For more than 60 years, the Delta exhibition has elevated and promoted awareness of artists from or working in Arkansas and its surrounding states: Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and Texas.

Founded by the Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts (AMFA) in 1958 as a juried exhibition, the Delta is named after the fertile floodplains surrounding the Mississippi River and seeks to amplify artistic voices in the Mid-South as they reflect complex histories and shifts in the cultural landscape. Since establishing the Delta exhibition, AMFA has consistently collected art produced by artists from the Mid-South and displayed it in context with our nationally and internationally recognized collection. In so doing, AMFA elevates awareness of the artistic diversity of the region and illustrates that American art is not monolithic but comprised of many voices.

In recent years, the Delta exhibition has evolved from its original format as an annual juried exhibition into a collaborative series, Delta Voices: Artists of the Mid-South—developed in partnership with AMFA and museums throughout the region.

Beginning in 2024, the first Delta exhibition will be held at the new AMFA as a triennial exhibition and brings new artists and voices to advance the rich legacy of art making in the Mid-South region. Additionally, the exhibition will feature one invited artist from each of the participating states, as well as artwork submitted for juror consideration.

Guest jurors for the Delta exhibition are: Amy Kligman, Executive Director, Charlotte Street Foundation, Kansas City, Missouri; Alexis McGrigg, a former Delta Voices participating artist from Mississippi whose work examines themes of Blackness, space, spirituality, identity and collective consciousness; and Takako Tanabe, founding director of Ulterior Gallery, New York, New York. The jurors were selected for their broad knowledge of and accomplishments in the contemporary art community as well as their longtime commitment toward increasing awareness of the diverse art and artists of the Mid-South region.

The Guest Jurors shall choose one “Grand Award” in the amount of $5,000.00. During the run of the exhibition, the public shall choose one “People’s Choice Award” in the amount of $1,500.00. To receive their monetary awards, winners must fill out and submit an IRS form W-9. Artists are solely responsible for any taxes due to local, state, and federal governments related to this stipend. Awards will be paid to the winners within 30 days following the close of the exhibition.

Application Requirements

• Artists may submit up to three artworks (one artwork per application, but artists may submit up to three applications). Artworks must be submitted online via CaFÉ. You may submit more than one image per artwork on your application, but each application must be for one artwork. For example, someone may want to submit a detail shot of their drawing or sculpture in addition to the overall view image.
• Artwork must be available for public display from June 27, 2024, to August 25, 2024.
• Artists must submit: a title, year, dimensions (height x width x depth), and a list of media used for each entry. “Mixed media” is not an acceptable description.
• Artworks selected for the exhibition must be delivered in person or shipped to the Museum. In-person artwork deliveries to the Museum must take place on May 31, 2024, or June 1, 2024. Shipped artworks must arrive between June 3, 2024, and June 7, 2024, via FedEx or UPS.
• The dates listed above are the dates the artwork must ARRIVE at the Museum, not the dates that they should begin transit.
• AMFA does not accept responsibility for artworks while in transit to or from the Museum.
• Artists who ship their artwork to AMFA must supply a return shipping label when the artwork is delivered to the Museum.
• Artwork packing must be sturdy enough to be reused for return shipment. Artwork will be packed for return shipping in the same way it arrived at the Museum.
• Artists who drop off their artwork on May 31 or June 1 are expected to pick up their artwork following the close of the exhibition. If an artist is unable to pick up their artwork on the predetermined dates, they may make return shipping arrangements with the AMFA registrar. A return shipping label must be supplied and paid for when the artwork is dropped off.
• Artists who ship their artwork may arrange to pick up their artwork in person following the close of the exhibition.
• Return shipments will be arranged for September 2024. In-person pick-up dates are September 12, 13, and 14, 2024.
• In the event that an artist does not claim their artwork by October 31, 2024, or an alternative later date arranged with the AMFA registrar, the artwork will be considered abandoned property. In which case, the Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts will have the right to obtain ownership of the abandoned artwork in accordance with Arkansas Code, Museum Property Act, AR Code § 13-5-1004 (2019).
• Juried artists will receive a stipend to offset the delivery of their artwork based on their distance from the Museum. The following stipend amounts shall apply:
  • 25-mile radius: $31
  • 50-mile radius: $63
  • 100-mile radius: $250
  • 200-mile radius: $250
  • 300-mile radius: $375
  • 400-mile radius: $500
  • 500+-mile radius: $600
• To receive an artwork stipend, artists must fill out and submit an IRS form W-9. Artists are solely responsible for any taxes due to local, state, and federal governments related to this stipend. Stipends covering the initial delivery and the return will be paid within 30 days following the close of the exhibition.
• Two-dimensional artworks must be ready-to-hang. Artworks on paper must be properly framed. Framed artworks should have sufficiently sized D-hooks installed; no picture wire should be used.
• Artists submitting digital or time-based media artworks must provide their own audiovisual equipment for proper display of the artwork. This equipment must be delivered or shipped to the Museum by the artist. AMFA does not assume responsibility for the equipment while in transit to or from the Museum. Files must be delivered digitally and artists must be prepared to provide a backup file at the request of AMFA. Artists must provide detailed instructions for setup and installation of digital artworks.
• Artists submitting three-dimensional artworks are not required to provide their own display furniture. However, artists must provide detailed instructions for the handling and installation of the artwork, along with specifications for preferred display furniture (i.e. pedestals, platforms, plinths, etc.).
• Artists who prefer to install or de-install their own artworks must make arrangements in advance with the AMFA registrar. All artworks must be installed by June 21, 2024.
• Artists must ensure that their artwork is in a finished, stable state that is appropriate for museum gallery display. AMFA reserves the right to refuse to exhibit any artworks in an unstable condition or those that may threaten the safety of Museum guests, staff, facilities, or property.
• Artworks will be insured by AMFA while on Museum property. Artists must provide an insurance value for their artwork.

Eligibility Criteria

• Entrants must have been born in or are currently living in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma, Tennessee, or Texas. Artists must provide their city and state of birth, birth year, and city and state of current residence.
• Artwork must have been completed in 2021 or later.