Call Description

Acrylic International 

Juried Exhibition

August 15 - November 8, 2026

Kenosha Public Museum

Kenosha, WI 53140 https://museums.kenosha.org/

Eligibility: Biennial fine art exhibition open to artists age 18+ whose original paintings are at least 80% acrylic, 40" or smaller and meet the Kenosha Public Museum's 2026 Rules of Entry.

Selection: Entries will be judged by image only on CaFÉ; selected paintings will be screened and judged for awards at Kenosha Public Museum (KPM). Artists will receive notifications and instructions by email through CaFÉ. 

2026 Juror: Dan Simoneau, AWS, ISAP, NWS, SDWS.* (See Juror's bio below.)

AWARDS 

Best of Show - ISAP Legacy Award $2,000
1st Place $1,000
2nd Place $750
3rd Place $500
Honorable Mentions – Will receive sponsored prizes

CALENDAR

• April 13 — CaFÉ Entry Closes 11:59pm Mountain Time
• May 1 — Artists Notified of Selections
• July 11-17 — Delivery of paintings to KPM
• July 18-26 — Final Screening
  • Eliminated paintings will be returned immediately.
  • Alternates will be invited to send/deliver their paintings.
• Awards Judging & Announcements will be prior to 8/15.
• August 15 — Exhibit Opens (NO event on opening day!)
• August 22 — Public Reception with Juror Dan Simoneau
  • 10am-1pm Juror's Acrylic Painting Demo in the Gallery
  • 2pm-4pm Free Public Reception & Gallery Talk
• August 23 —  10am-2pm Acrylic painting workshop with the Juror**
• November 8 — Exhibit Closes 5pm
• November 10 through 17 — Return Shipping and Pickups

Entry is only at CaFÉ: https://www.callforentry.org. Entry Fees are $35 for 1 entry, $5 each additional (up to 5 total); only 1 painting may be chosen. 

Accepted artists also pay an art handling fee by check to Kenosha Public Museum ($20 if hand-delivered OR sent in a cardboard art shipping box; otherwise $30 per instructions), plus costs of shipping/delivery and insuring paintings during delivery. Paintings are insured by KPM while in our care. KPM retains a 35% commission for gallery sales; paintings do not have to be for sale.

RULES OF ENTRY

• Entries must be original paintings created with at least 80% acrylic paint, completed since January 1, 2024.
• Must be the independent creative work of the submitting artist.
• Maximum finished size is 40 inches ready-to-hang; minimum image size is 12 inches. Small works must be framed for security hanging.
• Must be wall hung and weigh 25lb (12kg) or less.
• AI-generated images, retouched photos, prints, or artworks violating the image rights of any other creator or entity will NOT be accepted. (see question field below).

Selected paintings must be received at KPM as scheduled and remain on display through November 8, 2026.

Additional Requirements:

• Entries may be 2D or moderately dimensional—but must be paintings.
• The overall painted image must be visually dominant; if included, other elements must be secondary (relief, texture, mixed media, collage, etc.).
• Prints & photographs colorized or glazed with paint do not qualify.
• Substrate can be traditional board, panel, canvas, paper, cloth, or another material prepared for secure and safe hanging (framed or unframed).

Acceptable Subjects: 

Kenosha Public Museum reserves the right to eliminate any entry at any time which does not meet our standards of exhibition. Artworks should be appropriate for viewing by the general public, including visitors of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities. Nudity and potentially challenging subjects may be accepted if deemed appropriate. Imagery that is violent, highly sexual, intentionally shocking, disturbing, demeaning or divisive will not be accepted for exhibition. 

FINAL SCREENING

Paintings will be screened upon receipt. Eliminated paintings will be returned immediately and replaced by Alternates.

Entry status, updates & instructions will be sent through CaFÉ. Selected artists & Alternates will receive shipping and delivery instructions. Please add us to your contacts and watch for important messages and announcements. 

Questions? Please contact us before completing your entry!

*ABOUT THE JUROR

Dan Simoneau, AWS, ISAP, NWS, SDWS, is an award-winning American painter celebrated for his exceptional command of acrylic and watercolor. With more than four decades of experience painting and exhibiting in acrylic, his work reflects a deep grounding in classical technique paired with a distinctly contemporary sensibility for light, color, and surface. 

Simoneau’s paintings span figurative, landscape, and still life subjects, each rendered with a quiet intensity that invites reflection, intimacy, and emotional connection. His work has been exhibited and published internationally and is represented in numerous private and public collections worldwide, including the permanent collections of the University of Texas at San Antonio, the Wustum Museum of Art, Racine, WI, and the Kenosha Public Museum.

