About Us


Our history began in October, 1999 with a small group of Middlesex County residents. We gathered together to explore ways in which a community-based and arts-inspired organization would foster art awareness, appreciation, and education for the benefit of all residents of our county here in tidewater Virginia.

A more formal organization emerged in May, 2000, and in December, 2001, the Middlesex Art Guild, Inc. was incorporated by the Commonwealth of Virginia as a 501(c)3 non-profit organization.

This year we are happy to celebrate our 8th annual Art On The Half Shell Festival of fine arts and crafts, which has become a major cultural arts event. Due to the efforts of our all-volunteer organization, the Festival has grown and is attended by many visitors and residents from across the nation.