Fall Juried Art Exhibition
Sponsored by Jodie Parrack State Farm
PROSPECTUS Please read through the entire prospectus.
Art work not following details, guidelines and requirements, will be rejected.
Annual Fall Juried Arts Exhibition 2026
Exhibition Overview The Arts Center invites West Virginia artists to submit work for the 2026 Fall Juried Arts Exhibition. This annual event showcases the diverse talents of artists across the state, with opportunities for awards, recognition, and sales.
Important Dates
Artwork Drop-Off: TBA, IN PERSON. Art should be framed, installation ready.
Judge/Juror: Caroline Hanson Hertko
Opening Reception: Wednesday, September 30th, 2026 from 5 to 7 pm. Awards announced.
Exhibition Display Dates: Wed. Sept 30 at 5 pm through Wed. Nov. 18, at 1 pm
Student Art Show and the Short Show: Wed. Sept. 30 through Sat. Oct. 3
Artwork Pick-Up Date: Main Exhibition Wed. Nov. 18, at 1 pm and Student/Short Show on Tuesday, Oct. 8
Eligibility Criteria:
Open to current residents of West Virginia only
Adult Juried Exhibit: Ages 18+ and not enrolled in high school.
Student Juried Exhibit: open to primary & secondary school students—public, private, or homeschool students
All artwork must be original, created within the last 3 years,and not previously exhibited in the Arts Center’s Great Hall Gallery.
Artwork Entry Guidelines
All mediums with exception of AI generated computer art
Payment/Forms are due at the time of drop off.
Conditions of Artwork:
2D Work: Must be framed and ready to hang with a secure wire across the back 2/3 of the way up. No sawtooth hangers! Canvas paintings should have “finished edges”
3D & Jewelry: Must be stable and presented for pedestal or wall display. Jewelry must be enclosed in an acrylic box.
Presentation: Professionally finished and exhibition ready. Work not meeting requirements may be rejected. See below in the Q&A Section for details.
Shipped Work: Not accepted. This is an in-person drop-off only.
Entry Process
Drop off in person with completed entry forms and payment upon drop off. Cash, Check and Credit Card
Tags are generated from the entry forms. We will not accept or make changes after drop off. Please ensure your details are accurate.
Student Tags - Art Instructors must create the tags that identify student art. A drop-down tag that is taped to the back of your foam board and drops forward when hanging. Or a tag that is permanently fixed to front of your art. Tags should look professional, neat and clean. Must be typed and printed on cardstock.
Fees & Membership
Entry Fee: $20 Members, $35 Non Members (Entry fees are not refundable. This fee assists w/ payment for a professional juror service)
Commission on Sales: 25% for Members
Memberships: You must be a member in good standing. We will not accept membership payment at drop off.Please verify your membership status is up to date no later than September 17, 2026.
Memberships online
Student Entry Fee- Free, form required upon drop off.
Judge/Juror
Juror: Caroline Hanson Hertko
-All entries undergo blind jurying. It is unprofessional to reach out to a juror in advance of selections.
-Art selected into the juried exhibition will be eligible for prizes.
-Works not selected for the Main Exhibit will display in the Short Show, during the week of Festival. Over 2,000 visitors this week.
-The juror will also select awards for student artwork
Q&A:
What is a Juried Exhibition? A juried exhibition is an art show where each submission is carefully reviewed by a professional juror. Only artworks that meet the standards of quality, originality, and presentation are selected for display. Many juried shows also offer awards to recognize outstanding artwork.
What does “professionally framed” mean?the piece must be structurally sound, visually neutral, and ready to hang using specific hardware. For paintings on stretched canvases, "professionally presented" means gallery-wrapped with painted, staple-free edges. The frame must have heavy-duty D-rings or screw eyes with a coated braided hanging wire securely fastened across the back. The wire must be installed so it sits about one-third of the way down from the top of the frame. Sawtooth hangers, clip frames, or tape are prohibited. Works on paper must be protected by glass or acrylic. Galleries often require lightweight, shatter-proof plexiglass rather than regular glass for larger pieces.
