State Art Collections

The State of New Hampshire has been acquiring artwork since 1819 when it commissioned the eagle for the top of the State House dome. Many historic portraits and other paintings fill the halls of the State House. Since 1965, the acquisition of new artworks that represent the variety and richness of New Hampshire arts has become one of the functions of the New Hampshire State Council on the Arts. Most of the artwork is acquired through the State Arts Council's Percent for Art program. All of the artwork is intended for display in the public spaces of state buildings for the benefit of NH citizens.

The stewardship of the State Art Collections is overseen by the State Arts Council. From time to time, the State Arts Council finds it necessary to eliminate a work from the collections. In these instances, we refer to Deaccession Guidelines (pdf only).

Artworks are organized into several collections:

Percent for Art Collection
The artworks in this collection are site specific to the buildings that generated the funds for their commission or purchase. A catalogue of these works was published in 1989 to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the program. Since then, there have been many new projects placed in community colleges, facilities for the elderly, and in courthouses.

NH State Veterans’ Home, Tilton: On Top of Mt. Kearsarge, East View by Sheldon Cassady	NH Technical Institute, Concord: Feathers, Installation by Joseph DeRobertis

Arts Bank Collection
This collection was established in the 1980s. Artworks in this collection are available on loan to state agencies for display in public spaces of state buildings for the benefit of New Hampshire citizens.  To learn more, click here.

Living Treasure Collection
The Living Treasures collection, begun in the 1990s, includes works by artists who have received a Lotte Jacobi Living Treasure Governor’s Arts Award. Their artworks are exhibited in the public spaces of various state buildings. All acquisitions are made possible by private funding or donations from the artists.

In memory: Karl Drerup, John Woodsum Hatch, Robert Hughes, Lotte Jacobi, Herbert Ogden Waters

Photographs by Lotte Jacobi, a pen and ink drawing by John Hatch, and original illustrations by Tomie dePaola.

Lifetime Fellows Collection
This collection, established in 2005, includes works by visual artists who have received multiple fellowships over time. The designation of Lifetime Fellows was established in 2004. Funding for these artworks comes from the State Art Fund, also known as the Percent for Art program. The artworks in this collection are available for exhibiting in state buildings that are not eligible to generate money for site specific artwork.

Studio visits with Lifetime Fellows Carol Aronson Shore (left) and James Aponovich (right).

Last updated: August 24, 2023