A respected leader within the art community, Simoneau has served as President and Exhibition Chair of the International Society of Acrylic Painters and holds the distinction of Signature Master status within the organization. He is also a signature member of the American Watercolor Society (AWS), National Watercolor Society (NWS), Watercolor USA Honor Society, and the San Diego Watercolor Society, as well as a life member of the Transparent Watercolor Society of America. In addition, he is a Fellow of the American Artists Professional League and an elected artist member of the Allied Artists of America, the National Society of Painters in Casein and Acrylic, and the International Guild of Realism.

**Link to the Juror's workshop information & registration: https://bit.ly/KPMSimoneauWorkshop. 

HOW TO ENTER The 3rd Biennial Acrylic International Juried Exhibition

1. Create a free Artist login at Call for Entry: https://www.callforentry.org
2. Follow the instructions on CaFE to prepare images of your art and complete your submission.
3. Image files must be jpeg/jpg format and 1200 pixels on the longest size.
4. Complete payment of entry fees ($35 for 1 entry, $5 each additional entry up to 5 total).
5. Please complete your entry carefully. Fees are non-refundable.

An Insurance Value/NFS (Not for Sale) OR $Price (For Sale) must be entered for each entry. Entries do not have to be for sale. Values & Prices cannot be changed after entry. KPM retains a gallery sales commission of 35%. 

By entering this exhibition, the artist confirms they are age 18+ and agree to all terms and conditions of the Rules of Entry. 

DELIVERY TO KPM - SHIPPING OR DROP-OFF

Paintings must be received at KPM between July 11 and July 17, 2026. 

• If shipping your painting, please schedule it in advance to meet this schedule. Notify KPM immediately of any difficulty or delay.
• An Art Handling Fee check payable to the Kenosha Public Museum must be included with your shipped or hand-delivered painting.
• HAND-DELIVERED paintings must be wrapped or bagged; NO blankets or boxes can be left at KPM; confirm museum hours before your visit.
• SHIPPED paintings must be in a cardboard art box (NO crates, NO peanuts) with the artist's name on it; these are stored by KPM during the exhibition.
• For return shipping, a pre-paid label must be included with the painting; notify KPM of changes. A reminder email and instructions will be sent before close of exhibition.

Contact KPM immediately if you have a change of contact information, shipping address, or an unexpected issue at any time that might delay the receipt or return of your painting. Check the KPM website for details of events and confirm museum hours before visiting.

RECEIVED PAINTINGS

• Must be the artist's invited CaFÉ entry, not altered or substituted.
• Must arrive at KPM between July 11 and July 17.
• Must include an art handling fee check paid to Kenosha Public Museum (shipped OR hand-delivered)
• Shipped paintings must be in a cardboard art box and include a printed, pre-paid return shipping label.
• The painting label information must be identical to the CaFE entry.
• Must be ready for display per KPM instructions, including:
  • Is complete and ready to hang, framed or unframed.
  • Meets the size requirements (min 12" image; max 40" total).
  • Weighs less than 25lb (12kg).
  • The sides/edges of unframed works & gallery wraps are painted or finished.
  • Is protected under acrylic glazing (if needed) NO glass.

Paintings that don't meet Entry Rules will be returned immediately with Artist's prepaid shipping label and replaced by Juror's chosen Alternates.

Kenosha Public Museum, Kenosha, Wisconsin, is between Chicago and Milwaukee on the shore of Lake Michigan, via I-94. For more info: https://museums.kenosha.org/ & https://www.visitkenosha.com/

Application Requirements

Submitting Your Entries: 

• Please enter your name and the title of your painting as it should appear on your label.
• Each entry MUST have:
  • Price if it is For Sale
  • Insurance Value if it is Not for Sale/NFS
• Full contact information: Name, mailing address, home phone and/or cell phone number, email address; a web address (if you have one) is optional.
• Image files must be jpeg/jpg format, 1200 pixels on the longest side, resolution at least 72 ppi/dpi. (use CaFE guides to format your images)
• Entry Fees = $35 for 1 entry, $5 each additional entry (up to 5 total).
  • Accepted artists also deliver their works and include a handling fee ($35 OR $20 per instructions).
• Selected artists must meet KPM's schedule of delivery, exhibition and return of paintings following exhibition, and must notify KPM immediately if there may be difficulty in meeting the schedule.
• Paintings must remain on display through dates of exhibition.

An artist statement or additional information about you or your art is not required for entry. Artists whose works are selected for awards will be asked to provide a very brief bio and/or statement about themselves, their winning painting, and their use of acrylic paint, which may be used for KPM educational programs and gallery labels.

Eligibility Criteria

Kenosha Public Museum's Acrylic International Biennial Juried Exhibition is open to artists age 18+ whose original acrylic paintings are at least 80% acrylic, 40" or smaller and meet the 2026 Rules of Entry.