freshART 2026

For the 34th year, Behringer-Crawford Museum is celebrating the vibrant, artistic talents from our region with its annual freshART party and art auction on Saturday, September 12, 6-9:30 p.m. Raising funds for youth education programs, freshART gives collectors and others the chance to acquire one-of-a-kind works newly created “fresh” en plain air by dozens of artists in Devou Park. Enjoy an evening of creativity, community and excitement, featuring cocktails and a buffet dinner, culminating in a live and lively auction.

All inclusive tickets are $100 per person and can be purchased at the museum or by calling (859) 491-4003.

A portion of the sale price of each auctioned piece will go to the artist; the balance will be donated to the museum, benefiting area children through BCM’s educational programs. Submitted freshART works will be judged by a panel of experts, with $1000 in cash prizes awarded to the first, second and third-place entries by the William & Patricia Applegate Fund. Be sure to be on the lookout for the freshARTists at work in Devou Park, beginning Aug. 22.

“Mighty Grand Canyon” is one of the enchanting paintings that will be auctioned at the freshART gala on September 12. This piece, created by the late Dr. Wolfgang Ritschel, is part of “Art From the Heart,” a legacy celebrating the educator and artist’s remarkable contributions.

The bidding for silentART pieces kicks off on August 30 at 6 p.m. Explore an array of previously created artworks, including paintings, ceramics, jewelry, and more, on display at the museum and available for mobile bidding through September 12.

Since its inception in 1992, freshART has raised over one million dollars, supporting educational and cultural programs that have enriched the lives of more than 295,000 Northern Kentucky children.

For more information about freshART, email freshART@bcmuseum.org.

Behringer-Crawford Museum is supported in part by our members, the City of Covington, Kenton County Fiscal Court, ArtsWave, Kentucky Arts Council, Kentucky Humanities, the Northern Kentucky Sports Hall of Fame and The Carol Ann and Ralph V. Haile, Jr. Foundation.

This project is supported by the generosity of tens of thousands of contributors to the annual ArtsWave Campaign, the Cincinnati region’s primary source for arts funding.

This calendar listing is brought to you by Cincy A&E, the Cincinnati region’s one-stop, online calendar for arts and entertainment events, powered by ArtsWave.
Thank you to all of our 2026 freshART sponsors and supporters, including:

Dempsey, Fritz Group / Baird

Lisa and Norm Desmarais
360 Painting of Cincinnati, Adams Law, Bellevue Family Dentistry, Dan Blank, Central Bank, Concentric Wealth Management, Earl Franks Sons/Daughters, Heritage Bank, Hunt Custom Remodeling, Keating Muething & Klekamp PLL, Phyllis and Jack Moreland, Northwest Law, Schneller Knochelmann Plumbing, Heating & Air, Pam and Richard Spoor, Gerry and Tony Zembrodt

John Boh and Patricia & William Applegarth Artists Excellence Award

ATech, Devou Park Trails Collective, Jackson Interiors, The O’Donnell Group, Roebling Solutions, St. Elizabeth Healthcare

Special Thanks to Chef Barone’s Catering and Frame and Hang Studio Gallery.
Behringer-Crawford Museum is supported in part by its members, the City of Covington, Kenton County Fiscal Court, ArtsWave, Kentucky Arts Council, and the Northern Kentucky Sports Hall of Fame.