NHAA Call for Entry - Nov 2025-Dunfey

Description

NHAA Call For Art
November 2025 26th Annual Joan L. Dunfey Open Juried Exhibit 
New Hampshire Art Association invites New England artists working in all mediums to submit work for the 26th Annual Joan L. Dunfey Exhibition. This exhibition honors the life and legacy of Joan L. Dunfey (1925–1998), a devoted mother, Seacoast resident, and steadfast patron of the arts whose generosity continues to support artists today through the Joan L. Dunfey Fund for the Arts.
The exhibition is open-themed, welcoming diverse artistic voices and perspectives. Artists may submit 1–3 works for consideration.
EXHIBIT DATES: November 5-November 30, 2025
EXHIBIT LOCATION 136 State Street, Portsmouth, NH and online at nhartassociation.org
ARTCALL SUBMISSION DEADLINE:  Sunday., Oct. 12, 2025, 11:59 p.m.
JUROR RESULTS RELEASED: Monday, October 20, 2025Artists will be notified of acceptance status via ArtCall for each submission entered 
ACCEPTED WORK DROP OFF:  Sunday, November 2,  4 p.m.-6 p.m. and Monday, November 3, 9 a.m.-6 p.mOPENING RECEPTION: Friday, November 7, 5-8 p.m.PICK-UP SUBMISSIONS: Sunday, November 30 , 4-6 p.m. and Monday, December 1, 9 a.m.-6 p.m.
ELIGIBILITY: Open to artists living/working in New England (NH, ME, MA, VT, CT, RI)LOCATION: NHAA Robert Lincoln Levy Gallery AND online at nhartassociation.org EXHIBIT FEE: NHAA members: $20 for one submission/$25 for two submissions/$30 for three submissions                          Non-members: $40 for one submission/$45 for two submissions/$50 for three submissions 
All submission fees are waived for Artists Under 30 courtesy of an anonymous donor. If you are not under 30 and the submission fee poses a financial barrier we have scholarships available, please contact us.
CLICK HERE TO MAKE PAYMENT
All artwork must be priced at $100 or above.
AWARDS: 1st Place $800; 2nd Place $500; 3rd Place $300; Artist Under 30 Award: $200 Blick Art Materials Gift Certificate sponsored by Blick Art Materials; Honorable Mentions will also be selected
COMMISSION STRUCTURE: Artists retain 60%, NHAA retains 40% of sale price. 
ARTWORK ACCEPTED: We are accepting 1-3 works per artist. 2D framed work and 3D work will be accepted. 2D work - maximum framed dimension 60” in the longest direction including frame. 3D work – Wall hanging 3D pieces must fit within the dimensions above. If your work weighs more than 35 pounds, we ask that you arrange a time to help install your work or provide a hanging system with instructions. Freestanding  3D work must not exceed 42” in any dimension. We allow artists to provide special pedestals when necessary or desired by the artist.  
All work must be created within the last 3 years and not shown previously at the Levy Gallery. All artists exhibiting online or at any NHAA in person venues must adhere to our PRESENTATION AND FRAMING GUIDELINES Click here. 
FOR QUESTIONS CONTACT: Carol Van Loon (603) 431-4230, carol@nhartassociation.org
ABOUT THE 26TH ANNUAL JOAN L. DUNFEY OPEN JURIED EXHIBIT: 
ABOUT OUR JURORIris Williamson (she/her) is a curator, arts administrator, and educator. She is currently the Director of Exhibitions at the Institute of Contemporary Art at Maine College of Art & Design (Portland, ME), Founding Partner and Director of HOLDING Contemporary (Portland, OR), and Board Member at SPACE Gallery (Portland, ME). Her previous experience includes serving as a 2021-2022 Curator-in-Residence at the University of Oregon’s Center for Art Research (Eugene, OR), Director and Curator of New Harmony Gallery of Contemporary Art at the University of Southern Indiana (New Harmony, IN), Program Director at Converge 45 (Portland, OR), Assistant Director and Curator at the Center for Contemporary Art & Culture at Pacific Northwest College of Art (Portland, OR), Studio Manager at Allied Works Architecture (Portland, OR/New York, NY), and Associate Director at HAP Gallery (Portland, OR). Williamson has an extensive history of running alternative exhibition spaces, music and performance-based events, and radio programming, including enter:gallery (NYC), Dugg Dugg (Charlotte, NC), Southern Holiday (Charlotte, NC), and The Wild Theory (Cocoa, FL). She has taught in MFA in Studio Art programs at Maine College of Art & Design (Portland, ME) and Portland State University (Portland, OR). Williamson received an MA in Critical Studies from Pacific Northwest College of Art (Portland, OR), a BFA in Studio Art and Art History from the University of Florida (Gainesville, FL), and a certificate in Museum Studies from Northwestern University (Evanston, IL). 
ABOUT JOAN L. DUNFEY: Joan Dunfey, a mother of four, raised her children in the seacoast area and was a steadfast patron of the arts. Upon her death in 1998 at 73 years old, her estate provided funding for the “Joan L. Dunfey Fund for the Arts” through the New Hampshire Charitable fund, which supports this annual exhibit. 
ABOUT NEW HAMPSHIRE ART ASSOCIATION: Originally incorporated in 1940, New Hampshire Art Association (NHAA) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit contemporary arts organization dedicated to presenting and supporting emerging regional art and artists in New England. In 1990, the NHAA opened its doors in Portsmouth, New Hampshire at 136 State Street. Thanks to philanthropists, lenders, and leadership who recognized the need for a community space to support the visual arts. We remain open thanks to the generosity of artists, audience, and donors for whom we are grateful. 
MISSION STATEMENT: NHAA serves established and emerging artists to cultivate creativity, community, and culture through education, events, and exhibitions. 
DIVERSITY STATEMENT: NHAA believes that an organization's capacity to reflect and respond to the rich diversity of our society profoundly impacts its ability to fulfill its mission, vision, and values. Accordingly, we are committed to fostering, cultivating, and preserving a culture of diversity, equity, and inclusion, both internally and in partnership with our members and the community we serve. 
VISION: The confluence of art and community inspires conversation, bridges differences, and nurtures empathy. 
VALUES: NHAA is rooted in the idea that art is for everyone, locally, and globally. We believe that art has the potential to empower artists to transform lives, influence change, and provide meaning and inspiration.
 To learn how to enter your submissions, please watch the video below. Please note that this is a juried exhibit.