Whether photography, painting, sculpture, or anything else you can imagine, artists of all ages and mediums are urged to submit their creative pieces for the first of the 2026 Arts Alive Gallery Shows at Tibbits Opera House.
Submissions are now underway for the first of the Gallery Shows, entitled “Music to My Ears,” which will run from January 6 to February 23, 2026. As with prior years, artists are not just allowed but actively encouraged to interpret the theme of the gallery show in any way they see fit.
Artists at any skill level and working with any medium may enter up to three pieces per show at $5 per submission. Paintings, photographs or drawings should be ready to hang using hanging wire. Sculptures and other mediums are accepted and encouraged as well. Entries will be eligible for People’s Choice cash prizes and may be sold on commission with the artist’s permission.
Artists should drop off all pieces at Tibbits’ Administrative Office at 93 West Chicago Street, Coldwater, Michigan, during business hours.
“Music to My Ears” is the first of the six gallery shows which will make up the 2026 season for Arts Alive. Later season show themes include “Free For All,” “Visions of Spring,” “Kids’ Art Rocks!,” “Drip, Dribble, Splash,” and “Goosebumps.”
Each gallery show will be displayed in the lower level art gallery at the historic Tibbits Opera House, located at 14 South Hanchett Street in Coldwater, Michigan. The gallery is accessible by appointment or during any of Tibbits upcoming performances in the historic opera house.
Dates for upcoming shows are as follows:
• “Free For All” will be displayed from Tuesday, February 24 through Monday, March 30.
• “Visions of Spring” will be displayed from Tuesday, March 31 through Monday, May 18.
• Tibbits annual “Kids’ Art Rocks!” Competition is open to students K-12, regardless of district, and will be displayed from Tuesday, May 19 through Monday, July 6. After the competition, selected works will be leased to area businesses where they will be on display for one year.
• “Drip, Dribble, Splash” will be displayed from Thursday, July 9 through Monday, August 24.
• Finally, “Goosebumps” will be displayed from Tuesday, August 25 through Saturday, October 31.
For additional details of these exhibits, or to become involved in Arts Alive, call Matt Biolchini at Tibbits at 517-278-6029 or visit Tibbits.org.
