult Painting Class: Pet Portrait.
●●DEADLINE TO REGISTER IS MAY 22●●
Thurs. May 28 from 5:30 - 7:30 pm
The Arts Council of Chester County will host a painting class for adults with local artist Penelope Winslow on Thurs. May 28 at the Arts Council Building located in downtown Chester at 123 Main St.
Participants will learn how to paint their own pet using acrylics on canvas.
When registering for the class, students will submit a photo of their pet for the artist to sketch. The students will then paint this sketch during class night.
*Please note: this class is for one pet per painting due to time constraints.
$40 per person. All supplies are provided.
*A $10 non-refundable deposit is due when registering. An invoice will be emailed to you to pay online. This deposit is required because the artist hand sketches your pet's picture onto canvas when you register. When you attend the class, the deposit will be applied to your remaining balance.
Refreshments are welcome, but optional.
Registration deadline is May 22 (including photo submissions).
To register, email artschester@gmail.com with a picture of your pet.
May 1-15: The winning artwork from the 31st Annual Superintendent's Art Show will be exhibited at the Arts Council's Ann D. Marion Gallery (123 Main St in downtown Chester).
April 30: 31st Annual Superintendent's Art Show at CMS
March 21: 16th Annual Oyster Roast & Auction Fundraiser.
The Arts Council of Chester County's 16th Annual Oyster Roast & Auction Fundraiser will be held on Saturday, March 21 from 6-9 PM at the Gateway Conference Center located at 3200 Commerce Drive, Richburg, SC.
The event will feature both a Live Auction and a Silent Auction, along with a 50/50 Raffle to benefit the Council's arts programming, exhibits, classes, youth art workshops, and more.
We'll have an all-you-can-eat Steamed Oyster Bar and Lowcountry Boil Buffet.
Cash bar (beer & wine).
***EVENT IS SOLD OUT***
Special Thank You to our Auction Donors, including:
Spa Forte
Artist Lynn Aultman
Artist Frankie MacLauchlan
Chester County Natural Gas Authority
West End Tire
Front Porch Restaurant
Bill Marion
Rocky Creek Sporting Clays
Rep. Randy Ligon
Carolina Eastern
Cremeans Family Dentistry
Total Wine & More
Topgolf
Riverbanks Zoo
Whitewater Center
NASCAR Hall of Fame
Duke Energy
Charlotte Ballet
Edgewater Golf Club
Pinetuck Golf Club
Let's Roam www.letsroam.com
...and more! Thank you!
(see Facebook.com/artschester for all class descriptions and updates)
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LUTZ FOUNDATION -- GRANT ACKNOWLEDGEMENT:
The Arts Council of Chester County is pleased to announce the receipt of a grant from The C. Herbert and Anna E. Lutz Foundation. These funds will be used to upgrade the lighting in the Ann D. Marion Gallery, according to Director Lauren Medlin.
The new LED lighting ensures that the Arts Council can provide art classes, cultural programs, and artist exhibition space in a well-lit environment year-round. This updated lighting will not only provide consistent, bright illumination to enhance your experience during art workshops and exhibits, but also more cost efficient to operate.
“We extend our heartfelt appreciation to the Lutz Foundation for generously funding our many projects over the past 15+ years,” says Medlin. “The difference they’ve made in this community is truly remarkable.”
ABOUT THE ARTS COUNCIL OF CHESTER COUNTY:
The Arts Council of Chester County was founded in 1973 to encourage an appreciation of the arts, as well as participation in the arts through Arts in Education and Community Arts.
Today, the Arts Council of Chester County offers many different events and art classes for the community, along with exhibiting 60+ artists in the Ann D. Marion Gallery, located at 123 Main St. in downtown Chester.
Medlin says, “The arts are an important cultural aspect in Chester County. The Arts Council provides Youth and Adult Art Classes, individual art lessons, artistic & cultural events for the community such as the Oyster Roast Fundraiser and Jingle Bell Bazaar, free year-round exhibiting space for artists in our Ann D. Marion Gallery, support for local and regional artists, and much more! We offer many low-cost programs, along with community-focused events such as the Annual Superintendent’s Art Show with the Chester County School District. We also partner with relevant local organizations for events such as Ag & Art Chester County. The Arts Council strives to provide different art programs & education to all demographics.”
The Arts Council is currently offering personalized one-on-one art lessons for any age. You can also schedule your own group art party which can be customized with your choice of theme and materials.
