New Hampshire Art Association

Originally incorporated in 1940, New Hampshire Art Association (NHAA) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit contemporary arts organization dedicated to exhibiting and supporting emerging regional artists. In 1990, NHAA opened its doors in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, at 136 State Street thanks to philanthropists, lenders, and leadership who recognized the need for a community space to support the visual arts. We operate thanks to the generosity of artists, audiences, and donors for whom we are grateful.

New Hampshire Art Association serves as a vibrant hub for artistic expression, cultural engagement, and community development. We use the medium of visual art to bring our community together around contemporary topics, such as DEIAB, Mental Health, LGBTQIA, and other social issues. We believe that art has the power to bring people together, foster empathy, and change lives. We work with fellow non-profit organizations such as NH Outright, Arts in Reach, Portsmouth Historical Society, Racial Unity Team, and others to expand our community. We support a diverse and intergenerational group of artists, including immigrants, veterans, BIPOC artists, artists with disabilities, youth artists, and senior artists. All of our events are free and open to the public.

NHAA serves established and emerging artists to cultivate creativity, community, and culture through education, events, and exhibitions.

NHAA believes that an organization's capacity to reflect and respond to the rich diversity of our society profoundly impacts its ability to fulfill its mission, vision, and values. Accordingly, we are committed to fostering, cultivating, and preserving a culture of diversity, equity, and inclusion, both internally and in partnership with our members and the community we serve.

The confluence of art and community inspires conversation, bridges differences, and nurtures empathy.

NHAA is rooted in the idea that art is for everyone, locally, and globally. We believe that art has the potential to empower artists to transform lives, influence change, and provide meaning and inspiration.