Call Description

Providence Art Club
National Open Juried Exhibition 2026
Call for Entry

Call for Entries:
The Providence Art Club invites artists from across the United States to apply for its annual National Open Juried Exhibition, one of the most popular exhibitions of its kind. Founded in 1880, the Providence Art Club is one of the oldest arts organizations in the United States and the first such Club to be co-founded by women and men. Recognized as one of the top three galleries in Rhode Island by the Providence Journal, the Art Club has received coveted Best of Rhode Island Awards for Best Art Gallery in Providence each year since 2019. This exhibition is open to work in any media, theme, or style and the show will be juried by Leah Triplett, Curator of Contemporary Art at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts (PAFA).

Awards:
Fourteen Prizes totaling $6,000 in awards
Best in Show Prize of $1,000

Eligibility:
Open to any artist living and working throughout the United States, its territories, protectorates, and provinces.

Calendar:

• Thursday, May 7: Application Deadline
• Friday, May 29: Accepted Artists Notified via Direct Email
• Friday, June 5: Accepted Artists' Biography, Statement, and Hi-Res Jpeg Due
• Monday, June 1 - Wednesday, June 17: Accepted work received at the gallery (Sunday - Friday 12-4pm). Shipped works must be accompanied by a paid return mail label.
• June 21 – July 16: Exhibition Takes Place
• Opening Reception: Sunday, June 21 from 2-4pm
• $6,000 in awards will be announced during the exhibition via video.
• Galleries open Sundays – Fridays from 12-4pm each day.
• Monday, August 3 – Friday, August 7 (12-3pm daily): Removal of Work, Arrangement of Shipping. Works must be picked up, or shipping must be arranged, by August 7. Works left at the Club will become subject to a storage fee at the discretion of the Gallery Manager.
• Please note that the Club will be closed from July 18 – August 2 for summer break. No staff will be on site and works cannot be retrieved during this time. If you need your work returned prior to the Club’s summer break, please contact Gallery Manager Michael Rose.

About our Exhibition Juror:
Leah Triplett
Curator of Contemporary Art
Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts (PAFA)

Leah Triplett is a curator, writer, and editor based in Philadelphia. She currently serves as Curator of Contemporary Art at the historic Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts. In this role, she leads exhibition and acquisition strategy and creates collaborative projects that bring contemporary artists into conversation with PAFA’s historical collections.

Prior to her role at PAFA, Triplett served as Curator at Now + There (now The Boston Public Art Triennial) and Director of Programs and Exhibitions at the Fort Point Arts Community in Boston, Massachusetts. As an independent curator, she has also organized exhibitions at Boston University Gallery, Praise Shadows Art Gallery, Abigail Ogilvy Gallery, the Herter Gallery, Trestle Gallery, and others.

A well-known writer and critic, Triplett regularly contributes essays to renowned publications including Hyperallergic, the Brooklyn Rail, ArtNet News, ArtAsiaPacific, Public Art Dialogue, and others. She has additionally served as Senior Editor for contemporary art publications Big Red & Shiny and The Rib and Editor-at-Large for Boston Art Review. She has been invited to lecture at institutions like The Barnes Foundation, Wexner Arts Center, Boston University, Boston College, and Brandeis University.

Leah completed her undergraduate degree in Art History and English at the University of Mary Washington in Virginia and earned a Master of Arts in Modern Art, Connoisseurship, and the History of the Art Market from Christie’s in New York. The Art Club is excited to welcome a contemporary curator and writer with Leah’s background to jury our National Exhibition.

Entry Fee:
$35 for one artwork entry, $10 for up to one additional artwork

Discounts:
PAC Members are eligible for $10 off the initial entry fee.

Students currently enrolled in a degree program are eligible for $15 off the initial entry fee. Valid student ID and .edu email address required.

For coupon codes, email Michael Rose at michael@providenceartclub.org.
*Note: The discount applies to the initial submission fee of $35. There is no discount available for the $10 fee for a subsequent entry. If you have questions, please reach out.

Rules and Regulations:
Entries must be original artworks completed within the last four years. All works in the exhibition must be for sale (no "price on request" allowed). Hanging apparatus must be secured to the artwork. Two-dimensional works should be securely wired with D-Rings. Three-dimensional works may not be heavier than 100 lbs. Works not properly prepared will not be installed. While there is not a firm size limit on submissions, space is limited and size may be taken into consideration by the juror. The Providence Art Club reserves the right to reject works that are deemed unstable, that differ from the submitted digital image and or description of work, or that are not professionally presented. Please contact Gallery Manager Michael Rose with questions about preparation and installation.

Sales Commission:
25% for PAC members; 40% for non-members

Notification:
Accepted artists will be e-mailed directly on May 29. Names of artists who were accepted will also be listed on the Art Club's social media channels, and later, on the Club's website.

Delivery:
Accepted submissions should be delivered to the Providence Art Club, 11 Thomas Street, Providence, RI 02903 from Monday, June 1 - Wednesday, June 17. Regular gallery hours are Sundays – Fridays, 12-4pm and any other time by appointment. Shipped works should be addressed to the attention of Gallery Manager Michael Rose. Works delivered late will not be included in the exhibition.

Shipping:
Shipping costs are the responsibility of the artist. A paid return mail label, including insurance (please ask your carrier to determine this amount), must accompany work. Air float style boxes, or similar packaging, are strongly recommended for ease of unwrapping and rewrapping. Do not use loose packing peanuts in shipping. If artwork cannot be repacked in original materials, the artist will be responsible for costs to have UPS pack and return ship the work. If packing materials and shipping payment are not included, the work will not be installed.

Removal:
All exhibited work must be picked up (or return shipping arrangements made) between Monday, August 3 – Friday, August 7 from 12-3pm daily. Works left at the Club after this date will become subject to a storage fee at the discretion of the Gallery Manager. Please note the Club is closed for summer break from July 18 – August 2.

Insurance:
The Providence Art Club carries a blanket policy covering fire, theft, and breakage. The insurance value is considered 2/3 of the sale price with a cap of $250. Artists are strongly encouraged to provide insurance riders for their work if it is of high retail value.

Application Troubleshooting:
Gallery staff of the Providence Art Club are unfortunately not available to assist individual artists with photographing their work or completing the entry form. These tasks are the responsibility of the applicant. If you have questions about the CallForEntry platform, please seek assistance at: https://www.callforentry.org/artist-help-cafe/

For Questions:
Contact Gallery Manager Michael Rose at michael@providenceartclub.org, or via phone at 401-331-1114 x 5 and he will be very happy to speak with you.

Application Requirements

A minimum of one image.

Eligibility Criteria

Open to artists living and working throughout the United States, its territories, protectorates, and provinces.