14th Annual Lighthouse ArtCenter Plein Air Festival February 28 - March 6, 2027
Submit 4 images of your best plein air paintings (oil, acrylic, watercolor, or pastel) for jury selection to compete in a 5-day plein air painting festival with cash prizes and sales opportunities.
Does this fit your work? 5 questions score every call to your medium, location and budget. Free.
Get matched →- Deadline
- closed Aug 28, 2026
- Entry fee
- $45
- Award
- $15,000
- Location
- Tequesta, Florida
- Exhibition window
- Feb 28, 2027 → Mar 6, 2027
- Applicants notified
- Sep 11, 2026
About
Overview
The 14th Annual Lighthouse ArtCenter Plein Air Festival is a juried, premiere gathering and the largest plein air event of its kind in South Florida. Selected artists will paint for five days and nights in Jupiter, Juno Beach, Port Salerno, and Palm Beach, competing for $15,000 in cash and prizes, with opportunities for sales to collectors.
Key Dates
- Friday, August 28, 2026 - Last day for juried entry application
- Friday, September 11, 2026 - Notification of juried acceptance
- Sunday, February 28, 2027 - Paint Out Contest (9:00 am-1:00 pm), Judging (12:30 pm), Award Ceremony & Wet Painting Sales (1:00-1:30 pm), Welcome Lunch & Orientation (2:00-3:00 pm), Canvas Stamping (3:00-4:00 pm)
- Monday-Thursday, March 1-4, 2027 - Competition Painting at multiple locations; Wet Painting drop-off and viewing
- Friday, March 5, 2027 - Final painting drop-off (9:30 am), Artist's Breakfast Brunch (10:00 am-12:00 pm), Judging (1:00-3:00 pm), Award Ceremony (4:30-5:00 pm), Collectors' Party (5:00-8:00 pm)
- Saturday, March 6, 2027 - Gallery open for sales; Battle of the Brushes Live Painting Event (10:00 am-12:00 pm)
Eligibility
Open to all artists working with oil, acrylic, watercolor or pastels. International applicants are eligible.
What to Submit
- Submission limit: 1 entry per artist
- Images required: 4
Awards & Prizes
The event features $15,000 in total cash, awards, and prizes. Grand Prize is $4,000 cash, plus additional prizes. The Paint Out contest offers a first prize of $500 with awards for both Professionals and Open Class; entry is free for juried artists.
Sales & Commission
Artists will receive 60% of sales revenue, with Lighthouse ArtCenter retaining a 40% commission on artwork sold during the exhibition.
Festival Highlights
- Artist Orientation and Welcome Lunch
- Collectors' Party and Sale (free event)
- Small works sale (8x8)
- Live painting event: Battle of the Brushes Competition
- Dedicated sales staff to aid and expedite sales
- Host Housing Program available
- National promotional ads in Plein Air & Fine Art Connoisseur Magazines and regional publications
Contact
- Email: [email protected]
- Phone: 561-746-3101
- Award
- $15,000 in cash, awards, and prizes. Grand Prize $4,000 cash, plus prizes. Paint Out contest first prize $500.
- Entries per artist
- Up to 1
- Sales commission
- Organizer retains 40% on sales
- Theme
- A plein air painting festival celebrating landscape and observational painting in scenic South Florida locations including ocean views, parks, vintage architecture, and the Jupiter Lighthouse.
- Eligibility
- Open to all artists working with oil, acrylic, watercolor or pastels; international applicants eligible.
- Audience
- All artists
- Contact
- [email protected]
Every listing links to the organizer's official page. Always confirm deadlines, fees, and entry rules there before you apply.