Event Purpose

Grand Canyon Conservancy (GCC) is a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization and the official philanthropic and collaborative partner of Grand Canyon National Park (GRCA).

In 2009, GCC launched Celebration of Art as a fundraiser for a Grand Canyon National Park art and exhibition venue. In 2023, GCC and the National Park Service identified a location for this venue and are now focused on planning and development. The purchase of artwork from the Celebration of Art event and exhibition supports this future hub of art activity at the canyon. 

Our Celebration of Art artists are part of a community of people dedicated to Grand Canyon Conservancy’s mission to inspire others to cherish and support the natural and cultural wonder of Grand Canyon. Artists who participate are given an incredible opportunity to display and sell their work to Grand Canyon’s visitors, develop their community of plein air artists and collectors, and receive marketing exposure through GCC’s channels. GCC is proud of the community that has grown out of the Celebration of Art over the last 16 years.

Learn more about GCC at https://www.grandcanyon.org/about 

Artwork Specifications

Each artist is expected to provide a studio submission, auction submission, “back-up” pieces, and artwork completed onsite “en plein air” from September 13 – 20, 2025.

All artwork must represent the awe-inspiring natural wonders of Grand Canyon. Details below.

Studio Submission (1): Each participating artist must submit one large Grand Canyon-themed studio piece for the exhibit.

A professional-quality electronic image of this piece must be submitted by March 31, 2025, for reproduction in the exhibition catalog. Files must be high-resolution (300 dpi when reproduced at 9 x 12 inches).

Auction Submission (1): Each participating artist must submit one Grand Canyon-themed piece for the online auction.

A professional-quality electronic image of this piece must be submitted by July 31, 2025, for the online auction. Recommended image size is 1088 x 816 pixels with a maximum file size of 1MB.

“Back-Up” Submissions (up to 5): Each participating artist may submit five (5) Grand Canyon–themed artworks produced prior to the event for backup display and potential sale. These must be approved by the Event Coordinator prior to the artist’s arrival. 

Plein Air Submissions (5+): Each participating artist is expected to submit a minimum of five (5) plein air artworks produced onsite during the event.

Work completed onsite must be suitably framed and ready to hang when checked in for the exhibition. D-rings with picture wire or a suitable hanging device must be attached. 

Sales

As a fundraising event, Grand Canyon Conservancy will retain a fifty percent commission on all sales. Payments for works sold will be mailed to the artist on a monthly schedule during the exhibition.

Logistics

Reservations and the cost of lodging are the responsibility of the artist. Artists must provide their own transportation to, from, and within Grand Canyon National Park. Artwork must be accompanied by appropriately sized shipping boxes when submitted. Artists are responsible for the drop-off and pick-up of all artwork for the event and exhibition.

Calendar and Deadlines:

All participating artists must adhere to the event schedule and deadlines, which will be finalized and outlined in the acceptance contracts.

• January 15, 2025– Application Deadline
• January 16 – February 6, 2025– Panel Selection Process
• The first week of February 2025 – Artists Notified; Accepted artists have 10 days to confirm their participation.
• March 31, 2025 – Hi-res image (300 dpi when reproduced at 9 x 12 inches) of studio piece submitted for the exhibition catalog.
• July 31, 2025 – Image of auction piece submitted for online auction.

2025 Rough Event Schedule *likely to change

• August 30 – September 15: Online auction
• Friday, September 12: Artists arrive onsite for orientation and check-in of studio and back-up artwork.
• September 13-20: Artists paint onsite and participate in educational, public demonstrations.
• Week of September 15: Artists drop off plein air work to GCC staff as completed.
• Saturday, September 20, and Sunday, September 21: Private and public opening weekend events.
• Monday, September 21 – Spring 2026: Onsite and Online Exhibition & Sales

Grand Canyon Conservancy acknowledges that Grand Canyon National Park exists on land Indigenous people have inhabited since time immemorial and whose histories and cultures are indelibly tied to locations that are now located within national park boundaries.

GCC exists to preserve and protect Grand Canyon, and to do well, we must also understand, protect, and uplift each other. Our commitment to equity and inclusion strives to ensure that we are and reach those as diverse as the ecosystem we serve. The Grand Canyon Conservancy welcomes everyone and strives to foster an equitable and inclusive environment.

Application Requirements

Application Requirements:
 

Entry Form, Fee and Deadline

Please submit a completed application form, a one-page résumé (including contact info), three (3) images of your plein air artwork illustrating your expertise in representing the Grand Canyon, desert Southwest, or National Parks in the Western U.S.. Please include your plein air experience in the résumé that is submitted with your application.

Portfolio Examples

Each artist must submit a minimum of three (3) and a maximum of eight (8) professional-quality images of their plein air portfolio in JPEG format with a minimum resolution of 300 DPI under 5 MB. Accepted mediums include paint, collage, charcoal, pastel, and graphite. Images should include the title of the piece in the file name. All artwork must be submitted through the application portal. You must list the title, dimensions, medium, and price of your pieces on the application.

Selection Process

Grand Canyon Conservancy’s Celebration of Art is an invitational and juried event. A panel of jurors will review applications and select four to six artists who, together with returning and invited artists, will comprise the participants in the 2025 event, approximately 20-25 in total. Notification of acceptance will be emailed to each applicant no later than February 7, 2025

To see work from the 16th annual Celebration of Art, please visit: https://www.grandcanyon.org/store/products?filters=celebration-of-art

Eligibility Criteria

The event is open to all artists 18 years and older with demonstrable 2-D plein air artmaking experience in the desert Southwest or National Parks of the Western U.S. If selected to participate, each offer is contingent upon the satisfactory completion of a criminal background check.