Why is it unprofessional to reach out to a juror in advance of an art show that is juried?Most reputable shows use anonymous, "blind" jury systems to ensure unbiased results. Reaching out reveals your identity and ties it to your artwork, which violates the fundamental rules of the exhibition. Reaching out, or "lobbying" a juror to look favorably at your piece; even if not intentional, it suggests you are asking for special treatment. Honestly, Jurors are tasked with evaluating hundreds of submissions based on their aesthetic merit and adherence to the show's theme. Unsolicited messages, emails, or phone calls disrupt their workflow and put them in an awkward, unethical position.
What is the Main Fall Juried Art Exhibition? The juror select artwork that will display from Sept 30 to Nov. 18. These artworks are eligible for awards selected by the juror.
What is the Short Show Exhibition? Works included in the exhibition that display during the week of the Forest Festival only. Not eligible for art awards, but have opportunity for art sales and network exposure to over 2,000 guests that week.
What is the Student Art Exhibition: Work included in this show are submitted by instructors from public, private or homeschooled primary and secondary students in West Virginia.
Awards:
Art Center’s Best of Show $700, selected by juror
Art Center’s First Place $350, selected by juror
Art Center’s Second Place $200, selected by juror
Art Center’s Third Place $100, selected by juror
Art Center’s Honorable Mention - recognition only, no cash, selected by juror
Art Center’s Honorable Mention - recognition only, no cash, selected by juror
Seneca Trail Artist Guild Special Award-$150, selected by juror, Sponsored by Seneca Trail Artists Guild
Seneca Trail Artist Guild Special Award-$150, selected by juror, Sponsored by Seneca Trail Artists Guild
WV Watercolor Society Award-$150 (must be a watercolor), selected by juror, Sponsored by WVWS
Davis Trust Purchase Prize- Artwork is selected by Davis Trust Company, Sponsored by Davis Trust Company
Mountain State Forest Festival Queens Choice-selected by the Queen, Sponsored by Mountain State Forest Festival
Mountain State Forest Festival Maid of Honor Choice-selected by the Maid of Honor, Sponsored by Mountain State Forest Festival
Mountain State Forest Festival Maid of Honor Choice-selected by the Maid of Honor, Sponsored by Mountain State Forest Festival
Student Art Awards:
Elementary-1st, 2nd, 3rd, Participant, selected by juror
Jr High-1st, 2nd, 3rd, Participant, selected by juror
High School-1st, 2nd, 3rd, Participant, selected by juror
Others as they become available, selected by juror
Terms & Conditions
Entry into this exhibition indicates agreement to all terms listed here and in the official Exhibition Guidelines.
Artwork may not be withdrawn before the end of the exhibition without permission. We will always work with the artists on early retrieval. Please notify us.
Images of accepted works may be used for promotional purposes (with attribution where possible).
The Arts Center reserves the right to reject work that does not meet guidelines.
Artists are encouraged to insure their own work; The Arts Center will handle all work with the utmost professional care and carries insurance for art of total loss.
Definition of Original Artwork- All entries must be original works of art created solely by the submitting artist. Works copied from other artists, published images, copyrighted material, or AI-generated images without substantial human authorship will not be accepted. Derivative works that closely replicate another artist’s composition, style, or image are considered plagiarism and will be disqualified. By submitting work, the artist affirms that their entry is their own creation and does not infringe on any copyright or intellectual property rights. If evidence of plagiarism or unauthorized use is discovered, the work will be removed from the exhibition, and the artist may be prohibited from future participation.
For exhibition purposes, “original artwork” typically means:
Created by the submitting artist — the idea, design, and execution are their own.
Not copied from another artist’s work (painting from a photo of another artist’s painting, tracing, or reproducing another’s creative work is not original).
Not AI-generated or machine-produced unless the artist is clearly the author and has significant creative input (this can be an additional guideline you set if needed).
Referencing is fine (ex: drawing from life, from your own photographs, or from public domain sources) — but using another artist’s work without permission or credit is plagiarism, not original creation. Proper credit for educational purposes is always expected.
Derivative works (pieces based closely on another artist’s copyrighted image, even with small changes) are not considered original unless that artist gave written permission.
Location: The Arts Center at 2 Park Street, Elkins, WV (Great Hall Gallery). Front entrance faces Randolph Avenue, Parking in front of City Park off Old Church Lane.