Call Description

Arts Mount Holly invites artists to submit work for the 2026 Arts Mount Holly Festival Juried Art Show, held June 6, 2026, at The Grand Hall in historic downtown Mount Holly, NC. Part of a two‑day community celebration featuring a Friday Preview Night and Downtown Art Crawl, the Juried Show highlights exceptional regional artwork inspired by the 2026 theme “Roots & Branches.” Artists are encouraged to explore intergenerational connections and ecological systems—how families, cultures, and communities grow like forests, grounded in shared roots and reaching toward the future. 

Open to all 2D and 3D artists 18+. 

$2,250 in prizes will be awarded. 

Entry deadline: May 16, 2026.

Entry Fee $35.00:  Covers up to three submissions; artists may upload up to three works total and six images.

Juried Art Show Theme

“Roots & Branches”

Artists are encouraged to explore intergenerational connections and ecological systems—how families, cultures, and neighborhoods grow like forests, with roots grounded in history and branches reaching toward the future.

Awards

A total of $2,250 in prizes will be awarded:

Best in Show: $1,000

1st Place: $750

2nd Place: $500

Honorable Mention – Ribbon

Juried by Liz Fitzgerald, executive director, Cabarrus Arts Council

Important Dates:

Entry Deadline: May 16, 2026 (11:59 PM MDT)

Notifications: By May 20, 2026

Artwork Delivery: June 6, 2026, 8:30 AM –10:00 AM

The Grand Hall – Mount Holly Municipal Complex, 400 East Central Ave., Mount Holly, NC 28120c

Juried Art Show at the Grand Hall June 6, 2026

8:30 AM to 10:00 AM Art Work Delivery

10:00 AM–3:00PM Art Crawl 

3:00 to 4:30 closed for judging  

4:30 to 6:00 PM Reception Ceremony & Awards

Pickup: Immediately following the Reception Ceremony & Awards presentation on June 6, 2026

Applications accepted online only through CaFÉ.

Entry Fee: $35

Covers up to three submissions; artists may upload up to three works total.

Entry fees are non‑refundable

Application Requirements

Up to 3 original works may be submitted - up to 2 imagines per submitted original works.

Short artist biography required

All accepted work must be hand‑delivered

Each accepted piece must be labeled with: Artist Name, Address, Phone, Email, Title, Medium, Retail Price (Retail price must include the 10% commission)

Submit a brief description (150 words or fewer) outlining how your artwork relates to the theme “Roots & Branches.” Your statement should help the juror understand the conceptual or visual relationship between your work and the theme.

Specifications

2D Work

Must be framed or gallery‑wrapped

Must be securely wired (no sawtooth or clip hangers)

Max size: 40” W × 60” H

Max weight: 30 lbs

Works larger than 16” × 20” may require the artist to bring an easel

3D Work

Must sit securely on a flat surface

Artist must deliver, set up, and remove their own work

Dimensions and photos required for jurying

The jury may exclude submissions that do not comply with the exhibition’s guidelines or requirements.

No refunds after submission.

Eligibility Criteria

The Juried Art Show is open to all artists 18 years of age or older working in eligible 2D and 3D media. 

All submitted work must be original, created solely by the artist, and not produced using AI‑generated processes or reproduction methods.

 Artists may submit up to three works for jury consideration, and all accepted pieces must be hand delivered on the designated date. 

By applying, artists affirm that their submissions meet all eligibility, media, and presentation requirements outlined in this call.