Bourbon County Arts Council Fine Art Exhibit 2026
34th Annual Fine Arts Competition & Exhibit featuring 12 categories. Open to artists 16+. $3,500+ in awards. March 5-14, 2026.
The Bourbon County Arts Council invites artists to participate in its 34th Annual Fine Arts Competition and Exhibit, taking place March 5-14, 2026, at the Danny and Willa Ellis Family Fine Arts Center on the Fort Scott Community College campus. This mixed media competition welcomes artists aged 16 and older to showcase their work across diverse categories.
Artists can submit work in the following categories: Ceramics, Drawing and Graphics (Pencil, Pen, Ink), Fiber Art, Glasswork, Jewelry, Mixed Media, Painting (Oil & Acrylic), Pastel, Photography, Printmaking, Sculpture, and Watercolor. A special "Theme" category has been introduced with the theme "Life Inspiring," allowing artists to create pieces in any medium that relates to this concept.
Entry fees are $10 per piece for Bourbon County Arts Council members and $20 per piece for non-members. Due to space limitations, artists may submit a maximum of four pieces total, with up to three pieces allowed in a single category. Cash awards exceeding $3,500 will be distributed, including Best of Show in 2D and 3D categories, First and Second Place winners in each category, and a Popular Vote award.
The deadline for entry forms and payment is February 27, 2025. Artwork will be received on Sunday, March 1st, between 1-4 pm. A juror critique will occur on March 4th (closed to public). The exhibit opens to the public starting March 5th with extended viewing hours throughout the two-week period. A public reception featuring participating artists and the juror will be held March 5th from 6-8 pm. Artists may retrieve their work on March 14th between 1:30-3:30 pm.