2026 Holiday Art Competition

A juried competition and exhibition celebrating the secular theme of “The Holidays in Historic Frederick.” Two-dimensional works in any medium are accepted, including paintings, drawings, hand-pulled prints, etchings, collage, photography, and digital paintings. Accepted artwork will be displayed at the Delaplaine Arts Center during the reception, with some works selected for extended display. The Judges’ Choice winner receives $1,000, and the winning artwork will be used with attribution in Celebrate Frederick’s upcoming holiday promotional campaign.

A secular celebration of “The Holidays in Historic Frederick.”

Submit one artwork and one high-resolution image; audio and video submissions are not accepted. Provide artist full name, city and country of residence, phone, and email; social media links and website are optional. Entry fee: $20. All works must be two-dimensional, original in design and personal execution, and unpublished commercially; sharing images on personal social media is permitted. Commercially made prints, giclees, and reproductions of original artwork are not eligible for exhibition. Eligible forms include paintings, drawings, hand-pulled prints, etchings, collage, photography, and digital paintings. The source directs applicants to https://delaplaine.org/exhibitions/opportunities/#faqs for AI-generated artwork guidelines. Work should incorporate recognizable symbols of Frederick and be reproducible in black and white. Specific religious symbols, imagery strongly or uniquely associated with one faith, and endorsements of specific downtown businesses may be accepted for display and sale but are not eligible for the grand prize. Judges consider suitability for a vertical-format poster; other proportions are not refused, but a winning work may be cropped and altered. Celebrate Frederick may use portions of the artwork and add logos or copy. The Holiday Committee retains exclusive commercial rights for poster production for two years and other promotional pieces for five years; details will be arranged with the winning artist, who receives attribution wherever the artwork is used. Judges’ Choice awards $1,000 based on artistic merit, ease of reproduction, theme, and adherence to rules. The prize check is mailed within 30 days of receiving the winner’s W9. The Barbara Maghan People’s Choice winner receives a certificate based on reception voting; judges may also award a Judges’ Special Award certificate. Accepted works are announced November 7. Hand-deliver accepted work to 40 S. Carroll Street, Frederick, MD, on November 16 or 17, 2026, between 9:00 am and 4:30 pm; shipped work must arrive by November 17. Accepted work must be professionally framed and wired, ready to hang, with no sawtooth hangers. Attach wire using D-ring or strap hangers in one smooth line, using wire suitable for the work’s weight. Secure framed canvas with offset clips and screws, or flat works with backing board using points; tape and other unstable securing methods are prohibited. Work may be refused because of framing. Unframed work may have finished, painted gallery-wrapped edges and be wired for hanging. Label the back’s top-right corner with artist name, title, medium, sale price or NFS with insurance value, preferred phone number, and email. The Delaplaine insures work from delivery until designated pickup, for no more than the sale price less commission; the commission rate is not stated. All accepted works appear at the December 2, 2026 reception, 5:30–7:00 pm. Works not retained for extended display must be collected December 3–7 during regular open hours. Extended-display pickup is stated as Sunday, December 27, 4:30–5:00 pm, or Monday, December 28, 2026, 9:00 am–4:30 pm. The extended gallery-display paragraph says December 5–27, 2025, conflicting with the explicitly listed December 3–28, 2026 event dates; confirm that schedule with the organizer. Other pickup arrangements require advance contact with Corey Frey at 301-698-0656 ext. 108 or cfrey@delaplaine.org. Work left beyond designated pickup dates may be disposed of. Celebrate Frederick may retain the winning artwork for up to 30 days after the exhibition for digital scanning, then arrange pickup with the artist or with the Delaplaine on behalf of a buyer.