Call Description

The Annual Emeryville Art Exhibition is a juried exhibition for artists over the age of 18 who live or work in Emeryville. All media are welcome except giclée and anything using AI. Independent Curator and Exhibition Designer Kathleen Hanna will curate the 40th Annual Exhibition. She will be joined by Phil Linhares, retired Chief Curator of Art for the Oakland Museum of California, and Donna Seager, Principal at Donna Seager Fine Arts and Artists Books as jurors. The decision of the jurors is final. There is no entry fee. However, upon invitation to exhibit work, each participating artist must pay a flat, one-time $75 fee, regardless of how many pieces are invited to exhibit in the show no later than August 10.  

Calendar 2026
Do not apply if you cannot comply with these dates.

June 30
The deadline for artist submissions is 11:59pm, Pacific Daylight Time on Tuesday, June 30, 2026.

Week of July 20
Notification of acceptance.

August 10
Final date to pay $75 fee if invited into the show.

September 18/19
Delivery of artwork to exhibition site, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. each day.

October 2
Opening Reception, 6-9 p.m.

October 3 – 25
40th Annual Art Exhibition; gallery open from 11 a.m. – 6 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday.

October 26
Pick up of artwork, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. – 7 p.m. only.

The Annual Emeryville Art Exhibition is sponsored by Emeryville Celebration of the Arts, Inc. The mission of the non-profit Emeryville Celebration of the Arts, Inc. is to foster an appreciation of the arts and artists of Emeryville, to promote the city as a culturally vital and progressive center for living and working, and, most recently, to partner with the City of Emeryville in the Rotten City Emeryville Cultural Arts District, a program of the California Arts Council. The Annual Emeryville Art Exhibition continues to support this mission by providing a free public venue, open to all, to experience the rich diversity of artistic expression of those who live and work within the City of Emeryville.

Application Requirements

• There is no entry fee. However, upon invitation to exhibit work, each participating artist must pay a flat, one-time $75 fee, regardless of how many pieces are invited to exhibit in the show no later than August 10. There will be no option for gallery sitting in lieu of the fee this year. By submitting an application, you agree that you understand this obligation and your invitation to exhibit work may be revoked if you do not submit the entry fee within the time required in your invitation.
• Only works not previously shown in the Emeryville Annual Exhibition will be eligible.
• Work must have been completed within the last five years.
• Jurors will only review and score finished artwork and craft.
• All visual media as well as performance arts are welcome except giclée.
• The use of AI imaging is not permitted. Only actual images of your artwork are allowed. The use of AI may disqualify a piece from eligibility for the show.

Eligibility Criteria

• Open to artists and craftspeople living and/or working in Emeryville, 18 years or older.
• Residency and/or work site will be verified. The Director's decision as to eligibility is final.
• Important dates: Invited artwork delivery on Friday and Saturday, September 18/19, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Pickup of unsold artwork: Monday, October 26, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Do not apply if you cannot comply with these dates.