California Archives - Side Arts

Sculpture At Posy Park (San Bruno, CA) – Call For Artists

Sculpture At Posy Park (San Bruno, CA) – Call For Artists

[Side Arts Certified Sponsored Listing] The City of San Bruno Culture and Arts Commission invites artists to submit proposals for a permanent outdoor sculpture to be installed at Posy Park. Located at the intersection of Huntington Avenue and San Mateo Avenue, Posy Park is a prominent public plaza situated just outside the San Bruno Caltrain station and is a gateway to downtown San Bruno, California. Additionally, the park features a tile mural commemorating the city’s history, making it a key cultural landmark and potential community gathering place.

The sculpture will serve as the focal point of a broader revitalization effort at Posy Park, which will include a repaired fountain, refreshed landscaping, new bicycle lockers, and restoration of the existing tile mural. This public art installation will enhance the visual appeal and community value of the park, helping to connect residents and visitors to San Bruno’s dynamic identity.

Click here for the application / registration

Enter by: 22 October 2025

The submission is open to all professional artists aged 18 and over. Proposals will be reviewed by an ad-hoc selection committee composed of members of the San Bruno Culture and Arts Commission. Public input with be gathered through a survey that invites community feedback based on the finalists’ proposals. The full Commission will consider the committee’s recommendation and survey results before forwarding a final recommendation to the San Bruno City Council for approval.

The Commission seeks a sculpture that is dynamic, memorable, and visually compelling. Ideal submissions will be approachable, spark curiosity and leave a lasting impression. The work should be durable, safe for public interaction, and reflective of San Bruno’s identity as a diverse, evolving community rooted in connectivity and culture. Physical dimensions include a minimum height of 6 feet and maximum height of 10 feet. The sculpture may not exceed 5 feet in width at any point.

Sculpture at Posy Park Compensation

Up to $75,000 Artist Commission

About San Bruno, California

San Bruno is a vibrant, diverse city on the San Francisco Peninsula, nestled between the cities of South San Francisco and Millbrae. With a population of approximately 42,200, San Bruno offers the welcoming feel of a small town alongside the benefits of a major metropolitan hub. The city is a key transportation nexus, offering direct access to Interstates 280 and 380, U.S. Highway 101, and close proximity to San Francisco International Airport. San Bruno is also served by BART and Caltrain, offering regional connectivity.

For more information, contact twallace@sanbruno.ca.gov

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Newport Beach Sculpture Exhibition (California) – Call For Artists

Newport Beach Sculpture Exhibition (California) – Call For Artists

[Side Arts Certified Sponsored Listing] The City of Newport Beach (City) announces a call for entries for Phase X of its ongoing Newport Beach Sculpture Exhibition to further activate the splendor of its Civic Center Park.

Up to ten artworks may be selected and showcased for three years in the 14-acre, ocean-view site designed by renowned landscape architect Peter Walker as an intended sculpture garden.

The Civic Center is the heart of Newport Beach – home to City Hall, administrative offices, and the spectacular Central Library building. The Park welcomes residents and visitors year-round for free concerts on the lawn, art shows, docent-led sculpture tours, visits to the dog park, or leisurely trail walks among the environmentally-friendly native plant life.

Click here for the application / registration

Enter by: 29 September 2025

The Newport Beach Sculpture Exhibition transforms Civic Center Park into a “museum without walls,” constantly evolving as new, bold contemporary works from world-class artists rotate through, delighting and enriching park visitors. Artists, private collectors, galleries, and museums/non-profit institutions are invited to submit artworks for consideration to be installed from June 2026 to June 2029.

Newport Beach Sculpture Exhibition: Artist Benefits

Selected artists will receive an honorarium of $7,500 in exchange for a three-year loan of their artwork. No other fees or expense reimbursements are offered. Honorarium shall be used to cover round-trip transportation of the artwork to and from the exhibition site, structural engineering documents (if required,) any insurance needed or desired for artwork transport and display, and for the cost of on-site availability during installation and removal.

