Call Description

18TH ANNUAL SANCHEZ ART CENTER 50|50 SHOW
Sept 11 – Oct 4, 2026

THE PROJECT: Accepted artists will create 50 small works (6” x 6”) over the course of 50 days. Each artist chooses a 10 word or less theme for all 50 pieces. Creation of works by participating artists will begin Monday, June 29 and end Monday, Aug 17, 2026. The exhibition will run September 11 – October 4, 2026.

WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT: Benefits of participating include an intense creative experience; being part of a great exhibition of approximately 2,500 works with an estimated audience of 1,200 or more viewers; fellowship with other artists; and a spectacular opportunity to make works available for sale to people who might not be able to afford your larger pieces.

ENTRY DEADLINE: Tuesday, May 26, 2026.  Entries must be submitted online by 10:59 pm Pacific Daylight Time.

JUROR:  Cynthia Lou
Cynthia Lou opened Sparrow Gallery, in Midtown Sacramento, in 2014.  In 2017, the Gallery was invited to become the anchor tenant in ARTHOUSE, in the historic R Street Corridor, substantially increasing exhibition space and visibility.  After years of focusing on regional artists, creating in all genres, the physical gallery was closed, providing Lou time to focus on curatorial work and artist representation. 

Currently serving as the Chief Curator at Twisted Track Gallery, Lou continues her work representing emerging and established artists with strong aesthetic value and technical talents. 

Part of the original curatorial team for “A New Spin on Vinyl”, an invitational exhibition features works by artists using vinyl records.  The now annual event includes artists of all ages and has exhibited at galleries throughout Sacramento and Yolo Counties.  Cynthia Lou is also a painter, having received her BA in Studio Art in 1997, from California State University, Sacramento.    

ABOUT SANCHEZ ART CENTER: The mission of Sanchez Art Center is to create community through art. Sanchez Art Center was established in 1996 when artists and community members repurposed a former elementary school into a multi-use arts complex that now includes 3 galleries, studio space, arts education spaces,and the Mildred Owen Concert Hall. A 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, SAC provides the community an ongoing series of free exhibitions by emerging, mid-career and established California and west coast artists, education and engagement designed to make art accessible to people of all ages and backgrounds through artist talks, gallery walks, workshops and classes for adults and summer camps for kids, as well as community art projects and other creative opportunities.  Affordable art studios provide on-campus creative space for 30 SF Bay Area artists. 

MATERIALS: Sanchez Art Center will furnish each artist with 50 unprimed non-archival medium-density fiberboard (MDF) panels, 6” x 6” with nail holes pre-drilled, and will provide hanging supplies (nails, adhesive putty) and pre-hung installation templates. With SAC approval, other 6” x 6” panels may be used at the artist’s expense (small canvases, birch wood box panels, 3D materials, etc.) as long as the presentation is professional in appearance and there is a rigid support for the work (i.e., no paper or fabric may be placed directly on the wall). Artists providing their own panels or shelves must still pay the $75 participation fee. Variations in panels being used must be approved by Sanchez Art Center in advance.

MEDIA: All fine art visual media will be accepted. Artists may prime and paint on panels, or attach canvas, drawings, or watercolor paper. 3D sculptures may be attached to wall-mounted panels, or stand on SAC-approved shelves (shelving and mounting hardware provided and installed by artist). Each piece must fit in allocated space of 6” x 6” x 6”. If your work requires a different approach, contact us for approval as soon as possible. If you have any questions, please call us!

INSTALLATION: Artists are responsible for hanging and taking down their own works on the scheduled dates (see “Delivering & Installing”). The 6” square panels will be hung unframed, 7 high and 7 across, with 1” between panels. A template will be installed prior to artists’ arrival to mark off the spacing. One work will be hung separately next to the 49-panel square, and only this 50th piece may be framed (optional). The 50th piece must also be 6” x 6” and, if framed,  not be wider than 10”. The finished panels should be signed and dated (but not numbered) on the back. Display space for each artist will be the decision of the Art Center. Bring a hammer, a level, and a stepladder if you need one (the highest row will be 82” from the floor). Allow 2-3 hours to install.

