Free Art Workshops at The Marketplace Sperryville: July–Nov 2026
The Collective Canvas series brings hands-on demos and rotating local artists to the Confluence Gallery every Second Saturday through November
A Free Art Series Worth Planning Around
If you're looking for a reason to make the drive out to Sperryville this summer or fall, The Marketplace has built one right into the calendar. The Collective Canvas — a free monthly series of interactive art workshops and live artist demonstrations — runs every Second Saturday from 2–4pm, June through November 2026, inside the Confluence Gallery at The Marketplace on the Sperryville River District.
Each session spotlights a different local or regional artist, making every visit genuinely new. Whether you catch the July session, the October one, or all six, you're getting something hands-on and community-rooted — not a passive gallery stroll.
June Kickoff: Sam Grantham's 'The Spirit Moved Me'
The series launched in June with Sam Grantham, whose solo exhibition 'The Spirit Moved Me' — a collection of vibrant personality portraits — was on view at the Confluence Gallery through the end of June 2026. Grantham appeared in person on the June Second Saturday for a meet-the-artist session, giving visitors a rare chance to hear directly from the painter about his process and vision.
If you missed June, don't worry: the series continues monthly with a fresh artist each time.
What to Expect at a Collective Canvas Session
The format is intentionally accessible. These are interactive workshops and demonstrations — think watching an artist work, asking questions, and trying techniques yourself — rather than formal lectures. The two-hour window (2–4pm) is relaxed enough to fit into a broader Sperryville afternoon without anchoring your whole day.
- Cost: Free — no registration required
- Format: Hands-on workshop + artist demo
- Artists: Rotating local and regional makers each month
- Venue: The Confluence Gallery, inside The Marketplace Sperryville
- Schedule: Second Saturdays, 2–4pm, July through November 2026
How to Build a Day Around It
The Marketplace sits in Sperryville's compact River District, which means you can easily combine a Collective Canvas session with lunch, a browse through nearby studios, or a pre-workshop coffee. The River District is walkable, and the Second Saturday timing puts you there during peak afternoon hours when the area is most lively.
For DC-area visitors making a weekend of it, pairing the workshop with a Saturday evening at one of Rappahannock County's vineyard tasting rooms makes for a very complete itinerary. The drive from Washington, DC runs roughly 70–75 miles and takes just under 90 minutes via US-29 South.
Upcoming Second Saturday Dates
Mark these on your calendar now — they fill out the rest of the summer and carry straight through autumn leaf season:
- July 12, 2026
- August 9, 2026
- September 13, 2026
- October 11, 2026
- November 8, 2026
Specific artists for each month had not been announced at the time of publication — check The Marketplace's website or social channels closer to each date for artist announcements.
Planning Your Visit
The Marketplace Sperryville
Address: Sperryville River District, Sperryville, VA 22740
Website: themarketplacesperryville.com
Collective Canvas Hours: Second Saturdays, 2:00–4:00pm, June–November 2026
Admission: Free
Note: The Marketplace is located in the Sperryville River District area. Verify current hours and artist lineups directly with the venue before your visit, as programming details for individual sessions are announced on a rolling basis.
This article was generated from verified local data and reviewed by AI. Learn how we write these stories
Photo via Unsplash