Artists will receive half of the honorarium upon delivery of the artwork to the site for installation, inspection and acceptance by the City; and the second half of the payment after de-installation at the conclusion of the three-year exhibition period.

Artists will be invited to be guests of honor at the official unveiling celebration on a date TBD in June 2026.

About Arts Orange County

Arts Orange County (ArtsOC) is the independent nonprofit arts council for Orange County, California, and is dedicated to sustaining, strengthening, and advancing its creative ecology. They recently celebrated 30 years of serving the region’s arts and culture needs. Designated by the County as its official local arts agency, ArtsOC is the community’s leading advocate and service provider for the arts and arts education.

With extensive background in public art installations and commissions as well as partnering with local governments on their arts plans and programs, they have proudly fulfilled the City of Newport Beach’s needs managing the submission and jurying process for all ten phases of this exhibition.

For more information, contact nthurkettle@artsoc.org

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Abstraction Of Reality: Art Awards Show (Carlsbad, CA) – Call For Artists

Abstraction Of Reality: Art Awards Show (Carlsbad, CA) – Call For Artists

[Side Arts Certified Sponsored Listing] The Carlsbad Oceanside Art League (COAL) and North Coastal Art Gallery announce a call for artists for the Abstraction of Reality open annual abstract art  cash awards show.

North Coastal Art Gallery invites artists to submit artwork where colors speak louder than words and shapes defy logic. Emerging and established artists may submit artwork that explores identity, emotion, and perception through non-representational forms where bold strokes, fluid movements, and unexpected compositions come together to challenge traditional ideas of beauty and meaning.

Each piece should encourage the viewer to look beyond the surface and find their own interpretation within the chaos and calm of abstraction.

Click here for the application / registration

Enter by: 23 September 2025 (DEADLINE EXTENDED)

Judge: Lucas Smith

Show dates: October 5 – November 1

An awards reception will be held on October 11th, 2025,  at 3 – 5 pm at the North Coastal Art Gallery located at 300 Carlsbad Village Dr., Suite 101, Carlsbad, CA 92008.

Abstraction of Reality cash award, ribbons, and certificates in the following categories

  • Best of show – $175
  • 1st place – $100
  • 2nd place – $50
  • 3rd place – $25
  • President’s award

Art removal: November 1st at 5 pm.

About North Coastal Art Gallery

North Coastal Art Gallery, voted as one of the best galleries in North County, 2023 and 2025, is interesting because it serves as a cultural cornerstone that empowers the local community, provides opportunities for artistic expression, and fosters a creative environment where artists and the public can connect.

For more information, contact northcoastalartgallery@gmail.com

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Fine Art Open Annual Awards Show (Carlsbad, CA) – Call For Artists

Fine Art Open Annual Awards Show (Carlsbad, CA) – Call For Artists

[Side Arts Certified Sponsored Listing] The Carlsbad Oceanside Art League (COAL) and North Coastal Art Gallery announce a call for artists for the 73rd Fine Art Open Annual Awards Show.

The North Coastal Art Gallery/COAL is situated in the heart of historic downtown Carlsbad, California, attracting between 1,500 to 2,000 visitors monthly, including tourists and art enthusiasts. This prime location ensures that your artwork reaches a diverse and engaged audience.

Click here for the application / registration

Enter by: 14 July 2025

The Fine Art Open Annual Awards Show Juror is Daniel Foster, well-known for his community participation in the arts all over Southern California. Cash awards in oil, acrylic, watermedia, mixed media, other media, sculpture, photography, digital, and textile.

The gallery promotes the exhibition through local media outlets and online platforms, including a video of the show with artist credits. The opening reception is attended by artists, local politicians, and community leaders, providing a platform for networking and potential collaborations.

About North Coastal Art Gallery

North Coastal Art Gallery stands at the intersection of tradition and innovation. They are not just creating art, but also reviving traditional art forms and breathing new life into them by blending them with modern technology. From classical techniques reimagined through digital tools to immersive multimedia experiences, the gallery’s work bridges the past and the future in ways that feel both meaningful and fresh.

