Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility Colors of Hope: A Call to Virginia Artists — and a First Worth Being Part Of
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Colors of Hope: A Call to Virginia Artists — and a First Worth Being Part Of

  • 7 hours ago
  • 2 min read
colors of hope

Something new is happening in the Northern Neck — and if you are a Virginia artist, this is your moment to be part of it from the very beginning.


The Northern Neck Artisan Trail has launched its first-ever juried art competition, "Colors of Hope," and it is exactly the kind of show that reminds us why we make art in the first place. Open to all mediums — painting, drawing, photography, mixed media, sculpture, textile, and more — this competition celebrates the power of art to inspire optimism, healing, and unity. It is a theme the world could use right now, and a show that deserves your best work.


Why You Should Enter

Beyond the pure joy of participating in something meaningful, the prizes are real and worth competing for:

  • 1st Place — $500

  • 2nd Place — $350

  • 3rd Place — $250

  • People's Choice — $350

That is $1,450 in total cash awards — and winning work will be displayed at each of the Northern Neck Artisan Trail galleries, giving your art exceptional regional visibility and a genuinely engaged audience.


The Details

The entry fee is just $35 for up to two pieces of original work. Entries are open to all Virginia artists and artists currently exhibiting at a Northern Neck Artisan Trail gallery. Both emerging and established artists are warmly encouraged to enter — this show was designed to celebrate the full range of what Virginia artists can do.

The online gallery launches May 30th, with public voting for the People's Choice Award running through June 15th. Winners will be announced June 18th, with gallery display beginning in late June.


Important Dates at a Glance

  • Entries open: April 15, 2026

  • Deadline: May 15, 2026 at 11:59 PM EST

  • Online gallery launch: May 30, 2026

  • People's Choice voting: May 30 – June 15

  • Winners announced: June 18, 2026


This Is Just the Beginning

"Colors of Hope" is the first show sponsored by the Northern Neck Artisan Trail — and it will not be the last. Getting in early means being part of something that is only going to grow. The Trail is building something real here, and this competition is a landmark moment in that story.

Don't sit this one out. Your work has something to say — and "Colors of Hope" is the place to say it.

 

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