Library Arts Center

The Library Arts Center is a creative gathering space where friends, family, neighbors and visitors can connect and share in a celebration of artistic inspiration, creative vision, and community spirit—in the true sense of “community arts.” Founded in 1967, the LAC is a non-profit arts center, gallery and studio located in the heart of downtown Newport, NH.

This year, our initiative helps to support the work of the Library Arts Center and the Newport Public Art Collaborative to help create several new public art murals in downtown Newport, and thanks to the generosity of the DING Foundation, we have an incredible MATCH opportunity for donations to be matched during the giving window, up to a total of $5,000!

A concept sketch of one of the murals celebrating the tradition of Newport as the "Sunshine Town."

Gifts of any size mean the world to us! 

We appreciate your support of public art, and our community arts center!

Proposed mural site.

Who We Are

Community Arts Center | Newport, New Hampshire - Non-profit Art Gallery, Studio, & Performance Venue

The Library Arts Center is a creative gathering space where friends, family, neighbors and visitors can connect and share in a celebration of artistic inspiration, creative vision, and community spirit—in the true sense of “community arts.” Founded in 1967, the LAC is a non-profit arts center, gallery and studio located in the heart of downtown Newport, NH.

In the past 50 years, the Center has grown from a small gallery space in a former rustic carriage house to a thriving center in the region that offers a tremendous number of exhibitions, performances, classes and workshops annually. It attracts artists from both inside and outside the region—and features artwork that is both beautiful & accessible, as well as art that pushes creative boundaries.

The Center enriches the cultural, economic and social vitality of the greater region. The Library Arts Center is an important part of the growing “creative economy” in Newport and surrounding communities. The Center provides a place of excellence for local artists to present their work, and, through creative collaborations with cultural organizations and regional art networks, the Library Arts Center has launched programs that help to drive residents and visitors to Newport’s historic downtown throughout the year.

More than 5,000 residents from the greater region, including children, families, and seniors enjoy Library Arts Center exhibits, performances, and classes. All of the Library Arts Center’s programs are provided at little or no cost. The Library Arts Center currently serves as a presenting venue for approximately 325 artists annually and provides arts education and access for more than 2,500 school-age children in and around Newport.

Find out more about Library Arts Center programs, exhibits, classes and performances at www.libraryartscenter.org.