MSFF Fall Juried Art Exhibition 2025

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Prospectus Application:
Link to Adult Application: https://forms.gle/axmGagFistmEH6pe8. (18+, graduated from HS)
Link to Student Application: https://forms.gle/HYvgBdHApKbo9sHH6. (Students enrolled in primary or secondary in WV)

Online Prospectus and Details:
🎨 2025 Juried Art Exhibition Prospectus

Presented by The Arts Center, Seneca Trail Artist Guild & the Mountain State Forest Festival

Exhibition Overview The Arts Center invites West Virginia artists to submit work for the 2025 Juried Art Exhibition. This annual event showcases the diverse talents of artists across the state, with opportunities for awards, recognition, and sales.

Important Dates

  • Details Available: July 2025

  • Artwork Drop-Off: Saturday, September 20, 2025 (9AM–12PM)

  • Juror Arrives / Jurying: Saturday, September 20, 2025 1 pm. Awards will not be announced until the opening reception.

  • Opening Reception & Awards: Wednesday, October 1, 2025 from 4–6 pm

  • Exhibition Display Dates:

    • Main Exhibit: Sept. 24 – Nov. 19, 2025

    • Short Show: Sept. 24 – Oct. 7, 2025

    • Student Show: Sept. 34 – Oct. 7, 2025

  • Artwork Pick-Up Dates:

    • Student & Short Show: Tuesday, Oct. 7 from 1 –5:30 pm or by appointment

    • Main Exhibit: Thursday, Nov. 20, 2–5 pm, or by appointment

Eligibility

  • Open to current residents of West Virginia only. Must have a WV Address.

  • Adult Juried Exhibit: Ages 18+ and not enrolled in high school.

  • Student Juried Exhibit: Primary & secondary school students (public, private, or homeschool students welcome)

  • All artwork must be original, created within the last 3 years, and not previously exhibited at The Arts Center’s Great Hall Gallery.

Artwork Guidelines

  • All mediums accepted.

  • 2D Work: Must be framed and ready to hang with a secure wire across the back. No sawtooth hangers.

  • 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.

  • Shipped Work: Not accepted — in-person drop-off only.

Entry Process

  • Applications must be completed online only. Paper copies will not be accepted.

  • You will receive an automatic email confirmation of your application. You may edit your responses until Saturday, Sept. 28, 2025 at Noon. After that, edits will not be possible.

  • Tag information will be printed exactly as entered. Please double-check titles, lowercase/uppercase, spelling, and pricing. We merge the details from your application.

  • Student Tags-to simplify the applications submitted by the instructors, we have asked that instructors make tags for the student work. You can affix the tags in a few ways. A drop down tag that is taped to the back of your foam board. Or a tag that is permanently fixed to front of your art. Tags should look professional, neat and clean. Call for questions!

Fees & Membership

  • Entry Fee (non-refundable):

    • Member Fee: $20

    • Non-Members: $40

  • Commission on Sales:

    • Commission is 25% for Members and 35% for non-members

  • Memberships can be purchased online-Details Here

  • Student Fee- Sponsored by Kiwanis Club of Elkins. The $5 fee is waived for all students in any grade level. Each students name must be printed legible on the application.

Jury Process

  • Juror: Frederick Hays

  • All entries undergo blind jurying for inclusion in the Main Exhibition

  • Works not selected for the Main Exhibit will automatically be considered for the Short Show, which will hang from Sept. 24 – Oct. 7.

  • The juror will also select awards student work.

Awards Over: $2,000 in cash prizes will be awarded, including- Best of Show – $600, First Place – $400 Second Place – $200 Third Place – $100 and 2 Honorable Mentions. Awards will not be announced until the opening reception.
Special Awards: Seneca Trail Artist Guild Award two $100 awards
Davis Trust Purchase Prize - The option for Davis Trust Company to purchase your work at the price listed on your tag. This work is chosen by DTC and part of their permanent collection.
WV Watercolor Society Award $150 for watercolors only
Queen’s Choice and 2 Maid of Honors Sections
Student Awards: Elementary, Middle School, and High School - 1st, 2nd and Third Place Options

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). Location Drop Off: Back entrance via Old Church Lane into the Green Room.