Fairfield Arts Commission Announces Second Annual Artistic Visions Challenge Art Show
Participant Artwork on Display March 15 – April 10
The Fairfield Arts Commission is pleased to share that the Second Annual Artistic Visions Challenge Art Show will take place March 15 through April 10 at the Main Branch of the Fairfield Public Library located at 1080 Post Road. Artists who participated in the challenge will have their artwork on view to the public during normal Library operating hours.
The Artistic Visions Challenge is a town-wide juried art competition aimed at encouraging artists to create art in new and unique ways. The competition is open to everyone within two age groups, 10-19 and 20 plus, that either work, reside or attend school in Fairfield. Artists in each age group will compete for a first prize of $1,000.
The theme of this year’s Challenge, which was unveiled at the December 4th Kick-Off event, is to create a work of art that makes a statement about the nation’s 250th anniversary. Artists are tasked with bridging America’s past and present in interpretative ways to address this theme. Additionally, participants are required to create art that not only reflects the given theme, but also must have at least one collaborative element from the other age group. Finally, artists were asked to incorporate “America’s 250th” and at least one “Easter Egg”—a hidden message or reference to Fairfield in their original artwork.
All artists were asked to register by February 11th to take part in this year’s Challenge. As of the deadline, the Arts Commission had received 43 registrations from both student and adult artists. “We are absolutely thrilled with the response from the Fairfield arts community,” said Commissioner Sam Goldstein of the Fairfield Arts Commission, who along with Fairfield Public Schools District Art Department Coordinator Michele Hermsen, oversees the Challenge. “The Artistic Visions Challenge was envisioned as a way to not only build a connection between our youth and the art community, but also to stimulate, foster, and encourage critical thinking and originality in all participants,” Goldstein added.
Ms. Hermsen commented, “The arts play a vital role in fostering creativity, connection, and cultural vitality in every community. We are so appreciative of the support received to date and look forward to the leaders of our town continuing to recognize their importance and to keep the arts a priority in Fairfield,” Ms. Hermsen concluded.
As part of their final submission, participants will include an artist statement describing their artwork and the process by which it was made along with a digital representation of their piece.
The Fairfield Arts Commission gratefully acknowledges the financial support of the Fairfield University Center for Arts & Minds in staging this year’s Artist Exhibition as well as the on-going support of the Connecticut Department of Community & Economic Development, Office of the Arts, in its work. The Commission also wishes to thank the community partners who hosted events throughout the challenge: the Fairfield Theatre Company, the Fairfield Museum and History Center, and the Fairfield Public Library, as well as the event photographer, Capitol Photo Interactive.
More information can be found at the Fairfield Arts Commission’s website at www.fairfieldct.org/artchallenge.
About the Fairfield Arts Commission
The Fairfield Arts Commission is an official body of the Town of Fairfield, comprised of nine volunteers appointed by the First Selectman. The purpose of the Fairfield Arts Commission is to stimulate, foster, facilitate and encourage the development and appreciation of artistic and cultural activities within the Town of Fairfield. Following their appointment, the members applied for and received statewide recognition of Fairfield’s first cultural district in June of 2025.