At the heart of everything the gallery does is a commitment to equity and visibility. They showcase underrepresented voices — artists from marginalized backgrounds whose stories and styles often go unheard in the mainstream art world. By offering them not just a platform, but real opportunity, the gallery is building a space where diverse talent can thrive, be seen, and be celebrated. This mix of heritage, innovation, and social impact is what makes the gallery not just relevant — but vital.

For more information, contact ncagpresident@gmail.com

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Visions In Clay Art Competion (Stockton, CA) – Call For Artists

Visions In Clay Art Competion (Stockton, CA) – Call For Artists

[Side Arts Certified Sponsored Listing] The LH Horton Jr Gallery, located on the campus of San Joaquin Delta College in Stockton, California, announces a call for artists for Visions In Clay. This art competition was founded by the San Joaquin Potters Guild in 2002, and has been presented by the Horton Art Gallery since 2010.

Click here for the application / registration

Enter by: 23 June 2025

Eligibility

  • Entry is open to artists residing in the U.S.
  • Ceramic works of any thematic and stylistic presentation are accepted for entry. Clay must be the primary medium.
  • Artwork that has been previously exhibited at the Horton Art Gallery is not eligible for entry.
  • Artwork may not exceed 4ft. in any dimension.
  • Online Entry Fee: $30 1-3 Entries / $45 4-6 Entries
  • Selection Announcement by July 14, 2025

Exhibition Juror: Nancy M. Servis, ceramic artist, curator, author, and educator.

Visions In Clay Artist Benefits

Visions In Clay is one of the largest ceramic exhibitions in Northern California, with 50-60 works in each show. In addition to the Gallery exhibition, there is an online exhibition website with individual exhibiting artists’ webpage and links to their websites and social media sites. Gallery and online sales are promoted, with a nominal 20% commission to the Gallery, and 80% back to the artist. The exhibition is well known nationally and presents quality ceramic works by established artists selected by high profile jurors.

Gallery Exhibition: August 28 – September 25, 2025 (as well as an exhibition website with individual webpages for exhibiting artists).

  • Gallery Awards: $800 | $600 | $400
  • San Joaquin Potters Guild Founders Award: $300
  • Regional Artist Award: Ceramic Demonstration Workshop for Delta College Students ~ $800

About LH Horton Jr Gallery

The LH Horton Jr Gallery is a fine arts exhibition and events program within the Arts & Multimedia TrAC at San Joaquin Delta College, and a venue of Delta Center for the Arts. The Gallery presents contemporary art exhibitions and associated visual arts events and workshops to:

  • Support Student Learning Outcomes in the visual arts curriculum.
  • Build knowledge in the aesthetic, technical, cultural and historical context of the visual arts.
  • Exhibitions include an annual student art show, and biannual alumni and art faculty exhibitions, as well as the Gallery’s signature curated and juried shows, such as the annual Visions In Clay exhibition.

For more information, contact jan.marlese@deltacollege.edu

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Laguna Art-A-Fair Summer Festival (Laguna Beach, CA) – Call For Artists

Laguna Art-A-Fair Summer Festival (Laguna Beach, CA) – Call For Artists

[Side Arts Certified Sponsored Listing] Laguna Art-A-Fair announces a call for artists for the 2025 Laguna Art-A-Fair Summer Festival. In it’s 58th year, the fine arts festival will be open daily from June 27th to August 31st, 2025.

Laguna Beach, California, is an acclaimed destination for those interested in artwork of all types, with dozens of galleries. The three summer festivals located adjacent to each other along Laguna Canyon Road draw a high number of visitors, with Laguna Art-A-Fair located between the other two festivals.

Click here for the application / registration

Enter by: 3 February 2025

Unlike the other two summer art festivals adjacent to Laguna Art-A-Fair, there are no residency requirements.

Over 50,000 attendees visit Laguna Art-A-Fair each summer. Laguna Beach is a very popular summer tourist destination for its beaches, coastline, restaurants, and art galleries. Juried-in exhibitors choose booth sizes from 1/2 booth (8 linear feet) up to 1 1/2 booth (24 linear feet). Booths are constructed with drywall walls for exhibitor use, making the displaying of artwork very easy.

