OPEN CALL: MEMBERS & FRIENDS 2026
AUGUST 7 – SEPTEMBER 12, 2026
AWARDS + OPENING RECEPTION: Friday, August 14, 5-8pm
The Galesburg Community Arts Center announces a call to artists for its annual Members & Friends Exhibition! Families, individuals, professional artists, and amateur artists are all encouraged to participate. Any artist living within 50 miles of Galesburg, IL may submit! GCAC Members based in any location may also submit.
Entry Fee
$10 GCAC Artist Member or Plus Member Entry
$15 GCAC Standard Members OR Nonmember “Friends” within 50 miles
MEET OUR JUROR: Todd M. Ettinger, Art Appreciator and Collector
“My name is Todd Ettinger. I moved to Galesburg 30 years ago to begin my career as a funeral director at Hinchliff-Pearson-West. I didn’t know that a suggestion to take my children to Art in the Park 25 years ago would lead me down a path of surrounding myself with beautiful and unique art pieces. I bought my first piece there. It was a bright copper windchime that included a spider web. Over the years we have watched that windchime patina naturally to brown, and now is starting to turn green, as copper does.
The walls and spaces of our home and my work office are filled with the works of many local and regional artists. Our collection includes paintings, photographs, prints, and pieces in wood, ceramic, glass, and metal. In reviewing our collection, two things stand out most to me. One is that many pieces in our collection reflect nature, either in landscape, floral, or creature form, both human and animal. The second is vibrancy. Color seems to be at the core of many pieces of the collection. Reds, blues, yellows, oranges, purples, and greens all melding together to create an environment of peace, harmony, and beauty.
Over the years, my motivations for acquisition of art pieces have varied. Sometimes the piece makes me smile, other times it may just be visually appealing to me or move me in some way. I’ve been known to acquire ‘orphan’ pieces as well. These are works that no one else seems to appreciate. I even rescued someone’s 1976 ceramics project from the Salvation Army! But no matter the reason, there is always more room on our walls and in our spaces for more art.”
DEADLINE TO ENTER: July 25, 2026
Artwork delivery July 15 – 25, 2026 during open hours.
July 15-17, 11am – 4pm
July 18, 9am – 3pm
July 22-24, 11am-4pm
July 25, 9am-3pm
The Arts Center will not be held responsible for artwork left more than 45 days from the last day of pick-up. If alternative arrangements are not made for pick up, and artwork is left past 45 days, artwork becomes the property of the Arts Center.
PROSPECTUS DETAILS…
Artwork Guidelines
Only original work of the artist
Artwork must have been created within the last 2 years (2024 or thereafter)
Any media accepted
One entry per artist
Must be ready to hang (with wire) or stand securely*
Here’s a handy guide: https://www.kimtrichards.com/blog/2018/5/11/how-to-install-framing-wire
Artwork must not weigh more than 100 pounds
Artwork must not exceed 48 inches as its largest dimension (including frame)
Artwork must not have been included in previous exhibitions at the Arts Center, nor displayed in the gift shop.
The Arts Center reserves the right to refuse artwork that does not meet the requirements above, or is found unsuitable for exhibiting (*this includes not having a wire or other hanging apparatus)
ELIGIBILITY
Friends (non-members) must live within a 50 mile radius of Galesburg to enter. No mileage limit for members of the Arts Center!
If artwork is to be made available for sale, please price work with the following in mind:
60% to Friends and regular Members, 40% to GCAC
70% to Artist-Members, 30% to GCAC
(GCAC Artist-Members receive a special commission rate)
Need to Renew your Membership?
CASH AWARDS
OVER $850 in cash prizes available in the following categories:
BEST OF SHOW $150
3-DIMENSIONAL $100
WORKS ON PAPER $100
MIXED MEDIA $100
FIBER $100
PHOTOGRAPHY $100
PAINTING $100
LINDA LYTLE MEMORIAL AWARD $100