DISPLAY MATERIALS – BIO/STATEMENT/TITLES/LABELS: Each artist will prepare an 8.5" x 11" bio, and an artist statement, to hang next to their 50-panel exhibit. (The artist statement and bio may be combined into one 8.5” x 11” document.)  Artists may also hang a single 8.5” x 11” sheet listing the titles and/or thumbnail images in the order of display. These pages should be printed on white card stock and hung according to the template provided. SAC will print wall labels (name, city, theme, medium(s), price) based on text to be provided by the artist no later than Tuesday, Aug 18. NO OTHER MATERIALS MAY BE PLACED AT YOUR DISPLAY. No merchandise tables or cards on the wall. No small merchandise items (cards, books, etc.). A group display area will be provided for business cards. 

GALLERY HOURS: Each artist will be encouraged to gallery sit from 1 to 3 pm or 3 to 5 pm for one day during the show.  The galleries will be open Fri – Sun (and by appointment during the week). 

PRICING AND SALES: The 50|50 Show is a fundraising event, and all artworks will be for sale. All works of an individual artist must have the same price (regardless of medium[s]), except the 50th piece if it is framed. Guideline for pricing: $50 to $175 each (not mandatory). Minimum price is $45. Artists have the option of offering 10% off purchases of 2 or more panels. No new work may be substituted for pieces sold; this includes photography. Pre-sales are allowed as long as the pre-sold work is included in artists’ displays for the ticketed opening event (first two days of the exhibition). SAC will process sales and sales tax, and will take a 30% commission. Buyers take their purchases with them at time of sale (except during the opening fundraiser when all works remain on the walls).

PUBLICITY: SAC will send a press release and calendar listing to print and online media, send printed announcement postcards to its mailing list, and send electronic announcements to its email list. Artists will receive 15 postcards each, available for pick up at Sanchez Art Center.   Additional cards may be available. An email format invitation will also be provided. Mention on artist websites, blogs, and forums is encouraged.    

DELIVERING & INSTALLING: All artwork must be delivered and installed by the artist between 11 and 5 pm on Sat Aug 29, Sun Aug 30, or Mon Aug 31. An online appointment system will be used to book each artist installation time.  Space locations will be assigned by random drawing at the time of artist checks in. Templates will be pre-hung in each space; this will allow all artists to hang their works in the uniform grid pattern used throughout the galleries for this event. No partial deliveries. No wet paintings. NO EXCEPTIONS.

IMPORTANT DATES:

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Call: 650.355.1894
Email: info@SanchezArtCenter.org
Website: www.SanchezArtCenter.org
Visit: 1220-B Linda Mar Blvd, Pacifica, CA 94044
Gallery hours: Friday, Saturday, Sunday 1–5 pm during exhibits (or by scheduling an appointment either via phone or email -- we LOVE to share art!) 

Application Requirements

APPLY: At the 50|50 Show application page, you will be prompted to state your proposed theme and describe your medium(s). Themes must be expressed in 10 words or less. You may also post a description of your work or process (300 characters maximum, including spaces). Submit 3–15 artwork images in the medium(s) you will use. Choose artworks that are samples of your best work in the medium(s). Image files should be JPEG or JPG files that are under 5 MB, and are 1200 pixels or more on the longest side. CaFE will scale your uploaded images, creating a thumbnail and a larger image. Please review CaFE’s “Media Preparation” page for details.

ENTRY FEES: A non-refundable $25 fee is required at the time of entry. An additional $75 participation fee is due upon acceptance to cover the costs of materials and other exhibition expenses such as publicity and marketing. Accepted artists pick up their panels at Sanchez Art Center in Pacifica; at times separate arrangements can be made to ship panels to out of area artists for an additional shipping fee (minimum $45).  See “Materials” and “Media” headings for more information about panels.

Eligibility Criteria

Open to California visual artists age 18 and over.