Event Description:

Celebration of Art at Grand Canyon National Park is a wonderful tradition and annual event that includes a week of plein air activity, an online auction, and a public opening that debuts a four-month-long exhibition and sale of participating artists' work.

The event provides a vibrant experience for visitors, a venue for artists inspired by the canyon, and a successful fundraiser to benefit a dedicated art venue at the park. 

Specifications for Works Accepted for Exhibition

Studio Submission:  Each participating artist will submit one Grand Canyon-themed studio piece for the exhibit.

A professional-quality electronic image of this piece must be submitted by March 31, 2023, for reproduction in the exhibition catalog. Files must be high-resolution (300 dpi when reproduced at 9 x 12 inches).

Plein Air at Grand Canyon: Additional artwork must be completed on-site at the Grand Canyon between September 9 and September 16, 2023, and must feature Grand Canyon National Park subject matter. Blank canvases will be “stamped” with an official event insignia beginning on Friday, September 8, 2023, during the artists’ orientation and registration. All completed works must be suitably framed and ready to hang when checked in. D-rings with picture wire or a suitable hanging device must be attached. 

All participating artists must adhere to the event schedule and participate in the Paint Out on September 15, 2023, and online auction on September 1, 2023 - September 16, 2023. Paintings for the online auction must be received by August 1, 2023. (Exceptions made with the approval of the Event Coordinator).

Number of pieces: Each participating artist will submit a minimum of five (5) plein air paintings that have been produced during the event. Grand Canyon–themed artworks produced prior to the event, up to ten (10) pieces, are allowed for backup display and sale but must be approved by the Event Coordinator prior to submission. 

Sales

This event is a fundraiser for the Grand Canyon Conservancy, a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization. The Grand Canyon Conservancy will retain a fifty percent commission on all sales. Payments for work sold will be mailed to the artist on a monthly schedule during the exhibition.

Shipment of Unsold Art

Artists are responsible for the cost of returning unsold artwork. All artists must provide FedEx or UPS account numbers for the return of unsold art.

Lodging and Transportation

Reservations and the cost of lodging are the responsibility of the artist. Lodging options will be sent to participating artists in their notification packets. Artists are responsible for providing their own transportation to, from, and within Grand Canyon National Park.

Awards

• People’s Choice Award (voted on by the public during the online auction)
• Artists’ Choice Award (Artists select one of their peers, based on body of work)
• Best of Show: (judged by master juror)

Calendar and Deadlines:

• January 14, 2023– Artist Entry Form postmark deadline
• End of January 2023 – Jury meets
• The first week of February 2023 – Artist notification emailed
• March 31, 2023 – Hi-res image (300 dpi when reproduced at 9 x 12 inches) of studio piece submitted for the exhibition catalog.

2023 Event Schedule*

• Friday, September 1 -16 - Online auction
• Friday, September 8 – Artists arrive for orientation and canvas stamping (afternoon)
• September 9-15 – Artists paint onsite (in addition, scheduled public demonstrations in the park)
• Week of September 11 – Framed art turned in for hanging (times to be determined)
• Friday, September 15 – All artists paint along the rim between Mather Point and Trailview Overlook
• Friday, September 15 – Paint Out event (evening)
• Saturday, September 16 – Online auction closes and Gallery Previews throughout the day.
• Sunday, September 17 – Public Opening Reception
• Exhibition & Sale through January 15, 2024

*Additional events and/or presentations may be scheduled at a later time. Events are subject to change.

Application Requirements

Application Requirements:
 

Entry Form, Fee and Deadline

Please submit a completed entry form, a one-page résumé (including contact info), three (3) images of your plein air artwork (including at least one Grand Canyon image painted from the Rim) in JPEG format (see following paragraph), and a non-refundable entry fee of $45. All artwork must be submitted in JPEG format; slides and prints will not be accepted. All entries must be received by January 14, 2023.

Image Format

Each artist must submit a minimum of three (3) and a maximum of eight (8) professional-quality images of their plein air artwork in JPEG format with a minimum resolution of 300 DPI. Images should include the title of the piece in the file name. At least one Grand Canyon image painted from the Rim must be included in your submission. In addition, please list the title, dimensions, medium and price of your pieces on the Entry Form.

Selection Process

The Grand Canyon Celebration of Art is an invitational and juried event. A panel of three to five jurors will review all applications and will select four to six artists who, together with returning and invited artists, will comprise the participants in the 2023 event. Notification of acceptance will be emailed to each applicant no later than February 7, 2023.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility:

The event is open to all artists 18 years and older with plein air experience and experience painting the Grand Canyon from the rim. Please include plein air experience in the résumé that is submitted with your application.

QUESTIONS:

Contact Kathy Duley - Event Coordinator
480-277-0458
kduley@grandcanyon.org