About James River Art League

Overview

James River Art League (JRAL) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization of more than 150 juried member artists from throughout Central Virginia. Our goal is to encourage the creation and appreciation of the visual arts. We provide our member artists with inspiration, professional and social association, and continuing education through programs that feature exceptional and often nationally acclaimed artists and art professionals, and we provide opportunities for members to exhibit and share their art with the community in venues throughout the Richmond area.

History of JRAL

James River Art League is one of the oldest art groups in Richmond and was organized in 1964 by members of a painting class taught by Helen Hull Bailey. Through her persuasion, an art league was formed south of the James River; early meetings were held in a small white house on the grounds of Westover Hills School.  The membership grew and soon the League included artists from both sides of the James River.  Today, JRAL remains anchored in Greater Richmond, although we have members from throughout Central Virginia.
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In 2014, we celebrated our 50th anniversary. Visit our 50th Anniversary News page for more information about our year-long celebratory activities. We also published a commemorative book, James River Art League: 50 Years of Art of Art, that chronicles JRAL's history for our first fifty years.
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For our 60th anniversary celebration in 2024, we held events and activities throughout the year, including special exhibitions, celebration gatherings, member art events, and more. Click here to learn more about our year-long celebratory events!
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In early 2026, we launched a refresh of our brand identity, to include a new logo and new look for our website. Learn more about it here.

Art Exhibitions

JRAL provides our juried member artists many opportunities to exhibit their art in venues throughout the Richmond region, including art galleries, social community spaces,  and retail exhibit spaces. To learn more about our exhibits, click here.

​Our member artists create in a wide range of art media. Visit our Members' Art Gallery  to see a sampling of our members' art; visit our public exhibits to enjoy the full spectrum of art from our members.

Meetings & Programs

We welcome guests to join us at our Program/Business meetings in September, November, January, March, and May.  Field trips and special programs for members occur in October, December, February and April.  Please visit our Meetings/Programs page for full details on dates and location.
Our 2025-26  programs included artist talks and demos, a museum tour, an art challenge critique, and a workshop.

Become a Member

JRAL welcomes interested artists aged 18 and older to apply for membership. Applicants are juried for membership in November and March. Click here to find out more about how to apply for membership.

Community Outreach

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Since the beginning of our Community Outreach program, we have focused on fostering the creative artistic expression of local young artists. Our partnership with Richmond Public Schools Fine Arts has allowed us to recognize and appreciate student artists and their teachers, through awards and appreciation gifts of art supplies.  Visit our Community Outreach page to learn more about our past and current programs.

Contact Us

Contact us for more information about James River Art League.