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Hampden Gallery is a program of the Fine Arts Center located in the Southwest Residential Area at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Hampden Gallery has a reputation as a launching pad for emerging artists working in all disciplines. Its active programming schedule runs throughout the academic year and features solo, group, and thesis exhibitions which are enhanced through opening receptions, artist talks, and workshops.

The Incubator Project Space is an intimately-scaled venue well suited to showing electronic media works and site specific installations.

Platform—a centrally located raised elliptical shaped space that is ideal for showcasing large sculptural works.

Core Program

Hampden Gallery's mission is to facilitate understanding and participation in the ongoing cultural dialogue through the presentation of visual art exhibitions and through the implementation of in-depth adjunct programming. The main focus of this programming is on new work by emerging artists in the fields of painting, sculpture, printmaking, mixed media, video and new media. Hampden Gallery recognizes the importance of its viewing audience and is continually attracting new viewers to its audience base through vibrant programming, artists in residence events, lectures, slide presentations, life drawing, workshops, gallery talks and receptions.

Located in the nexus of a residential area Hampden Gallery is often students' first point of contact with the visual arts on campus. With this in mind, an active roster of exhibitions is scheduled throughout the academic year that reflects current practices in contemporary art across all genres in order to engage students and other viewers from the University and surrounding communities, with challenging and diverse contemporary visual art exhibitions that speak to issues being discussed in the arts community and throughout the larger culture.

New Directions

In addition to its ongoing exhibitions in the gallery spaces, Hampden Gallery also develops concept driven exhibitions which do not rely on the physical space of the gallery. More and more artists are recognizing the need to bring their work to new audiences by breaking through the notions of what "gallery" means. Through ongoing relationships with artists across the country and internationally, Hampden Gallery will be implementing exhibitions outside of its physical venue, thus keeping in step with contemporary practice while broadening the scope and reach of the Galleries' programming.

N.E.x.T . New Exhibition Trends

A two part approach to providing opportunities to artists transitioning from student to career status. N.E.x.T also connects audiences with new exhibition practices and trends.

Part One:
A Curatorial Opportunities Program for UMASS students:
Students are afforded opportunities to curate exhibitions of fellow students work. The program takes students through all facets of exhibition planning and implementation from development of concepts, to interacting with artists, to grant writing, through the process of publicizing the exhibitions, to installation and finally to project evaluation.

Part Two:
Solo and Group Thesis Exhibition for Undergraduate and Graduate Degree Candidates:
Hampden Gallery also serves as an essential resource for MFA and BFA candidates who produce thesis exhibitions as part of their academic program requirements. Each spring semester, Hampden Gallery sets aside exhibition slots for MFA and BFA exhibitions. These exhibitions provide an essential service to the students and provide the campus community with unique opportunities to view fresh bodies of work in all disciplines.

T.E.A.C.H. Art Exhibition Program

Teachers Exhibiting at Hampden

Working with representatives from the UMASS Art Department and other institutions, Hampden Gallery provides exhibition and curating opportunities for Certified Massachusetts Art Teachers (K through 12) who in some cases are alumni and who may also be continuing their professional development at the University of Massachusetts, This program provides professional development opportunities to alumni artists and builds a bridge from the University to often under-served communities.