America at 250: A Celebration Through Art

Description

America at 250: A Celebration Through Art
Join us in celebrating 250 years of creativity, history, and vision through art.
In honor of the 250th Anniversary of the United States, Crossroads Art Center invites artists to submit work that reflects the spirit, history, culture, and future of America.
From iconic landscapes and historic moments to personal interpretations of freedom, diversity, innovation, and community—this exhibition celebrates what America means to you. Of course, the use of Red, White and Blue is encouraged.
 Important Dates:
Call for Entries: May 1 – May 31, 2026
Exhibition Dates: July 1 – July 31, 2026
Notification of first 50 in show: June 1, 2026
Artwork Drop-off: Tues, June 23 - Fri, June 26, 2026, by or before NOON
Artwork Pickup: August 4 – August 6, 2026
Exhibition Details:
The first 50 accepted entries will be featured both online and in gallery at Crossroads Art Center
All mediums are welcome and art must be original (no prints).
Work should relate to the theme: America at 250
Entry & Commission:
Entry Fee: $15 per entry, Limit 2 Entries Per Artist
Commission: 30% to Crossroads Art Center
Important Notes:
All Art will be Accepted that fits the Theme - No Jury Process
Artwork must be available for the duration of the exhibition.
Work submitted should not be on display or for sale elsewhere during the jurying process
Accepted artists will be notified with drop-off details
Theme Inspiration:
Red, White, Blue
American history & milestones
Landscapes, cities, and landmarks
Cultural diversity & identity
Freedom, resilience, and progress
Personal stories of what America means to you
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------PLEASE NOTE POLICY CHANGES:1) Review your payment carefully before submitting.Artists have been accidentally paying multiple times or paying the non-member rate when they qualify for the Gallery Member discount.  Because of repeated overpayments, we will no longer refund overpayments. Be sure to select the correct level and wait for the payment to be fully processed. Do NOT click the payment button again, if the process seems too slow. It may also be your internet connection that slows things down. Thanks for helping us keep the process smooth!2) Artists that need help with entries can now get that help by paying $50 per entry by calling the art center and arranging an appointment.    Examples:--You have filled out all the information on ArtCall but can’t get your images uploaded properly.--You need help setting up your profile on ArtCall so you can enter shows.--You have no idea what you are doing ….. we can help.
3) AI RESTRICTIONS—
The ability of the artist to express themselves visually is a magnificent gift accomplished with much thought, practice and patience. As such, we as an organization choose to advance those works which are created solely from the artist’s essential nature and efforts. The use of references that are not the sole source of the artist are not, therefore, acceptable in our exhibitions. The artist who can conceive, plan and execute a totally original work of art is in our opinion the highest caliber of artist.
New technology may perhaps make it easier to convert your ideas into visual images, but AI conceived images are not original to the artist, they are original to AI.
We have added the following policy to our Call For Entry Procedures:
"Artists MUST use their own photo references when creating their artwork. The use of any AI generated images, professional photographed images, other artist’s images, instructor’s images or photographs taken by another individual, is STRICTLY prohibited.
Should we determine that an artist has violated this policy, the offending artist will NOT be eligible to participate in CAC online or gallery exhibitions for a period of two (2) years. Any award for the infringing artwork will also be revoked.
This policy safeguards the integrity of CAC and protects the individual artist from potential copyright infringement. CAC assumes no legal liability for violations of copyright of another individual’s material, or intellectual property rights.”
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This exhibit will be LIVE at Crossroads Art Center, as well as on ONLINE on our website.
All work must be for sale. All work must remain on display until the END OF THE EXHIBITION. Artists may not remove work early.
Commission on sales is 30%--artist gets 70%.

The gallery will accept only original work created by the artist. No reproductions or giclee prints will be accepted unless approved by Jenni Kirby, owner. Works where  the art process IS the printed process, i.e., etching, monoprint, silkscreen, lithograph, etc., or where the printed digital images is created by the artist with a computer program such as Procreate, Photoshop, etc. ARE permitted.
The gallery reserves the right to refuse work. Work that has previously been accepted into a juried show at the art center may not be entered into a juried show again.
ALL WORK that is to hang on the wall (and all 2-D work), MUST BE WIRED. NO sawtooth hangers. If work is not wired, it will not be accepted into the show.

Before submitting artwork, please read and be sure you understand thoroughly procedures and expectations for participating in our 2026 shows.
NOTE: If accepted, we place your art on our website as part of the Online show. What you write with your entry in ArtCall is what we copy/paste. Please be sure you get it right. We will NOT make changes after the Call For Entries has ended, unless we are at fault. This is ESPECIALLY true of prices. DOUBLE CHECK everything by closing out ArtCall and then going back in to check.

Submission Details:

When you set up your profile, you will need an artist statement - 200 WORD limit in first person. 

1. You Should Not create a portfolio site to enter the show.

2. The way you fill out the form is how it will be shown on the labels, awards, and publicity, as well as online.

a. Name: Use Capital Letters for the first letters of your name.

b. Prices - DO NOT TYPE IN A COMMA. This produces the wrong price. ArtCall will add it automatically. We do not change prices after the call for entry has ended.

c. Measurements - HEIGHT first, then Width then Depth (H x W x D).

d. Verbiage about the piece of art - The CHARACTER limit is 300, including spaces!! This is used for all publicity  and labels online and inhouse. Spellcheck it as well as word count it! We use it exactly the way your have written it in ArtCall, by copy/pasting what you type.

e. FYI - You can go back in and add/edit images and edit text until the call ends.

f. Please double check all information. We recommend you log out and then log back in to check. 

2D IMAGE REQUIREMENTS:
3 images of each piece are required:
• one of the art without frame, • one with frame, • a close detail image (zoomed into a small section of interest).
• Detail images must show an important aspect of the artwork. Make sure that both the full-view and detail images are oriented correctly. Please keep backgrounds as unobtrusive as possible.
If the art is unframed, only the first 2 photos are required. 
If it is framed, this image must be included during the Call for Entries.
NOTE: if the work is framed, we must have the outside measurements of the frame (H x W x D). Please do not guess. If we do not have the measurements for the art and/or the framed art, your piece will not be considered to jury. Walls and backgrounds SHOULD NOT SHOW in photos. When taking the digital image please make sure the photo is not at an angle or crooked.
3D IMAGE REQUIREMENTS:
For each 3D, installation, or wearable art entry, submit 3 images:
• one overall front, • one overall rear or sideview, • one detail (zoomed into a small section of interest).
• Detail images must show an important aspect of the artwork. Make sure that both the full-view and detail images are oriented correctly. Please keep backgrounds as unobtrusive as possible.
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IMPORTANT: After submitting, please go back in and double check your information. Did you enter the required 2 or 3 photos? Is your price correct? Measurements? Is your statement complete? Too long? Please remember we do not change prices or text after the CFE ends, unless we are at fault.
NOTE: You can delete and change photos, and change text within each submission up until end-of-call. Do not delete an entire submission and then replace it with a new one--ArtCall will charge you for a new submission!

User Entry Process Tutorial