Organizer Information
The Wayne Art Center Plein Air Festival is organized by the Wayne Art Center, a nonprofit arts institution based in Wayne, Pennsylvania, USA. Established in 2008, the Plein Air Festival has become one of the most celebrated outdoor painting events in the United States, attracting both nationally recognized and emerging artists. The Wayne Art Center serves its community with exhibitions, educational programs, and outreach activities, hosting over 30,000 visitors annually and fostering a vibrant arts ecosystem in the greater Delaware Valley.Title & Description
18th Annual Wayne Art Center Plein Air Festival
This open call invites artists to apply to the 18th Annual Wayne Art Center Plein Air Festival, taking place from May 3–9, 2026 in and around Wayne, Pennsylvania. Participating artists will paint outdoors (“plein air”) within a 35‑mile radius of the Art Center, engaging with a rich range of landscapes, historic locales, and urban vistas. The festival culminates with a Collectors’ Preview Party & Awards Presentation on May 9, 2026, and an extended exhibition from May 9–June 20, 2026, where artworks created during the event are displayed and offered for sale. The festival also includes special activities such as artist demonstrations, lectures, and workshops to deepen engagement with the plein air movement.Categories
- Visual Art (Outdoor Painting)
- Painting (including Oil, Watercolor, Acrylic, Drawing/Illustration)
- Exhibition / Outdoor Art Event
- Public Art / Landscape Painting (Works created must be executed en plein air — on location outdoors.)
Eligibility
- Open to artists 18 years and older who reside in the United States.
- Artists must be able to work outdoors throughout the designated festival area within a 35‑mile radius of the Wayne Art Center.
- All submitted paintings for juror review must have been executed using plein air methods and created in the last two years.
- Upon acceptance, artists must agree to sell the work at commission terms and display work for the full exhibition period.
Program Benefits & Awards
- Artists paint en plein air in a nationally recognized festival setting alongside juried peers and emerging talents.
- The Collectors’ Preview Party & Awards Presentation on May 9, 2026, offers networking opportunities with patrons, sponsors, and collectors.
- Over ten major cash awards totaling $25,000+ will be presented by juror Mark Boedges, including Best of Show, First, Second, Third Places, and special thematic prizes.
- The Best of Show recipient receives an invitation to participate in the next year’s plein air festival.
- Exhibition of over 300 works in state‑of‑the‑art galleries from May 9–June 20, 2026 with artwork available for sale.
Application Fee
A non‑refundable fee of $50 USD is required for each submitted application.Application Requirements
- Completed online application form
- Upload‑ready JPG files (min. 300 dpi, at least 1200 px on longest side; under 5 MB)
- Up to four images per application
- Naming convention: each JPG file titled with the artwork’s name
- Valid contact information for notifications
- Upon acceptance, a short bio and artist’s statement will be required.
How to Apply?
Online ApplicationKey Dates
- Application Deadline: 17 February 2026
- Notification of Acceptance/Decline: 3 March 2026
- Festival & Painting Week: 3–9 May 2026
- Collectors’ Preview Party & Awards: 9 May 2026
- Exhibition Period: 9 May – 20 June 2026
- Artwork Retrieval Deadline: 24 July 2026
Location
Wayne, Pennsylvania, United StatesAdditional Details
- Juror: Mark Boedges — award‑winning landscape painter selected as the 2026 jury judge.
- Housing/Hospitality: Community hosts may provide lodging for participating artists.
- Artists agree to have their entry images used for publicity purposes by Wayne Art Center.
- Work created during the festival must remain available for sale throughout the exhibition; commission splits and insurance details are specified in the prospectus.
