Call for Entries

The Parkersburg Art Center invites all artists living in Ohio and West Virginia to submit artwork for the 2026 Juried Exhibit.

Opening Reception & Awards Presentation: Friday, July 24, 2026
Juror: Chris Krupinsky

RIVER TIMELINE

• Submissions Accepted: May 1 through June 18 (electronic submission only)

• Notification of Acceptance: June 30

• Shipping & Delivery: Accepted work delivered to PAC no later than 5:00 p.m. July 11, 2026

• Opening/Awards Presentation: Friday, July 24 from 5:00 - 7:00 p.m.

• Exhibition Closing: September 5, 2026

AWARDS: $1,000 Best of Show, Sponsors’ Prizes, as well as cash awards for excellence in 2-D, 3-D, and Photo/Digital and Theme* categories.

THEME: America’s 250th Birthday

In honor of our Nation, we are suggesting a theme for “The River.” If they so choose, artists may produce work that suggests the theme of “America’s 250th Birthday,” and be eligible to win the Theme prizes.

RULES OF ENTRY

• Artists must be at least 18 years of age and reside in West Virginia or Ohio.

• Entrants must be professional or semi-professional artists.

• Artists may submit up to five (5) works of original art in two- or three-dimensional media.

• Artwork may not exceed eight (8) feet in any dimension, or weigh in excess of 70 pounds.

• Works must have been created within the last five years, and not previously shown at PAC.

• Time-based media, performance art, and installations will not be accepted.

• Entrants agree to grant PAC permission to use images of their works for exhibition promotion.

• Entries must remain in the gallery for the duration of the exhibition to be eligible for awards.

• Artists are responsible for the cost of delivery and/or shipping and must arrange for return shipping via prepaid shipping labels.

NOTE: Paintings created from photo images must be of original sources (property of the entering artist). Sources must not be from copyrighted materials including Internet sources or appropriated/copied from other art.

AGREEMENT

The Parkersburg Art Center will insure artwork while on site at the Center. Artists are responsible for any loss or damage to artwork during transit to and from the Center. The artist’s signed entry form shall constitute agreement to comply with all conditions of this Prospectus.

ENTRY FEE

• $30 non-refundable for up to three works ($20 for PAC members)

• additional works (up to five total) $10 each

• Pay online below and get instructions to send your images and information via e-mail.

NOTIFICATION & DELIVERY

• The juror’s results will appear by 5:00 p.m. on the Parkersburg Art Center (PAC) website on June 30, 2026

• Accepted artists will also be notified by phone and/or e-mail on Tuesday and Wednesday, June 30 and July 1.

• Intake will begin July 2 and will continue through July 11. Accepted works must be delivered to the PAC, 725 Market Street, Parkersburg, WV, by no later than 5:00 p.m. Saturday, July 11. Shipped works must also arrive at the Art Center by that date.

  Please note that the PAC is open Tues.-Sat. from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. PAC will be closed July 3rd and 4th for the holiday.

GENERAL GUIDELINES

• Selected artwork must be framed, (if applicable) wired and ready to hang. (Saw-tooth hangers are not acceptable.) If canvas is unframed, it must have finished edges. No clips or plastic poster frames will be accepted.

• PAC reserves the right to reject work that differs from the artist’s accepted work, is not suitably presented, or is deemed unsuitable.

• For the purposes of this exhibition, the Parkersburg Art Center defines “professional/semi-professional” as an artist who is: well-trained, with high standards in the field of visual arts; earns at least part of their livelihood through the visual arts, or has a college degree in the field of visual arts.

• All work must be picked up on or after Sept. 8, 2026. Works unclaimed after Sept. 30, 2026, will become the property of PAC and sold at auction.

JUROR

Chris Krupinski, AWS-df, NWS

Ms. Krupinski is a Dolphin Fellow of the American Watercolor Society, signature member of the National Watercolor Society, Transparent Watercolor Society of America (Distinguished Master), Rocky Mountain Watercolor Society, Watercolor West-Master, and Allied Artists, to name a few. She has been published in major watercolor publications and has been a featured artist in numerous leading national art magazines.  Her work has been in international exhibitions in China, Russia, Taiwan, Thailand, Greece, Holland, Italy, and Turkey. Her watercolors are hung in corporate and private collections.

The training she received pursuing art education and graphic design degrees honed her technical abilities. But, more importantly, it is the discipline of painting every day that has lead to her success. Of note: Chris, now a resident of Philadelphia, PA, is the only person to win The River’s Best of Show twice.