“A big part of our involvement in the national celebration will be our annual Cumberland Valley Artist show,” WCFMA executive director Sarah J. Hall announced, “and we’d like artists to think about their subject matter now. Instead of our usual show, where artists submit any work of their choosing,” she explained, “this exhibition will require submissions to be in line with four specific themes of national significance, some of which have been established by the American Association for State and Local History: Unfinished Revolutions, The Power of Place, Tell Everyone’s Story, and American Experiment.” 

Hall pointed out that while the formal call for submissions won’t be until spring and summer of this year, “We want to make sure artists have enough time to think about, plan and execute works that illuminate or are made in response to the themes selected because of the power of their meaning to our country.” 

The Cumberland Valley Artist 250th U.S. anniversary exhibition will run from November 8, 2025 to March 1, 2026. The specific time period for submissions will be released at a later date but will be between May 1 and June 30, 2025 

 The Washington County Museum of Fine Arts, located on Hagerstown’s historic City Park lakeside, was established in 1931 by William H. Singer, Jr. and Anna Brugh Singer and has an extensive, world-class permanent collection of paintings, drawings, prints, and sculptures from the 18th century to the present, featuring celebrated and diverse artists.  The Museum offers tours, classes, educational programs and community events and is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday.  Closed Mondays and major holidays.  Admission is free and free parking is available. For more information: wcmfa.org.