Call for Art
Announcing: 33rd Annual Emerald Coast National – Call for Art!
The Emerald Coast National (ECN) is a popular juried exhibition held annually at Mattie Kelly Arts Center Galleries, Northwest Florida State College. ECN, originally a regional exhibition, now includes artists from across the country. The show brings creative, inspired, and skilled artwork from working artists to NWFSC, offering rich learning and engagement for artists, students, and educators. The annual ECN programming includes opportunities for talks, demonstrations, and community engagement throughout the show’s duration.
ALL STYLES OF ART AND ALL MEDIUMS are welcome, including sound, kinetic, sculpture, photography, video, design, functional art, fiber, textile, and performance. This year, we have introduced the themes of texture and touch, which suggest connection, involvement, function, use, comfort, and more. We typically see about 250 applications from artists across the US working in contemporary, experimental, and classical mediums, styles, and techniques.
Best in Show wins a cash award of 1000.00 and a solo show curated by MKAC typically exhibited during the next season’s ECN show. This year’s ECN will be guest juried by Mr. Nicholas Croghan.
Arnie Hart Juried Student Exhibition
The Arnie Hart Juried Student Exhibition is an annual program made possible by Mrs. Jean Hart in memory of Northwest Florida State College’s (NWFSC) founding, beloved Ceramics Professor, Arnie Hart, who taught at NWFSC from 1966 to 1999. Part of the annual Arnie Hart programming includes student workshops on framing, matting, and professional practices. A guest judge will visit with faculty and students and select exhibit artworks by NWFSC students. Students win scholarship opportunities and cash awards, such as 500.00 for the best-in-show artist. 2025’s Guest judge is Caitlin Rhea, MFA, Curator of Education at the Pensacola Museum of Art, and last year’s judge was Pavel Amromin, Director of Gulf Coast College’s Amelia Gallery. Students also have the occasion to submit their work to NWFSC’s literary and art journal, The Blackwater Review.
Call for Proposals: Exhibiting at the Mattie Kelly Arts Center
The Mattie Kelly Arts Center Galleries invites artist and curatorial proposals for solo or group exhibitions in the McIlroy or Holzhauer Gallery on a rolling basis, ones that support the educational mission of NWFSC students, educators, and communities.
Mission:
The galleries conduct programs to enhance Northwest Florida State College’s educational mission. Serving as a teaching adjunct to NWFSC, they present exhibitions featuring national and international artists from diverse styles and media. The MKAC galleries are a valuable cultural asset for the entire campus and community.
Director: J. Wren Supak
Please submit proposals in PDF format to [email protected]. We will respond to inquiries; we typically schedule out three to five years in advance.
Please include:
- Resume
- Biographical Statement
- Artist or Project Statement
- Exhibition Concept
- Digital portfolio of at least ten images, recent work
- Links or other supporting materials also welcome