Since all sales are processed through a central cashier, even if an exhibitor isn’t in attendance, sales opportunities are not lost. There is 24-hour security, which minimizes concerns of theft of artwork. The fair is aggressive in its social media promotion of the festival with over 300,000 Facebook followers and over 100,000 Instagram followers.

About Laguna Art-A-Fair

Laguna Art-A-Fair is renowned for the high quality and wide diversity of its fine art offerings. Laguna Art-A-Fair’s theme is a “Festival Without Borders”. Each year, artists from other states and even other countries exhibit in the festival. The art fair is consistently voted as the best summer art festival in Laguna Beach. The organization runs as a cooperative, with each exhibitor as a member who has a say in the festival’s operation, and a Board of Directors elected from the membership. Besides booth fees, exhibitors pay only a 20% commission on sales.

For more information, contact lagunaartafair@gmail.com

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The Other Art Fair Los Angeles (February 2025) – Call For Artists

The Other Art Fair Los Angeles (February 2025)  – Call For Artists

[Side Arts Certified Sponsored Listing] The Other Art Fair, presented by SaatchiArt, announces a call for artists for The Other Art Fair Los Angeles.

The Fair package includes a booth at a 4-day in-person event at Los Angeles’ 2800 Casitas Ave in Atwater Village (February 20-23), pre-fair operations and marketing workshops, and booth curation feedback.

 

Click here for the application / registration

Register by: 1 December 2024

Fees start at $2,250.

Are you an early-stage artist facing the traditional barriers of the contemporary art world? You may qualify for the New Futures prize, where one recipient is awarded free exhibition space at The Other Art Fair Los Angeles. For more information on New Futures, click here: https://form.jotform.com/242885363119160

The Other Art Fair Los Angeles Artist Benefits

Artists that exhibit at The Other Art Fair gain access to unique marketing support from Saatchi Art, including:

  • Exhibitors at The Other Art Fair create a free profile on Saatchi Art. This profile opens you and your artwork to a worldwide base of art collectors, expanding your online community and reach.
  • As an exhibitor, your art has the opportunity to be chosen by the curation and fair team for multiple Saatchi Art collections, exclusively highlighting artworks of The Other Art Fair exhibitors. These collections are promoted by Saatchi Art and The Other Art Fair.
  • As an exhibitor, your art has the opportunity to be chosen as featured artwork for marketing pre-Fair by Saatchi Art and The Other Art Fair through email, web, and social promoting the edition of The Other Art Fair where you will be exhibiting.
  • A marketing workshop that provides helpful tips to inviting your community, no matter how small or large, plus inspiration for how to best curate your stand.
  • Personalized marketing assets that you can use on social media and email, to share with your contacts.
  • Access to an artist portal with logos, marketing assets, recorded workshops, and important details and deadlines, making marketing collateral easy to find.
  • A valued place in a community of artists that you can go to for friendship, advice, expertise, and support.

About The Other Art Fair

Presented by SaatchiArt, the world’s leading online art gallery, the Fair is a global gathering of creative thinkers, game changers, and pleasure seekers sharing emerging talent and unforgettable experiences. Set against the backdrop of the world’s biggest cities, each fair is different. The Fair combines boundary-pushing yet always affordable works with immersive installations, performances, and the odd tattoo or taxidermy class thrown in for good measure. Art isn’t confined to convention or rule, and how you enjoy it shouldn’t be either.

A place where art feels accessible, where everyone fits in, where the experience exists outside of four white walls and the same four artists? That’s not normal. That’s The Other Art Fair.

For more information, contact lili@theotherartfair.com

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Holiday Treasures: Small Image Show (Carlsbad, CA) – Call For Artists

Holiday Treasures: Small Image Show (Carlsbad, CA) – Call For Artists

[Side Arts Certified Sponsored Listing] North Coastal Art Gallery announces a call for artists for Holiday Treasures: Small Image Show with cash awards for ( 9 ) categories. Just in time for the holiday shopping season.  Register to participate in 56 days of joyous art, a great take away for gifts.

