At the conclusion of the 2026 IAPS Convention in Albuquerque, IAPS began refocusing its energy toward expanding support and collaboration with our member societies. One of the clearest signs of that shift is a new way of bringing artists together in person. This week, IAPS published The Future of IAPS, an overview of where the organization is headed and the five commitments behind it.
For details on all five commitments, read Programs and Activities: 2027 and Beyond, IAPS’s companion playbook explaining how each commitment works.
Gatherings: A New Chapter
Beginning in 2027, IAPS in-person events will take the form of Gatherings. The first is Enchanted Places, hosted by the Pastel Society of New Mexico in Albuquerque in October 2027.
What is a Gathering?
A Gathering is an annual event hosted by one or more member societies and supported by IAPS, bringing artists together for workshops, demonstrations, paint-outs, exhibitions, and whatever else a host society wants to build around them.
At heart, a Gathering is simply IAPS finding new ways to keep pastel artists meeting in person, in the company of people who love the medium. It’s also a specific arrangement between IAPS and the society hosting it. A member society running its own workshop or exhibition isn’t designated a Gathering.
Placing events with member societies lets an IAPS Gathering reach more regions than a single national convention ever could, with each one reflecting the character of its host society.
How a Gathering is structured
- The host society organizes and runs the event.
- Each host society determines the event’s programming and activities: workshops, banquets, receptions, plein air sessions, demonstrations, museum and gallery visits, excursions, and the social occasions that end up being what people remember. Because the host society organizes these activities, they can reflect what its members enjoy the most.
- IAPS underwrites the Best in Show award at the Gathering exhibition, which features selected works by artists from the United States and abroad.
- IAPS promotes the Gathering through its own channels: social media, the IAPS website, blogs, videos, and newsletters. That means a host society reaches the full international IAPS audience, not just its own membership.
Enchanted Places, October 2027
The Enchanted Places Gathering, beginning October 19, 2027, will include six workshops, including one plein air workshop, held at venues around the area. Day trips will include Santa Fe and the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum, along with a paint-along through O’Keeffe country at Abiquiu and Ghost Ranch.
Registration opens in spring 2027. Watch your inbox and the IAPS Facebook group for details and the opening announcement. We look forward to sharing more details soon.
How do honors points work at a Gathering?
Gathering exhibitions give artists opportunities to earn points toward Master Circle and Eminent Pastelist status. The points for each Gathering exhibition are set through an agreement between the host society and IAPS.
Frequently asked questions
Does our society need an IAPS grant to host a Gathering?
No. Grants and Gatherings are separate. For example, the Pastel Society of New Mexico holds an IAPS educational grant, awarded separately from its selection to host. Neither depends on the other.
Do the points I’ve already earned toward Master Circle and Eminent Pastelist status still count?
Yes, they count in full toward the same thresholds.
Can our society host a Gathering?
Yes. IAPS is looking forward to hearing from pastel societies that want to host a Gathering of their own. Please get in touch with us to start a conversation about organizing a Gathering.
Enchanted Places is Only the Beginning
Gatherings mark a new chapter in how IAPS brings pastel artists together in person. They are built on the strength of our member societies and the communities they represent.
Enchanted Places is only the beginning. We are excited to see it come to life in Albuquerque in October 2027, and we can’t wait to see all the places our member societies will take us from there.