Arts roundup—Wellesley Society of Artists summer show; Art in the Park; call for artists to honor the Charles River; and more

June 2, 2026

Wellesley is fortunate to have a lively arts scene, with various opportunities to engage with or make art at any given time. Check out a concert, theater performance, or art reception this month. Here are just a few events happening soon, here and beyond Wellesley.

Don’t see your arts event listed? Email us at theswellesleyreport@gmail.com

Wellesley Society of Artists has hot exhibit

Wellesley Society of ArtistsThe Wellesley Society of Artists (WSA) will present its summer show “Heatwave” at the Natick Morse Institute Library Upper Galleries, June 1-30. The show will feature over 25 paintings and includes both representational and non representational artwork by WSA members. Join the WSA for the awards reception June 10, 2026, 6:30-7:30pm. Sturdy Waterman, owner of the Page Waterman Gallery and Framing is the show judge.

EVENT CANCELED: Art in the Park, Natick

EVENT: Art in the Park at Shaw Park
DATE/TIME: Sunday, June 7th 10am – 3pm
LOCATION: Shaw Park, 53 Eliot St., (that nice green space across the street from the Bacon Free Library)

DESCRIPTION: The Natick Art Association hosts its twice annual art fair! Art in the Park is a collection of amazing artists with various wares for sale. Come enjoy live music and shop the wide variety of media Natick Art Association artists work in. Past years have included everything from pottery to painting, jewelry to books, and more! This is a family and pet friendly event.

Call for artists from the Charles River Watershed Association

Charles River offshoot, Waban Arches, WellesleyNew England area artists are invited to a Call for Artists for the early 2027 exhibition, “A Charles River Journey: 80 Artists, 80 Miles.” Artists are invited to share their visual impressions of the Charles River—from its meandering natural landscapes to the diverse communities it connects, and its vital role as both a recreational and ecological resource.

In partnership with the Dedham Art Association and the Wellesley Society of Artists, this exhibition will celebrate New England artists, foster environmental awareness, and honor the Charles River. Eighty artworks will be juried into the exhibit and be eligible for over $2,500 in cash awards.

Enter your art.

Theatre Studies Program announces next round of Project Grants

Wellesley College Theatre (the Wellesley College Theatre Studies Program and Wellesley Repertory Theatre) has opened up its 2026-27 round of Wellesley Repertory Theatre Grants to fund theatre-related projects by Wellesley College graduates. Proposal deadline for aspiring theatre-makers 2+ years post-diploma is August 31, 2026.

Up to three grants will be awarded for the development and/or production of unpublished/unproduced work in the field. This unrestricted funding enables recent and working graduates to set aside time for creation, purchase materials, fund collaboration with other artists, rent rehearsal or performance space, and/or otherwise expand their work. Projects are expected to be completed during the 2026-27 academic year.  Grantees will commit to attending the Wellesley Rep Festival, capping off their creative processes on the Wellesley College campus in September 2027, where they will share their work with Theatre Studies students, the Wellesley community, and the general public.

Applicants should submit a CV and application form at www.wellesleyrepertorytheatre.org/wrt-grant

Learn about previous grant winners here.

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