May 15 – 17, 2026
Join us to Celebrate Artisans of the Southwest
Celebration of the Arts (COA), organized by the Arts Council of Midland, returns for our 42nd year! COA is the cornerstone fine art, fine craft event in the Permian Basin, and is the longest running downtown event in Midland, Texas. COA has a strong reputation locally, with community support year after year, and draws out of town visitors. The festival hosts local entertainers and performers, non-profit organizations, family-friendly activities, and special events throughout the weekend. Beat the heat inside the air-conditioned Bush Convention Center and enjoy a great time with the family!
COA Premiere Party and Rock The Arts
Friday, May 15, 2026 | 6:30 PM - 10 PM
Ticketed Event
COA Festival Day
Saturday, May 16, 2026 | 10 AM - 5 PM
Free Admission
Family FUN Block Party
Saturday, May 16, 2026 | NOON - 4 PM
Free Admission
COA Festival Day
Sunday, May 17, 2026 | 10 AM - 5 PM
Free Admission
Classic Car Club
Sunday, May 17, 2026 | 10:30 AM - 1 PM
Free Admission
Crank it up and Rock the Arts!
Celebration of the Arts kicks off May 15 at 6:30 p.m. with an electrifying Premier Party.
Get ready for creativity taking center stage and the energy hitting like a headlining act. Enjoy bites, bubbly, and a high voltage silent auction in a vibrant atmosphere where bold art and rock and toll collide.
Preview and purchase incredible original artwork before the festival opens to the public on Saturday and Sunday.
ROCK THE ARTS
COA Presents
Distinguished Artist
Midland Quilters Guild
“Fostering the Art of Love”
Established in 1979 by founder Jean Roberts, the Midland Quilters Guild has grown from a small circle of 28 enthusiasts to a vibrant community of over 100 members. Our mission is to foster a shared love for the art of quilting through education, collaboration, and public demonstrations at local landmarks like the Museum of the Southwest and the Midland County Libraries.
Every two years, the Guild hosts its premier Biennial Quilt Show, a showcase of the extraordinary skill and creativity of our members. This event features prestigious awards—including the Mayor’s Choice and the unique "Gusher Award" sponsored by local businesses—alongside a highly anticipated Silent Auction and Quilters Market. Beyond the artistry, the Guild is deeply rooted in service; since 1988, our members have donated handmade quilts to organizations such as Habitat for Humanity Homes, Hospice, Hope House/Allison Cancer Center, Rape Crisis/Child Advocacy, Senior Link, Safe Place and Quilts of Valor, ensuring that our craft provides comfort and warmth to those in our community who need it most.
Become a member by going through their website.
Contact Info:
-
Website: midlandquiltersguild.com/
-
Instagram: instagram.com/midlandquiltersguild/
2025 Sponsors
Thank you for creating a POP of Color!
Avant-Garde Ally
John and Maurine Cox Foundation
Creative Champion
Kay B. Bird | Karmen & Billy Bryant | Community National Bank | Mary Lou Cassidy
Cultural Curator
James & Holly Blakemore | Rosalind Redfern Grover | Pam Montgomery
Elizabeth Prentice | Henry Resources, LLC | Jordan & Karl Rundgren
The Bosworth Company | Marcia & Trey Walker
Spectrum Supporter
Deborah & Earl Baldridge | Norma Gwyn Baumann | Andrea Holt Catania
Julia Zoller Edwards | Joanie Holt | Mary B. Kennedy | Midland College
Elizabeth Cook Resch | Pam & Gary Saunders | Sarana Savage | Tina & Joseph Strickling
Tierra Company, LP | Vandergriff Group Architects
Paint Patron
Suzie R. Boyd | Meera Ramoutar | Holly Williamson
Art Advocate
Kara & Daniel Bryant | Kitty & Bill Chalfant | John W. Cooper | Leslie Margaret Dean
Carrie Ford | Marianne W. Green | Amanda Golembieski | Barbara Holeva
Carla & Danny Holeva | Pam Inskeep | Dee Kemp | Barbara & Jimmy Leeton
Kathy and Bill Lupardus | Gabriel McClelland |James P. McDaniel | Megan McGee
Christine Newman | Stephanie Rivas | Claudette & Tulsi Singh | Violet & Mark Singh
Laurie Williams | Jane Wolf | Claire & Jim Woodcock
In-Kind Sponsors
City of Midland | Channel 2/ Nexstar | Channel 9 | Community National Bank
First Alert 7 | Susie South Forty | Velvet Mesquite Designs
Underwriters
Afternoon Tea Party
Elizabeth Prentice
Silent Auction
Douglas Scharbauer
Children’s Face Painters
Shelley & Chip Smith
FUN Creation Station
Carolyn J. Roden
Harlin the Balloon Man
Mary Beth Anton & Jeffrey Hewett
Juried Artist Awards
Stacy & James Geitgey
Signs & Banners
Randee & Jack Rathbone
Tea & Me Party
Community National Bank
2025 juried artists
POP ART, Art Happens!
First Place: Kevin O’Grady, Glass, Roswell, NM
Second Place: Krystyna Robbins, Painting, El Paso, TX
Third Place: Bruce Pratt, Wood, Sanger, TX
Honorable Mention: Virginia Peacock, Jewelry, Houston, TX
Baskin Memorial Award: Steve Riley, Photography, La Veta, CO
Tristan Albers, Wood, San Marcos, TX
Liz Bartlett Culp, Paintings, Midland, TX
Seth Blackwell, Glass, Amarillo, TX
Kimberly Bowen, Paintings, Parker, CO
Patricia Boyles, Glass, Granbury, TX
Diana Carbajal, Mixed Media, Wichita, KS
Janet Chico, Mixed Media, Los Angeles, CA
Kimberly Clark, Photography, San Antonio, TX
Chad Collins, Ceramics, Gladstone, MO
Linda Donaho, Photography, McKinney, TX
Ronda Dougherty, Assemblage, Lincoln, NM
Boz Droca, Paintings, Houston, TX
Joe Eby, Jewelry, Canyon Lake, TX
Bonnie Griffin, Bronze, Los Lunas, NM
Neil Gunn, Paintings, El Paso, TX
Anna Whitlock, Jewelry, Lubbock, TX
Tif Holmes, Photography, Lubbock, TX
Alice Johnson, Jewelry, Buda, TX
Summer Johnson, Wood, Gatesville, TX
Matt Josef, Paintings, Oklahoma City, OK
Susana Langlois, Jewelry, Katy, TX
Andy Loftis, Drawing, Cypress, TX
Ethan Merritt, Drawing, Glenwood Springs, CO
Jeremy Mitchell, Photography, Midland, TX
Cindy Olive, Glass, Midland, TX
Robert Priddy, Photography, Mullin, TX
Les Purcella, Metal, Roswell, NM
Brandon Rhodes, Wood, North Richland Hills, TX
Jamie Rood, Mixed Media, Austin, TX
Cheryl Roush, Paintings, Midland, TX
Owen Salisbury, Jewelry, Amarillo, TX
Kim Shaklee, Sculpture, Brighton, CO
Scot Sheppard, Wood, Big Spring, TX
Bonnie Siebert, Paintings, Woodson, TX
Dyanne Silver, Jewelry, Mesa, AZ
Donny Spencer, Drawing, Weatherford, TX
Carol Stalteri, Jewelry, Congress, AZ
Kandy Tate, Paintings, Placitas, NM
Janet Waldrop, Jewelry, Flint, TX
Laura Weber, Jewelry, Garland, TX