We invite all New York State visual artists residing in the Southern Tier to apply to this prestigious, long running show!

2025 Southern Tier Biennial

Exhibition Dates: September 20 – October 18, 2025

Entry Deadline: June 21, 2025 Midnight

Entry Fee $40

*The entry fee is non-refundable and helps defray the costs of organizing and exhibiting the Southern Tier Biennial.

Location: Peg Bothner Gallery at the Tri-County Arts Council, 110 West State Street, Olean NY 14760

Presented by the Tri-County Arts Council and the Cattaraugus Region Community Foundation (CRCF) made possible by an endowment from the estate of F. Donald Kenney.

ELIGIBILITY

Open to all artists, 18 years of age or older, who are currently residing in New York State’s Southern Tier (the counties of Allegany, Broome, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Chemung, Steuben, Schuyler, Tioga, and Tompkins). 

MEDIA

Artists may submit up to three works in any visual media (this includes everything from pottery to painting to video-if it is meant to be seen then it is welcome!) with the understanding that the Biennial’s exhibition venue and format may not be able to accommodate all work. 

All works must be original and completed within the past two years. Works previously submitted to the Southern Tier Biennial are not eligible.

Works will not be judged by media categories. 

Submitted works must be the actual pieces you will be showing, not samples of your work. 

Accepted works must be finished, dry, and ready to hang/install. 

AWARDS & STIPENDS

For the 2025 Southern Tier Biennial, we are pleased to be able to present each accepted artist with a $175 stipend to help allay costs associated with travel, shipping, and production. In addition, five cash awards totaling $5,250 will be presented: $3,000 to the Best of Show winner ($1,000 cash and $2000 stipend towards a solo show in 2026), a $750 Juror’s Choice Award, and $500 for three Honorable Mention winners..

The Best of Show winner will also be presented with a solo show in the Fall of 2026 in the Peg Bothner Gallery at the Tri-County Arts Council Gallery with a four-color catalog, and a $2,000 stipend for show expenses (materials, framing, displays, travel etc.). 

CATALOG

Among the project’s benefits to accepted artists is reproduction of their work in a color catalog. Accepted artists must provide a high resolution print-ready image. Organizers retain the right to photograph and reproduce works for purposes of documentation, publicity, and catalog publication. All entrants may receive a print or electronic catalog upon request.

2025 Jurors TDB (coming soon)

About the Southern Tier Biennial
Founded in 2005 to make a measurable and positive difference for rural artists, the Southern Tier Biennial affords artists an opportunity to take part in the process of a professional art competition and be rewarded for those efforts. Past shows were tremendous successes, with hundreds of artists entering, creating exhibitions that showcased the vitality and diversity of visual art in the region. Each biennial is juried by new jurors and, therefore, the shows they create are different in tone and scope yet equally true to the definition of "a regional survey of visual art.” 
Accepted works are exhibited in the stunning Peg Bothner Gallery at the  Tri-County Arts Council in Olean, NYs. This project is produced by the Tri-County Arts Council (Formerly the Cattaraugus County Arts Council), the Cattaraugus Region Community Foundation, and made possible by an endowment from the estate of F. Donald Kenney. 

CALENDAR

June 21, 2025: Deadline to apply (midnight)

July 19, 2025: Notification emailed. 

August 8, 2025: Accepted artists contracts due back. Stipend checks mailed upon receipt.

September 10, 2025: Deadline for delivery of accepted work.

September 20, 2025: First Day of Exhibit, Opening Reception and Awards Ceremony.

September 21, 2025: Notification of awards for those not attending the opening reception.

October 18, 2025: Final day of exhibition.

November 1, 2025: Deadline to pick up work and return shipping completed

For questions contact :

Megan Davis, Executive Director, Tri-County Arts Council. 

(716) 372–7455 or info@southerntierbiennial.com .
Find general information at www.southerntierbiennial.com and https://www.tricountyartscouncil.org

Application Requirements

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES

All visual media accepted including video. Applicants may submit up to three works for consideration. No 2D work can be more than 72 inches tall and or 60" wide. 3D submissions are limited to the the same size limit as well as 200 pound weight limit.

*For those working in 3-D, you may submit a video of your object instead of a photo (we recommend this for those working in sculpture meant to be seen on all sides). We will ask for a 300 dpi hi resolution photo of the work for the catalog if you are accepted. 

All applications must be submitted by 11:59 PM, June 21st 2025

$40 Entry fee must be paid online through CAFE 

Notification of acceptance will be sent by July 19, 2025.

Here is a quick article of photographing your work for art competitions and exhibitions. https://artdeadline.com/articles/good-images/ 

Eligibility Criteria

This show is limited to visual artists, 18+ years old, residing in nine counties of New York State's Southern Tier (Allegany, Broome, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Chemung, Steuben, Schuyler, Tioga, and Tompkins). 

*Artists from outside this region will be automatically disqualified. We are unable to provide application fee refunds at this time.