Fairfield Explores 250 Years of the American Experiment through the Arts.
July 4, 2026 will mark the semiquincentennial of the United States—the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Beginning September 2025, Fairfield University will host a yearlong suite of arts and cultural programming titled America250: The Promise and Paradox, in alignment with national, state, and town celebration themes. Through this initiative, the Fairfield community will celebrate and examine the rich history of the United States, offering events and programs that invite all to engage in meaningful conversations and thoughtful reflection on the common good, the lessons of our shared history, and the enduring promise of the American experiment.
"In highlighting 'promise,' we acknowledge the foundational ideals of the United States, such as liberty, the rule of law, and the presumption that all of us are of equal dignity in the eyes of God,” said Provost Christine Siegel, PhD. “On the other hand, by emphasizing the 'paradox,' we recognize the contradictions and challenges that have accompanied this journey. While America was built on the promise of freedom and justice, the nation has at times fallen short of these ideals, creating a complex and sometimes painful narrative that is at odds with our national myths.”
The Fairfield University Art Museum is set to host three exhibitions in alignment with America250: The Promise and Paradox. Two will open in the fall of 2025 followed by a major multi-gallery loan exhibition in the spring of 2026.
Stitching Time: The Social Justice Collaboration Quilts Project and Give Me Life: CPA Prison Arts Program runs Sept. 12 – Dec. 13, 2025, in the museum’s Walsh Gallery located in the Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts. These dual exhibitions feature artwork created by currently or formerly incarcerated individuals at the Louisiana State Penitentiary (Angola Prison) and York Correctional Institution in Niantic, Conn., shining a light on those often forgotten by society when discussing the history of the U.S. criminal justice system.
