About the Open Call

The 18th Annual Wayne Art Center Plein Air Festival - May 3-9, 2026. Wayne Plein Air Collectors' Preview Party & Awards Presentation - May 9, 2026. 18th Annual Wayne Art Center Plein Air Exhibition - May 9-June 20, 2026. Juror: Mark Boedges. ABOUT WAYNE ART CENTER AND WAYNE PLEIN AIR: The Wayne Art Center Plein Air Festival is one of the longest-running and most popular outdoor painting events in the country. The 18th Annual Wayne Art Center Plein Air Festival kicks-off on May 3, 2026, with the arrival of 32 juried, nationally recognized, and emerging artists who have ventured to Wayne, Pennsylvania to capture the exceptional beauty of the Delaware Valley. As one of the premier plein air events in the country, Wayne Art Center offers artists the unique opportunity to showcase over 300 works created during the festival in the art center's spacious, light-filled, and state-of-the-art exhibition galleries. These impressive works, which represent a diverse range of styles and mediums, are on view and sale through June 20, 2026 (6 weeks). A full schedule of events including community paint-outs, artist demos, lectures and other programs will be presented during the span of the festival and exhibition to further advance awareness of the plein air movement. The galleries at Wayne Art Center are enjoyed by more than 30,000 visitors each year and sales during the Wayne Plein Air Exhibition are robust and remain steady throughout the six-week exhibition. The success of the Wayne Art Center Plein Air Festival is made possible through the artists’ enthusiastic participation over the past 17 years, along with the generosity of our many business sponsors, patrons, and volunteers, demonstrating how valued this festival is to our community. Funds raised through this eagerly anticipated event benefit Wayne Art Center’s vast array of educational, outreach, and exhibition programs for individuals of all ages and abilities. ABOUT THE CALL FOR ENTRY: Wayne Art Center seeks applications for the 18th Annual Wayne Art Center Plein Air Festival. Invited Artists will stay and paint in a 35-mile radius of Wayne Art Center from May 3-9, 2026. All paintings remain on exhibit through June 20, 2026. For more information visit: www.waynepleinair.org. Nancy Campbell Executive Director and Chief Curator. Pam McLean Parker Exhibition Coordinator. Karen Louise Fay Director of Marketing and Events. 18th ANNUAL WAYNE ART CENTER PLEIN AIR FESTIVAL JUROR: Wayne Art Center is pleased to welcome Mark Boedges as the 2026 Plein Air Juror. Mark Boedges has, in a short time, amassed numerous awards and showcased his work in many galleries. He attended the University of Colorado, where he studied Fine Art. Preferring a more traditional approach to painting, Boedges left the program after two years to study exclusively from nature. Painting plein air had become his sole focus, and it would remain so for many years. Eventually, wanting to apply more time and intention to his work, he took his expansive knowledge of the landscape, particularly the Western Landscape, into the studio and began to work on large luminescent pieces. He has more recently been exploring the personal and spiritual meaning behind the light found within his canvases, using the landscape as a means to express his joy and wonder at the reality we find ourselves in. Boedges has recently received Best in Show at the following shows: American Impressionist Society, Wayne Plein Air, Door County Plein Air, and Scottsdale Salon of Fine Art. Additional accolades include the Joseph Hartley Memorial Award at the prestigious Salmagundi Club in New York City, the Bohnert Memorial Award with the Hudson Valley Art Association, the Artistic Excellence Award with Southwest Art magazine, and the Grand Prize for Landscape, as well as a feature article with International Artist magazine. ARTIST PARTICIPANTS: For artists who previously have participated in Wayne Art Center Plein Air, the festival offers an opportunity to reconnect with old friends and collectors and to compete for $25,000 in cash awards. For emerging artists, acceptance into Wayne Art Center's Plein Air Festival represents an important step in achieving national recognition. As one of the first plein air festivals established in our country, the Wayne Art Center Plein Air Festival has attracted some of our nation’s most prestigious outdoor painters working in the field and has served an instrumental role in supporting the vibrant contemporary