Ballyhoo Festival of Fine Art and Culture

Artists are invited to apply for the Ballyhoo Festival, held March 7 and 8, 2026 at 20110 State Park Rd in Gulf Shores, Alabama. $6000 in awards. Original fine art and crafts. 75% of booth must be original art. 25% can be prints. Oil, watercolor, acrylic, encaustic, pastel, mixed media, folk art and other forms of 2D art. Sculpture, pottery, glass sculpture, wood sculpture, metal sculpture, jewelry and other forms of 3D art. $25 application fee. Deadline: November 15, 2025. More info. Contact: email or call 318-218-7673.

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Old Florida Celebration of the Arts in Cedar Key

The Cedar Key Arts Center announces a call to artists for the annual Spring Arts Festival in Cedar Key, a juried Fine Arts and Crafts Event, held April 11-12, 2026 at Historic 2nd St. $14,000 in awards. The venue welcomes only 100 fine artists and craftsmen to keep the focus on art and allow plenty of room for artists and art enthusiasts to interact. Cedar Key, which has been named one of the top Arts Small Town Fairs in America, is nestled in the center of Florida's Nature Coast, 60 miles SW of Gainesville. Proceeds benefit the Cedar Key Arts Center and local non-profit organizations that serve homemade goodies and local seafood in beachfront City Park, Saturday, 10am-5pm, and Sunday, 10am-4pm. $225 booth fee. Deadline: November 15, 2025. More info. Contact: email or call 352-543-5400.

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17th Annual International Drawing Discourse Exhibition

As part of an ongoing commitment to promote drawing practices in the visual arts, the University of North Carolina Asheville invites artists to submit entries to a Juried International Exhibition of contemporary drawing examining both conventional and innovative methods. Accepted work will be exhibited in UNC Asheville's S. Tucker Cooke Gallery, January 16 - February 13, 2026. $2,000 plus purchase award. Juror: Katharine Stout. Open to all artists who are 18 years of age or older. All work must be original, and cannot have been exhibited at UNC Asheville before. Open to any traditional or experimental drawing media welcoming both two or three-dimensional works, video, and/or installation as long as it can fit through a doorway opening that measures 67" width x 117" height. $30 for the first entry, $5 for each additional entry. Deadline: November 30, 2025 11:59 p.m. MST. More info. Contact: email or call 828-251-6845.

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The 6th National Unusual Frida Art Show

Artists are invited to submit entries for an art exhibition celebrating Frida Kahlo, February 19 - March 15, 2026 at CityArts in Orlando, Florida. Frida lived and created with extraordinary honesty. She turned pain into power, identity into pride, and emotion into art. This exhibition invites artists to honor that spirit not by portraying her face, but by expressing the raw human truths she revealed: strength rising from adversity; identity and belonging; joy and sorrow coexisting; beauty born from resilience. We are seeking bold, emotional, and unconventional artwork that channels the courage Frida carried every day of her life. Open to U.S.-based artists only (excluding HI & PR). One artwork per artist. All fine art media accepted (no jewelry, wearable art, or video). Size: Minimum 18" - Maximum 36" in any direction. $30 (non-refundable) entry fee. Deadline: January 10, 2026. More info. Contact: email or call 407-435-8417.

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Mid-Atlantic Juried Show

The McGuffey Art Center in Charlottesville, VA announces a call to artists for the second annual Mid-Atlantic Juried Show, April 3-25, 2026. Jurors: Maya Brooks and Karen E. Milbourne, PhD. Any artist residing in Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, Washington DC, or North Carolina may enter. All work must be original and completed within the last three years. The competition is open to the following categories: painting, drawing, photography, printmaking, fiber, sculpture and mixed media. 2-D entries should not exceed 8 feet in any direction. No entry that requires the artist to be present for moving or assembly will be accepted. $35 entry fee. Deadline: January 15, 2026. More info. Contact: email or call 434-295-7973.

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M.A.D. Make A Difference Art Exhibition & Sale

Taking place March 20-22, 2026 at Station No.2 in Wilmington, NC, this national juried exhibition invites artists and audiences to explore how art can be a catalyst for change. Presented by ARTnNCevents, M.A.D. showcases powerful works that confront, question, and inspire. The theme challenges artists to interpret what it means to make a difference in their own lives, in their communities, and in the world. Whether it's choosing self-care, advocating for justice, protecting the environment, or fostering connection, this show celebrates the many ways we can take meaningful action. M.A.D. will feature artists across a range of mediums - from painting and sculpture to photography and mixed media - each telling stories of resilience, activism, growth, and vision. Proceeds from art sales will support both the artists and future community-based exhibitions. $45 entry fee. Deadline: February 1, 2026. More info. Contact: email or call 910-508-7630.

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56th International Exhibit - Louisiana Watercolor Society

The Louisiana Watercolor Society announces its 56th International Exhibit, May 4-22, 2026 at Place St. Charles in downtown New Orleans, LA. 1st Prize - $2500. Estimated up to $9,000 in cash and merchandise awards. Juror: Matthew Bird AWS, NWS. Read the prospectus for eligibility and new rules that allow more water-based media and substrates. Entry fee: $30 +. Deadline: February 14, 2026. More info. Contact: email or call 225-454-0024.

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