NEA, Piccolo Spoleto issue calls for art
Bookmark Design Challenge: Celebrating America’s 250th
SUBMISSION DEADLINE: Tuesday, March 31, 2026, at 5 p.m. ET
Celebrate America’s 250th through creativity!
The National Endowment for the Arts, in partnership with the Office of the Second Lady of the United States, invites students in grades K–8 nationwide to participate in the Bookmark Design Challenge: Celebrating America’s 250th. Young artists are encouraged to design an original,
hand-drawn bookmark expressing what America means to them. The NEA will feature the three winning student designs on their website. The bookmarks will also be printed and distributed to the public at the Great American State Fair and other related NEA and Office of the Second Lady events. In addition, each winning student will be invited to Washington, DC, accompanied by a parent or guardian, to participate in an event one day at the Great American State Fair, scheduled to take place from June 25 through July 10, 2026. Learn more and apply at Arts.gov/Bookmarks.
2026 Piccolo Spoleto Juried Art Competition
APPLICATION DEADLINE: Monday, March 30, 2026
The City of Charleston Office of Cultural Affairs announces a call for submissions for the City Gallery’s 2026 Piccolo Spoleto Juried Art Exhibition.
This call is open through March 30, 2026. Residents of South Carolina are invited to submit recent original artwork for consideration. This year’s prizes include Best in Show, with an award of $750, second place, with an award of $500, and third place, with an award of $250. This annual juried art exhibition will highlight the recent work of artists across the state featuring painting, sculpture, drawing, printmaking, and photography. Artworks receiving prizes are presented alongside a limited selection of pieces identified by the juror as meriting display.
Proposed artwork may not have been previously exhibited in the Charleston region.
Artwork in the following categories may be submitted: oils, acrylics, watercolors, pastels, printmaking, drawing, photography, and graphics. Additional work in fiber, sculpture, metals, ceramics, basketry, and mixed media will also be juried. Wall pieces must be framed, or gallery wrapped and ready for hanging. Freestanding pieces must be fully assembled and ready for installation.
This year’s Juror is Michael Dickins, director and chief curator for the Halsey Institute for Contemporary Art at the College of Charleston. The 2026 Juried Art Exhibition will be held at the City Gallery at Joe Riley Waterfront Park May 22 through June 7, 2026.
Selections for the exhibition will be made by early May and artists will be notified of their status by email.
Estimated art delivery date is May 13.