landscape painting movement. HOSPITALITY: Artist housing will be graciously provided by welcoming members of the community. Participating plein air artists will attend a Welcome Breakfast at a local picturesque farm property on Sunday, May 3 to launch the festival week, along with a comprehensive artist orientation and canvas stamping. LOCATIONS: Throughout the festival week, painters work on location throughout the surrounding areas, a locale robust with colorful and varied landscapes. From quaint small towns filled with historic architecture to rolling hills dotted with livestock, to the dynamic skyline views of Center City Philadelphia and its surrounding waterfronts, including the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers, there is no lack of inspiration or subject matter. A week of intense work culminates in a dynamic exhibition of over 300 paintings. PLEIN AIR FESTIVAL AND EXHIBITION COLLECTORS' PREVIEW PARTY & SALE AND AWARDS PRESENTATION: The 18th Annual Wayne Art Center Plein Air Exhibition debuts with a highly charged collectors’ preview party where patrons vie for the first chance to acquire their painting of choice. Participating plein air artists will have the unique opportunity to connect with Wayne Art Center sponsors, patrons and area collectors while establishing important contacts. Over ten major cash awards totaling $25,000 will be presented by Juror Mark Boedges, including Best of Show, First Place, Second Place, Third Place, and Special Themed Awards. Industry Prizes will also be awarded. In addition to cash, the Best of Show award winner will be invited to participate in the next year’s plein air event. CALENDAR OF EVENTS: November 12, 2025 – February 17, 2026 Online applications accepted. Tuesday, March 3, 2026 Notification of Accept/Decline are sent through the CaFE submission platform. Sunday, May 3, 2026, 9:00 am Welcome Breakfast and arrival of artists for registration, canvas stamping and orientation. May 3 – May 9, 2026 Artists paint within 35 miles of Wayne. Saturday, May 9, 2026 Final painting festival morning in Wayne and surrounding area. Saturday, May 9 6-9pm Wayne Art Center 18th Annual Plein Air Festival Collectors’ Preview & Sale and Awards Presentation Wayne Art Center, 413 Maplewood Avenue, Wayne, PA 19087. May 9 - June 20, 2026 Wayne Plein Air 2026 Exhibition. Sunday, May 10, 2026, 1pm Mark Boedges: Juror’s Lecture. Monday, May 11 – Thursday, May 14, 2026 Mark Boedges: Four-day Painting Workshop. Saturday, June 20 at 4pm Exhibition Closes. June 23-26 and June 29 - July 2 9am-5pm Retrieval of Unsold Artwork. All work must be picked up by the artist or a representative by July 24, 2026. Register at www.waynepleinair.org. Contact Information: Pam McLean-Parker, Exhibition Coordinator, pam@wayneart.org. Wayne Art Center 413 Maplewood Avenue Wayne, PA 19087. 610.688.3553 x211. wayneart.org. If you have any questions about the exhibition, please contact Pam McLean-Parker at pam@wayneart.org. If you have technical questions about the online system, please contact the Call for Entry support team at Cafe@westaf.org.

What is Offered

Opportunity to exhibit over 300 works, $25,000 in cash awards (including Best of Show, First Place, Second Place, Third Place, Special Themed Awards, and Industry Prizes). Best of Show winner invited to participate in the next year's event. Artist housing provided. Welcome Breakfast and orientation. Networking opportunities with sponsors, patrons, and collectors.

Requirements

Open to artists 18 and older from the United States. Artists must not exhibit at other galleries within a 50-mile radius of the Wayne Art Center during the WAC Plein Air Exhibition (May 9 - June 20, 2026). Artwork submitted for review must have been executed in the plein air method, not in the studio, and created in the last two years. Accepted artists must provide a brief bio and artist's statement. All work completed in the festival must be framed and wired for hanging. All paintings exhibited must be available for sale. Wayne Art Center retains 40% commission on sales.

How to Apply

Online applications are accepted through the CaFE platform only and must be completed and submitted with payment by midnight, February 17, 2026. Applicants should have upload-ready JPG files (at least 300 dpi, 1200 pixels or greater on longest side, under 5 MB, named with work title). Artists may submit ONE application with up to four images for juror's review. Register at www.waynepleinair.org.