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Best Small-Town Arts Scene

By Readers' Choice On 2/1/24 at 12:00 PM EST

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You don't always have to hit the big city to enjoy the arts. From the East Coast to the Wild West, these American towns have thriving art scenes. Visitors can tour notable museums and robust public art collections as well as attend annual festivals and shows that celebrate local work. These towns shelter active artist communities supported by local councils and art galleries.

These 10 small-town art scenes were selected by our expert panelists and contributors and voted on by readers as the best of the best.

Woodworking

1. Berea, KY

A showcase for Appalachian arts, crafts and music, Berea invites visitors to see its artists at work with signs or flags outside the studio stating "Studio Artists at Berea: Artists at Work." Just off I-75, the Kentucky Artisan Center features the work of more than 800 native artists highlighting both modern and traditional crafts, including woodworking, fiber arts, jewelry and pottery as well as music, books and film.

Art tour

2. Bay St. Louis, MS

Bay St. Louis offers a rich artistic heritage, visually and musically. The "Angels in the Bay," carved from oaks that died in Hurricane Katrina, dot the town. Visit the Historic Depot Arts District where you can also find the Hancock Arts Center and a museum dedicated to folk artist Alice Moseley. The St. Rose de Lima Church is famous for its "Christ in the Oak" mural and distinctive altar. And the historic 100 Men Hall, a stop on the MS Blues Trail, plays host to many musical legends. Explore the downtown galleries during their open studios that feature artist talks and free music performances.

Taos

3. Taos, NM

Home of the Taos Society of Artists, an early 20th-century artist cooperative, Taos art legacy continues to thrive in more than 70 galleries and art museums. Highlights include the Harwood, Taos Art Museum, Millicent Rogers Museum, and historic homes and studios of Taos Society founders Blumenschein, Couse and Sharp. Art festivals are held in spring and autumn, and studio tours are also held throughout the year.

Whitney Western Art Museum

4. Cody, WY

A center for Western art, Cody is home to the Whitney Western Art Museum, whose collection includes pieces by Remington, Russell and Bierstadt. Rendezvous Royale, a five-day annual festival, celebrates several art forms, holds lectures, tours and workshops, and culminates in the Buffalo Bill Art Show & Sale. The Cody Country Art League sponsors a rotating gallery featuring the work of more than 200 amateur and professional artists.

St. Augustine

5. St. Augustine, FL

The strength of the St. Augustine arts scene is evident in its more than 50 art galleries. The city's art association actively promotes local art through exhibitions and educational programs. Housed in an architectural gem, the former Alcazar Hotel, the Lightner Museum offers permanent and revolving collections. Built in 1965 as a theatrical stage for the city's 400th anniversary, The St. Augustine Amphitheater now offers stellar live music performances.

Columbus,IN

6. Columbus, IN

Given its size, it's remarkable that Columbus, Indiana, ranks sixth in the nation for architectural innovation. The city boasts over 70 sites of amazing modernist architecture. Visitors can book a tour to catch the highlights, which include structures by Eero Saarinen, Kevin Roche and I. M. Pei. The town features three public art installations by Dale Chihuly, including the Yellow Neon Chandelier in the visitor center.

Artist

7. Salado, TX

Named an official Cultural District by the Texas Commission on the Arts, Salado offers a variety of galleries, public art, renowned artist studios and a sculpture garden. Salado will be featured in the third season of Amazon Prime's Story of Art in America. The town is also a destination for plein air painters thanks to the verandaed Stagecoach Inn and beautiful creek flowing through the heart of town.

Bloomington

8. Bloomington, IN

From the classic limestone architecture of Indiana University to wooded rolling hills, Bloomington provides inspiration to its artist community. The downtown area offers galleries of local work, from paintings, sculpture, pottery, glass, jewelry and collectibles, as well as a monthly gallery walk with special receptions unveiling new exhibits. Many streets bear public murals, and the summer brings multiple art festivals, while the fall is marked by a glass-blown pumpkin patch.

Glass bulbs

9. Logan (Hocking Hills), OH

Each fall, the Hocking Hills Craft Show brings a variety of artists and artisans to Logan in an outdoor festival with displays including pine needle art, fiber arts, woodworking, paintings, stained and blown glass and even corn husk dolls. On Father's Day weekend, downtown celebrates the Washboard Music & Arts Festival. Area artists include the renowned glassblower Jack Pine, whose Laurelville studio holds classes and workshops.

Covered bridge

10. Nashville, IN

Nestled in Brown County, Nashville started to become an artist haven in the early 1900s, when T. C. Steele built his home and studio in the area, with other artists and craftspeople following suit. The galleries and shops on the town's main corridor offer a wide variety of local work, from paintings and pottery to basketry and wood furniture. Each October, a studio walk invites visitors inside the artistic process.

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Our nominees are editorially driven with contributions from a panel of travel experts. The final list is determined by Newsweek editors. Readers can vote once per category, per day. For more details, read our terms and conditions. For any questions, please see our FAQs or email us at readerschoice@newsweek.com.

Our experts

elaine warner resized 3

In pursuit of her stories, Elaine Warner has flown in helicopters, hot-air balloons and even a glider. She has eaten her way through St. Louis (and a number of other places) and descended at night to the bottom of a canyon to see dismalites - tiny, glowing larvae of fungus gnats. She draws the line at bungee jumping and hang gliding and her idea of roughing it is a Holiday Inn without a Holidome. Learn more about Elaine's adventures at okietravel.com or follow her on Instagram.

Kathleen Walls

Kathleen Walls is publisher/writer for American Roads and Global Highways. She's authored eight travel books and several online tour guides. Publications she's written for include Roadtrippers, Travel Awaits, World Footprints, Snowbirds and RVers, Family RVing, Deep South, Florida Country, Rovology and more. She's a proud member of International Food, Wine, and Travel Writers (IFWTA), Society of American Travel Writers (SATW), and North American Travel Journalists Association (NATJA).

Laurie Borman

Laurie D. Borman is a travel columnist with LimestonePostmagazine.com, featuring Midwest travel destinations in her column, Travel with Laurie. She served as editor of Endless Vacation magazine and AAA Traveler magazines and editorial director of Rand McNally. She is a past president of the Society of American Travel Writers.