Aplomb Art Gallery Events and Offerings
A Circle for You or Someone You Know
Trauma-Informed Creative Groups
Registration open!
Join our free group art workshops designed to offer grounding, connection, and creative healing alongside others with shared lived experiences. Come as you are, no prior art-making experience is needed. Participation does not require sharing personal stories. These sessions are not therapy or mental health support groups but we have many resources listed here.
Recurring Community Meetups
Aplomb Community meetup events are happening often. See more information on joining here.
Bilateral Drawing
Bilateral drawing stimulates both hemispheres of the brain, connecting thinking with feeling. It can be used for self regulation, grounding, and even warming up! You do not have to be an artist to join in for this half hour guided drawing experience via zoom with Spira Politis. Have some large paper on hand, newsprint or a even couple of copy paper pages together, tape and dry medium tools (pencils, markers, pastels, pens, crayons). Families welcome, and anyone local to Aplomb may join in person.
Art History Chat Series
Join artist and printmaker Sally Dion as she leads us in an ongoing series of Art History chats. You don't have to know have any prior knowledge of art to enjoy. Just tune in and explore the work of artists who have a connection to healing through art. The first talk will highlight French-American artist, Louise Joséphine Bourgeois. Sally Dion is an artist in residence at Studio 599 in Lawrence MA with an MFA and BFA from Mass College of Art and Design.
Art Events, Workshops, Live Music, Classes, and Gallery Exhibitions in Dover, NH
If you're looking for creative things to do in Dover, Portsmouth, Durham, Rochester, Somersworth, or anywhere on the New Hampshire Seacoast, Aplomb Art Cafe Gallery offers a year-round calendar of art experiences for all ages. Our downtown Dover gallery hosts live music, art workshops, exhibitions, creative wellness programs, youth classes, artist calls, community events, and hands-on art experiences that welcome beginners and experienced artists alike.
Whether you're planning a date night, family outing, creative retreat, or simply looking for something different to do this weekend, our events are designed to inspire creativity, build community, and make art accessible to everyone.
Live Music and Art Every Saturday
Join us every Saturday from 4:00 to 6:00 PM for Live Music and Art, where local musicians perform while guests create artwork in our relaxed gallery atmosphere. Order from our unique art menu, work on your own creative project, or simply enjoy the music surrounded by contemporary artwork.
Featured musicians throughout the season include Jarred Garneau, Carol Coronis, Betsy Green, Sam Nordlinger, Jcal, Michelle Skinner, Jake Smith, Skip, and Borrowed Light. Every Saturday offers a unique combination of live entertainment and hands-on creativity in downtown Dover.
Creative Workshops and Community Events
Throughout the year we host unique workshops and special events designed to inspire creativity and bring people together. Popular events include Moon Mask Making, Poetry Inspired by Art, The Art Remix series featuring themes like Lady Gaga, Billie Eilish and 80s, 90s & 00s, Glow-in-the-Dark Karaoke, Triv-A-Doodle, and the Moon Masquerade Ball: Dover Celestial Celebration.
These one-of-a-kind experiences combine art, music, creativity, and community, making Aplomb Art Cafe Gallery one of the most unique destinations for creative entertainment on the New Hampshire Seacoast.
Art Courses for Adults and Teens
Develop new artistic skills through multi-week classes taught by experienced instructors. Find courses like Color Theory, Watercolor, Gouache, Pastel, and Clay Sculpting. Whether you're interested in watercolor, sculpture, mixed media, or drawing, our classes are welcoming for beginners while offering inspiration for experienced artists. Want to request something?
Kids Art Classes and Summer Programs
Young artists can explore creativity through seasonal camps and after-school classes that encourage imagination, confidence, and artistic growth.
Children experiment with painting, sculpture, collage, mixed media, drawing, and creative play in a welcoming studio environment.
Contemporary Art Exhibitions
Aplomb Art Cafe Gallery features rotating contemporary art exhibitions showcasing local, regional, and national artists. Throughout the year we host exhibition openings, artist receptions, and opportunities to meet exhibiting artists.
Past exhibitions include Stand By Me, Spectrum, Hope Is, Reflect. Artists are encouraged to participate in future exhibitions through open calls here. We regularly welcome painters, photographers, sculptors, mixed media artists, and emerging creatives.
A Creative Destination on the New Hampshire Seacoast
Located in historic downtown Dover, New Hampshire, Aplomb Art Cafe Gallery is more than an art gallery. We are a creative gathering place where visitors can experience contemporary art, attend workshops, enjoy live music, participate in classes, celebrate local artists, and connect through creativity.
Guests regularly visit from Dover, Portsmouth, Durham, Rochester, Somersworth, Exeter, Hampton, York, Kittery, Berwick, and communities throughout southern Maine and the New Hampshire Seacoast.
Our calendar is updated often with new workshops, gallery openings, children's classes, creative wellness programs, live performances, artist opportunities, and special events. Check back often to discover what's happening next at Aplomb Art Cafe Gallery.
Art Events in Dover, NH
Browse upcoming art workshops, live music performances, gallery exhibitions, kids art classes, Creative Circles, and special events happening at Aplomb Art Cafe Gallery. New experiences are added throughout the year, making every visit different.