Call Description

44th Rock Island Art Guild Fine Arts Exhibition

Call for Entries

The Rock Island Art Guild and the Figge Art Museum are pleased to announce the call for entries for the 44th Rock Island Art Guild Fine Arts Exhibition. Organized by the Rock Island Art Guild since 1970 and hosted by the Figge since 2016, this long-standing exhibition highlights artistic excellence from across the region and will be presented in the Figge’s fourth-floor gallery this fall.

Artists living within a 200-mile radius of the Figge Art Museum are encouraged to apply. Submissions are welcome in all media, including sound, performance, video, digital art, painting, sculpture, installation, mixed media, photography, and works on paper. Artists may submit up to three works for consideration for a $35 entry fee.

This year’s juror, Katherine Alcauskas, Chief Curator at the Chazen Museum of Art, University of Wisconsin–Madison, will select the works included in the exhibition based on digital submissions. Award recipients will be selected by the juror in person following installation.

This exhibition is made possible through the generous support of the Rock Island Art Guild.

For questions about the application process, please contact Co-Senior Curator Joshua Johnson at jjohnson@figgeartmuseum.org or 563.345.6645.

Awards

General Awards
First Place: $1,500
Second Place: $750
Third Place Founder’s Award (in honor of Art Guild member William Hannan): $500
Zeivel Harris Sculpture Award: $500
Digital Art, Performance, Sound, and Video Award: $300
Honorable Mention: $100
People’s Choice Award: $100
Children’s Choice Award: $100

Sally MacMillan Watercolor Awards
First Place: $1,000
Second Place: $500
Third Place: $250

Important Dates

April 18, 2026 - June 21, 2026: Call for entries open
July 10, 2026: Artists notified
August 14–16, 2026: Artwork drop-off at the Figge
September 5, 2026: Exhibition opens to the public
September 10, 2026: Opening celebration
October 15 & November 12, 2026: Artist presentations
January 10, 2027: Exhibition closes
January 15–17, 2027: Artwork pick-up

Application Requirements

Artwork Specifications

All submitted works must be ready for installation upon delivery.

Two-Dimensional Works

• Must be fully prepared for hanging
• Frames and mats must be clean and in good condition
• D-rings or cleats are required; sawtooth hangers and wire hanging systems are not recommended
• Glass is permitted only for works under 12 inches in any direction; for larger works, plexiglass is strongly recommended
• Maximum framed dimensions: 8 x 8 feet
• Frames are not required, provided D-rings are securely mounted to the back of the work

Three-Dimensional Works

• Must not exceed 12 x 12 x 10 feet (H x W x D)
• Must be freestanding
• Must be safely movable by two people

All Works

• Must include an identification label on the reverse or underside
• Works requiring site-specific installation or assembly must include clear instructions and/or diagrams
• Artist participation in installation may be requested if necessary

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility

The exhibition is open to artists residing within a 200-mile radius of the Figge Art Museum (225 West 2nd Street, Davenport, Iowa). Please refer to the provided map link to confirm eligibility.

Artists may submit up to three original works of art per $35 entry fee. All submitted works must have been completed within the past five years.

Giclée reproductions will not be considered. Works consisting of multiple components will be considered a single entry.

Works previously exhibited in the Rock Island Art Guild Fine Arts Exhibition are not eligible. Works currently held in private or museum collections will not be accepted.

If a work is sold during the course of the exhibition, it must remain on view at the Figge Art Museum through the exhibition’s closing on January 10, 2027.