2026 Arts Mount Holly Plein Air Paint Out and Juired Wet Paint Show
Submit a completed online application with headshot, artist bio, example artwork image, and social media handles to participate in a three-day outdoor plein air painting competition in Mount Holly, North Carolina.
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Get matched →- Deadline
- 37 days left
- Entry fee
- $35
- Award
- $1,000
- Location
- Mount Holly, North Carolina
- Exhibition window
- Sep 17, 2026 → Sep 19, 2026
About
Overview
The 2026 Arts Mount Holly Plein Air Paint Out invites artists of all experience levels to join three days of outdoor painting in Mount Holly, North Carolina. Artists will capture the charm and natural beauty of the community while enjoying fellowship, friendly competition, and opportunities to connect with fellow creatives. The event welcomes adult artists (18+) and middle and high school students, each with their own award categories and separate judging.
Key Dates
- Submission deadline: September 14, 2026
- Event dates: September 17–19, 2026
- Canvas stamping: Thursday, September 17 – Saturday, September 19, 8:00 AM–10:00 AM at Arts on the Greenway, 500 East Central Ave, Mount Holly, NC 28120
- Artwork delivery: Saturday, September 19 by 1:00 PM to First Baptist Church Fellowship Hall
- Friday Artist Mixer: 5:00–7:00 PM at Holland Wine Bar
- Saturday reception, awards, and Wet Paint Sale: 4:30–6:00 PM at First Baptist Church, 300 South Main Street
Eligibility
Open to adult artists 18 and older and middle and high school students. All participating artists must create original plein air work on-site in Mount Holly during the event dates. No previously completed work, studio work, reproductions, or AI-generated artwork are permitted. Only artwork produced on surfaces stamped at check-in Thursday, Friday, or Saturday mornings between 8:00 AM and 10:00 AM will be eligible for judging.
Awards
Adult Division: Best of Show $1,000, 2nd $500, 3rd $350. Student awards also available. Total more than $2,000 in cash prizes will be presented. Middle and high school students are judged separately with separate awards.
How to Enter
- Register through CaFÉ and provide accurate contact information
- Pay $35 registration fee at time of application
- Submit headshot (clear photo for promotional use)
- Submit one example image of current artwork (does not need to be plein air)
- Submit brief artist bio (3–5 sentences describing background, artistic experience, and creative focus)
- Provide social media handle(s) (Instagram, Facebook, website, etc.)
- Bring blank canvases to Arts on the Greenway on Thursday morning for mandatory stamping before painting begins
- Deliver completed work to First Baptist Church Fellowship Hall by 1:00 PM Saturday for judging
Submission Requirements
Adult artists must complete online application through CaFÉ. Student Division: Middle and high school students must register through their school; schools will coordinate student registration, canvas stamping, and delivery of completed artwork.
Wet Paint Sale
A public Wet Paint Sale follows the awards ceremony on Saturday, giving artists the opportunity to share and sell freshly created work. Pricing is at the discretion of the artist. All Wet Paint Sale transactions are subject to a 10% commission payable to Arts Mount Holly, which supports future arts programming and community events.
Contact Information
- Arts Mount Holly - Mount Holly Community Development Foundation
- Email: [email protected]
- Phone: 704-269-8454
- Award
- Adult Division: Best of Show $1,000, 2nd $500, 3rd $350; Student awards also available; total more than $2,000 in cash prizes
- Entries per artist
- Up to 1
- Sales commission
- Organizer retains 10% on sales
- Theme
- A three-day outdoor plein air painting event celebrating the scenic charm, character, and natural beauty of Mount Holly, North Carolina.
- Eligibility
- Open to adult artists 18 and older and middle/high school students; all work must be original plein air created on-site during event dates.
- Audience
- Adult artists 18 and older; middle and high school students
- Contact
- [email protected]
Every listing links to the organizer's official page. Always confirm deadlines, fees, and entry rules there before you apply.