Newport Art Museum’s “Springboard” Exhibition Launches a New Season of Creativity

History is getting a modern makeover at the Newport Art Museum this winter. The Museum’s much-loved Members’ Juried Exhibition is back, this time under a new name and theme: Springboard. Opening Thursday, January 22, 2026, inside the Museum’s historic John N. A. Griswold House, the show will invite artists to look at the past not as something set in stone, but as a living, breathing source of inspiration for today.

“Building off an exciting summer season and the success of Wet Paint, we are bringing back the Members’ Juried Exhibition to respond to what our community wants and what they love most about the Newport Art Museum,” said Executive Director Harry Philbrick. “This year’s theme will foster new conversations between past and present, revealing how history continues to inspire and challenge contemporary practice. We can’t wait to see what our members create.”

Springboard challenges artists to explore cultural inheritance, artistic lineage, and collective memory through their work. Submissions will hang alongside pieces from the Museum’s permanent collection, creating an evolving dialogue between old and new.

The exhibition will be juried by Julie Keyes, founder and principal of Keyes Art in Sag Harbor, New York. With more than 30 years of experience advising collectors and curating contemporary art, Keyes brings a keen eye and global perspective to the selection process. “Springboard invites artists to put their best foot forward. In conversation with the Museum’s permanent collection, the exhibition encourages artists to reflect on the past as they consider their own practice more critically and with greater ambition,” said Keyes.

“During our recent strategic planning process, we listened closely to our artists, members, and community,” added Michelle Piscopo, manager of membership at the Museum. “Springboard is a direct response to that feedback, and we’re thrilled to bring back this tradition in a way that celebrates both our collection and our creative community.”

The exhibition runs January 22-May 31, 2026, with a special VIP preview and public reception on opening night. To learn more or become part of the Newport Art Museum’s creative community, visit newportartmuseum.org.