Upcoming events include the 16th Annual Oyster Roast and Auction Fundraiser on March 21, 2026, at Gateway. Email artschester@gmail.com for tickets.
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PAST EVENTS:
2025:
December 2025: One-on-One Art Lessons for all ages. Call us to schedule!
Or, book your own group art party! Contact us for details.
November 8: 11th Annual Jingle Bell Bazaar: Indoor Holiday Art Market. Gateway Conference Center.
Sept. 26: Adult Painting Night: "Happy Fall Y'all" Pumpkin. 5:30-7:30 pm
Sept. 18: Adult Painting Class: "Carolina Sunset" Palmetto
July 24: Palmetto Painting Class for Adults. 5:30-7:30 pm.
June 11-13 and June 25-27: Exploratory Youth Art Camps.
DRAWING: JUNE 11 - 13
Three-day camp exploring drawing.
Campers will learn about a variety of drawing mediums and drawing techniques while building skills and confidence. Each day, they will explore a new subject with drawing mediums such as pencils, colored pencils, charcoal, and pastels.
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PAINTING: JUNE 25 - 27
Three-day camp exploring painting mediums and techniques, such as watercolors, acrylics, and mixed media.
Each day, campers will experiment with a new technique and create a painting to take home, along with their technique sheets for the day.
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May 15: Vendor applications for the 11th Annual Jingle Bell Bazaar open.
May 14: Community Drop-In to honor winners of the Superintendent's
Annual Art Show. 4-6 pm at Arts Council.
May 13 - 21: Exhibition of winning artwork from Superintendent's Annual Art Show at Arts Council's Ann D. Marion Gallery
April 29: Superintendent's Annual Art Show at Chester Middle School
April 18: Judging for Superintendent's Annual Art Show
April 17: Adult Painting Class: Pet Portrait. 5:30 - 7:30 pm
April 11 - 14: Mini Online Auction!
March 29: 15th Annual Oyster Roast and Auction Fundraiser
2024:
April 30: Adult Painting Class: Pet Portrait. In partnership with the Chester County Animal Control.
May 1: Judging for the Annual Supt Art Show
May 2: 29th Annual Superintendent's Art Show, co-hosted with the Chester County School District
May 7 - 17: Superintendent's Art Show winning pieces are exhibited at the Arts Council's Ann D. Marion Gallery
(See slideshow below to view winning artwork)
June 11: "BEACH CHAIR" Paint Night - adult painting class
using acrylics on canvas.
June 20: "Moonlit Palmetto Beach Scene" Painting Class for adults
June 25: "Sunset Palmetto" Art Class for Youths
August 15: "Sunset Palmetto" Adult Art Class
August 21: "Sunflowers" Watercolor Workshop all ages
September 26: "Happy Fall Y'all" Pumpkin Painting Class
October 3: Autumn Tree Painting Class for Adults
November: 10th Annual Jingle Bell Bazaar at Gateway Conference Center.
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Youth and Adult Art Classes are held year-round and will be advertised as they are scheduled.
See our upcoming events on Arts Daily:
https://bit.ly/ADChester
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31st Annual Superintendent's Art Show, in conjunction with the Chester County School District:
View the slideshow below to see the winning artwork!
(Video plays automatically)
Thank you to the School District for creating this slideshow.
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The 31st Annual Superintendent's Art Show was hosted at Chester Middle School by the Chester County School District and the Arts Council of Chester County in April 2026.
The Arts Council selected local artist and class instructor Suzanne Laferriere to judge all the artwork that was submitted. Suzanne has studied under numerous artists. She has her own business illustrating children's books, painting wall murals, and creating art.
Mrs. Laferriere also teaches classes at the Arts Council for both youths and adults.
Mrs. Laferriere judged each entry and chose 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners, along with Honorable Mentions, for each grade category. School Superintendent Tammy Snipes chose 4 Superintendent's Choice winners and 4 Honorable Mentions.
The Superintendent’s Art Show winning pieces will be exhibited at the Arts Council of Chester County's Ann D. Marion Gallery, located at 123 Main St in downtown Chester, from May 1 - 15. The entire community is invited to view these special works.
The slideshow of the artwork can be viewed on the Arts Council's website at www.artschester.com, along with their Schedule of Events which include Youth Art Camps coming up in June.
The Arts Council wishes to thank the Chester County art teachers, students, and school staff who worked diligently to create these masterpieces and present the Artist Showcase for these works to be shared with our community!