Public Reception: The 21st ArtsWorcester Biennial, in partnership with the Worcester Arts Museum

Since 1985, the ArtsWorcester Biennial has shown some of the region’s best contemporary visual art. The tradition continues in 2025 with the Twenty-First ArtsWorcester Biennial, coming in partnership with the Worcester Art Museum.

The winner of the exhibition's top honor, the Sally Bishop Prize, will receive a $1,000 award and a solo exhibition at the Worcester Art Museum during their 2026-2027 season.

Selections are made by the exhibition's juror, Francine Weiss, Ph.D., independent curator and arts consultant.

Additional honors will be given out at the reception at the discretion of the juror, including the Evelyn Claywell Absher Award for Abstract Art, the Ruth Susan Westheimer Prize for Fine Craft, and a one-time award for a work on paper, in memory of beloved local artist Jackie Ross.

Public reception: Friday, May 9, 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM
ArtsWorcester, 44 Portland Street, Worcester
Free and open to the public // cash bar available

Parking for the event is available at the Worcester Public Library (McGrath) Lot, Federal Plaza Garage, Worcester Common Garage, and Pearl-Elm Garage. Metered street parking is also available. On weekends, and on weekdays after 5:00 PM, visitors may park in the Printers Building parking lot free of charge. Please do not park in the lot across the street from the Printers Building; you will be immediately towed.

The Twenty-First ArtsWorcester Biennial will be on view at ArtsWorcester during gallery hours, every Thursday through Sunday from 12 PM - 5 PM, through June 29.

You may also like the following events from ArtsWorcester:

• This June, 25th June, 11:59 pm, call for art: The Thirteenth Annual One in Worcester

Also check out other Arts events in Worcester, Exhibitions in Worcester.