2026 Paul and Norma Tikkanen Painting Prize

Overview

The Fifth Annual Paul and Norma Tikkanen Painting Prize is a juried competition for abstract and realistic paintings in approved mediums. Winners are selected through a two-round process: digital submissions followed by an in-person jury review.

Key dates

• Jun 1–Jul 15, 2026: Digital first-round application (applications cannot be submitted before Jun 1)
• Jul 22: Notification for artists advancing to second round
• Aug 1–8: In-person artwork drop-off for second-round selections
• Aug 8: Second-round jury process
• Aug 10: Notification of final award winners
• Aug 10–15: Artwork retrieval for artists not selected
• Oct 3: Public reception and award ceremony, 6–9 p.m.
• Oct 4–31: Exhibition at Ashtabula Arts Center
• Nov 2–7: Final artwork pick-up

Eligibility

You must reside in one of the specified counties in Ohio (Ashtabula, Cuyahoga, Geauga, Lake, Lorain, Mahoning, Medina, Portage, Summit, Trumbull) or Pennsylvania (Crawford, Erie, Lawrence, Mercer). High school students are not eligible. Current AAC employees, board members, Tikkanen Foundation board members, AAC Foundation supervisors, and their immediate family members cannot participate.

Artwork requirements

• Accepted mediums: Gouache, Fresco, Encaustic, Ink (Sumi-e), Oil, Acrylic, Watercolor, Alcohol Inks, Tempera, Mixed Media Painting (Jurors have final say on acceptable mediums; 85% of the painting should be a painting medium)
• Maximum size: 4ft × 4ft; maximum weight: 25lbs
• All pieces must be pre-wired and ready to hang
• Include a fragile piece disclaimer if needed

Entry and fees

• Entry fee: $15 per piece
• Each applicant may submit up to 2 entries
• Digital image specifications: at least 300dpi, at least 1300×1750 pixels (4×6 inches at that resolution); formats accepted: jpg, png, gif, jpeg; maximum file size: 5MB
• File names: use format FirstName_LastName_Title.jpg

Prizes

• 2 × $15,000 First Place prizes
• 2 × $8,000 Second Place prizes
• 4 × possible $1,500 Honorable Mention prizes
• 1 × $500 People's Choice Prize

Paul and Norma Tikkanen Foundation Acquisition

First and Second Prize winners will transfer ownership of their awarded artworks to the Paul and Norma Tikkanen Foundation in exchange for the prize amount. All work entered must be for sale and must not exceed $8,000 per the Foundation's acquisition limit.

Delivery and rights

• All accepted artworks must remain at the AAC through October 31
• Artwork drop-off and pick-up must be done in person
• Gallery retains 30% commission on all sales
• AAC may use images of exhibited artworks for catalog and promotional purposes
• Artworks are insured while in AAC possession but not during transport
• AAC has the right to accept or reject any artwork for any reason
• Unclaimed artwork becomes the property of the AAC on November 30, 2026

Contact

Ashtabula Arts Center | 2928 W. 13 St., Ashtabula, OH 44004 | (440) 964-3396 | ashtabulaartscenter.org | facebook.com/ashartscenter