Call Description

Spiva Center for the Arts invites artists to submit up to two watercolor works for Watercolor USA 2026.

Watercolor USA 2026 is a national competitive exhibition sponsored by Spiva Center for the Arts, continuing a tradition established by the Springfield Art Museum, Springfield, Missouri, since 1962. The primary purpose of the exhibition is to recognize and encourage excellence in watercolor and water media painting. This will be a juried exhibition, and the work selected will be on display in Spiva’s Freeman Health System Main Gallery from May 30 – July 25, 2026. 

To read the full prospectus for Watercolor USA 2026, click here.

ARTWORK GUIDELINES

Mediums Accepted: All artworks must be original—conceived and executed by the artist using their own inspiration and source material—completed within the last three years (new work) and not previously shown at Spiva Center for the Arts or in a past Watercolor USA exhibition. Artists may submit up to two works for consideration. This allows the juror to thoughtfully curate a cohesive and balanced exhibition. Water-soluble paint must be the primary medium and used in a traditional watercolor-like manner.

Presentation Restriction: Watercolor media may be executed on a variety of traditional and nontraditional substrates, including but not limited to watercolor paper (any type or weight), Yupo, Aquaboard, cradled wooden panel, stretched watercolor or watermedia canvas, and other comparable surfaces appropriate for watercolor techniques. All paintings must be framed, wired, ready to hang -including all canvases - and covered with plexiglass or can be sealed or varnished for surface protection. No glass is allowed unless the artwork is hand-delivered.

Focus: The primary purpose of the exhibition is to recognize and encourage excellence in watercolor and water media painting. Spiva is particularly interested in artists who utilize watercolor in intriguing ways, both in terms of imagery and process. Three-dimensional watercolor-painted paper sculpture is permitted. Prints, reproductions, and giclées are not allowed.

AWARDS

Selection of artwork for awards will be made from the actual accepted paintings. Top cash prizes will be awarded in the amounts of $3000, $2000, $1500, and $1000 as well as Watercolor USA Honor Society cash and merchandise awards. Spiva supplied cash awards will be made at the Juror’s discretion. Awards provided by WHS will be selected by WHS-appointed jurors and are independent of Spiva’s awards. Please note, WHS award categories and amounts change each year. For a full listing of awards, please visit the official Watercolor USA 2026 website. Awards will be updated as more information becomes available.

CATALOGUE

Each exhibiting artist will receive a copy of the exhibition catalogue. Additional catalogues are available for purchase.

All entrants will be informed of acceptance or declination via email after June 5th. Check your inbox, junk, or spam folder, or (better) check online at www.callforentry.org. CaFÉ will include the name of artwork(s) accepted. Ship only the artwork(s) on the acceptance list. Please contact Kearstin Mattox, Engagement Director at kmattox@spivaarts.org or 417-681-9801 if you have questions or concerns.

Application Requirements

WORK REQUIREMENTS

Submission Format: Watercolor USA 2026 will be selected from digital image files. Digital images should accurately represent the artworks entered. No detail views. It is the intention of Spiva that all acceptances will be considered final. However, Spiva reserves the right to delete from the exhibition any artwork that does not conform to the entry specifications. Digital images must be high quality JPEGs with a resolution of 300 dpi. Please size and label images before uploading them to the entry form. 

Artist Statement: Include a brief artist statement (150-200 words) that describes the work and explains your creative process. 

Size Limitations: All 2-D work must be exhibition-ready and professionally presented, using appropriate hanging hardware such as D-rings, brackets, and/or wire. Sawtooth hangers are not permitted. Maximum physical size is 6’ × 6’, including frame or mounting. Three-dimensional work is limited to 75 lbs., with maximum dimensions of 6’ × 5’, and must fit through a standard double-entry door.

ENTRY FEE

Due to CaFÉ system requirements, the $40 entry fee is associated with a two-entry minimum. Artists must submit at least two entries to complete checkout. Artists who have only one artwork available may submit the same piece twice to meet this requirement. Submitting duplicate entries does not affect jury consideration and is simply a technical workaround required by the platform. Current members of the Watercolor USA Honor Society will be charged $30. Contact WHS for PROMO code used at check out. 

Eligibility Criteria

ELIGIBILITY

This exhibition is open to any artist, 18 years of age or older, currently living and working in the United States of America. Submitted images must be the artist’s own work, and it is the sole responsibility of the artist to obtain written releases from any recognizable person(s) depicted. All artworks must be original, executed within in the last three years, and not previously shown at Spiva Center for the Arts or in a past Watercolor USA exhibit.