Inspired by Words

A juried exhibition of original visual artwork inspired entirely by words at Virginia Beach Art Center. Broad interpretations are encouraged, including abstract work, collages, photography, jewelry and other art tied to the theme. Artwork must be for sale. Awards are $250 for first place, $200 for second place, $100 for third place and six honorable mentions. The page gives conflicting exhibition years: March 5–28, 2026 in the prospectus and March 5–28, 2027 in the entry form. The February 11 application deadline consequently has no reliably established year.

Create a work inspired entirely by words.

Open to local/regional artists aged 18 or older who can drop off work in person. Out-of-town artists may enter; accepted work may be delivered by UPS or FEDEX only and must include a return label. Submit original artwork created by the submitting artist within the last two years and never previously exhibited in any of the center's art shows. No reproductions; photography, digital art and hand-pulled prints must be limited editions of 25 or fewer, signed and numbered. Explain any AI use and process in the medium field. All works must be visibly signed (2D on front or back, 3D on bottom), suitable for viewers of all ages and free of copyright infringement. Entry fees are non-refundable: $30 for up to three pieces for non-supporters or $25 for annual supporters, plus $5 for each additional entry, with a maximum of five entries per artist. For one 3D piece, the second and third entry boxes may show additional views; use of the fourth or fifth boxes when submitting three pieces requires the extra fee. Complete the on-page form and pay through the confirmation/payment page to be considered. The page states a February 11 deadline at 11:59pm, but conflicting 2026 and 2027 exhibition headings prevent establishing its year; late submissions are not accepted. Provide artist contact details, address, website and social media; each artwork requires a JPEG/JPG image of no more than 20MB, title and creation year, medium and AI process if applicable, price, size including frame and a statement of 30 words or fewer. Rename image files before uploading; instructions specify last_first_title.jpeg, while form helper text also says lastname_title. Do not use special characters. Crop images to the artwork, excluding frames and surroundings, and photograph straight-on in good lighting. Statements may be edited for clarity, length or typos. Verify originality and proof all submitted information; prices cannot be changed after submission, and pricing or statements cannot be amended after the deadline. Check this page for acceptance notifications, listed as February 19. The schedule lists early drop-off February 27, 10:30am–3pm; regular drop-off March 2, 10:30am–4:30pm; and pickup March 30, 10:30am–4:30pm, with the year unresolved. No work is accepted after the regular drop-off cutoff. Label artwork on the back or underneath 3D work with artist name and title. Work may be refused at delivery for presentation, hanging, craftsmanship or differences from the juried image. Gallery-wrapped canvases at least 1 inch deep must have painted sides and no visible side staples; paintings on substrates less than 1 inch deep must be framed. Photographs on metal or aluminum need no frame. Hanging wires must be tight across and one-quarter down from the frame top; no sawtooth hangers or eyehooks, except built-in sawtooth hangers on metal/aluminum photographs. Two-dimensional work may be no more than 60 inches wide including frame and weigh no more than 40 pounds. Three-dimensional bases may be no more than 20 inches square; artists must install and move 3D work over 40 pounds. Request any size/weight waiver and clearance for special installation from the curator before submission. All work must be priced for sale consistently with the artist's other work and remain in the gallery for the entire exhibition. Sold photography/digital prints cannot be replaced with another copy of the juried artwork. The center retains 30% of sales for invitational artists and 25% for resident and exhibiting artists of the center. Sales checks are ready for pickup by the 10th of the month following the exhibition's close. Prizes are first place $250, second place $200, third place $100 and six honorable mentions. Submission grants Virginia Beach Art Center permission to use artwork images for promotion. Virginia Beach Art Center and The Artists Gallery disclaim liability for artwork damage before, during or after the exhibition and for copyright infringement.