Click here for the application / registration

Enter by: 25 October 2024

No image uploads and no jurying-in. Holiday Treasures awards will be judged by artist Drew Bandish.

Celebrate at the opening holiday reception on Saturday, November 16, 2024, at 3 – 5 PM.

About North Coastal Art Gallery

For the past 23 years, North Coastal Art Gallery has been open for highly anticipated art shows that welcome the creativity and talent of artists from across California. Juried and awarded exhibitions underscore a commitment to celebrate the diverse and dynamic art scene of many artists. They provide a platform for both emerging and established artists to gain recognition. It’s not just an exhibition, it’s an opportunity for cultural exchange, professional development, and community building within the arts.

North Coastal Art Gallery encourages artistic growth. It opens the world of art to everyone, irrespective of their level of artistic or creative experience. They provide accessible platforms, resources, and opportunities for artists to engage with the community at large and educate through self expression. The gallery provides a variety of support to those willing to particpate in outreach programs.

The North Coastal Art Gallery is managed by the (COAL), Carlsbad-Oceanside Art League which is a 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization. COAL was formed in August 1951, by a group of five emerging, dedicated, and established artists who lived in the Carlsbad and Oceanside area. Their mission was to promote art education and cultural appreciation in the community and whose primary purpose was to provide art enrichment to artists, provide a place to display artwork, and their dreams to reach across communities.

For more information, contact info@northcoastalartgallery.com

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Joshua Tree Highlands Artist Residency (California) – Call For Artists

Joshua Tree Highlands Artist Residency (California) – Call For Artists

[Side Arts Certified Sponsored Listing] The Joshua Tree Highlands Artist Residency (JTHAR) announces a call for artists for the 2025 – 26 season.

Each year, JTHAR invites 6 artists from around the world to create artwork amidst the beauty of Joshua Tree National Park. Artists selected for this program are at all stages of their careers and work in all media including drawing, painting, photography, sculpture, film, video, new media, installation, fiction and non fiction writing, interdisciplinary, social practice, and architecture.

Click here for the application / registration

Apply by: 10 December 2024

JTHAR fosters creativity through opportunities for exploring, experimenting, quiet reflection, engagement and cross-cultural exchange with the vibrant local artist community. They establish spaces where inspiration happens on a daily basis. Artists can do the work of innovating, changing the cultural landscape and generating a fresh look at the way we connect to each other and to the world.

Joshua Tree Highlands Artist Residency Artist Benefits

Residency recipients will receive a fifteen hundred dollar scholarship to deter costs of participating in the program. Funds can be used towards art supplies, transportation, and meals.

The residency provides studio space and living accommodations. Each artist will be assigned their own house in which to live and work for the length of the residency. Artists may choose to work in the JTHAR dedicated studio, a large studio space, divided by movable walls, depending on the artist’s needs. Housing Accommodations are located in the Highlands near the West Entrance of the Joshua Tree National Park. Please note that the summer months can be very hot in the high desert. If you are adverse to the heat, this may not be the program for you. All houses are equipped with air conditioning.

I am immensely grateful for my time at JTHAR. The program provides a gateway to an incredibly inspiring landscape while being embedded with an engaged and supportive community. From when I first arrived, to my last day, I felt valued and bolstered to a degree that far exceeded expectations. Personal connections coupled with an impressively outfitted living/working space made this bespoke residency truly special. The seven weeks of uninterrupted focused time allowed for the ample experimentation and iteration necessary for locating new possibilities in my creative research. I have immensely benefitted from the energy of all involved during the residency period and anticipate the momentum gained to carry me for years to come. — David Andree (2024)

The memories I made at the Joshua Tree Highlands Artist Residency will always hold a special place in my heart and mark a pivotal turning point in my artistic journey. The opportunity to spend time in the midst of such natural beauty allowed me to find inspiration, delve into my thoughts, and explore trajectories like never before. JTHAR’s generosity and dedication to fostering artistic growth are truly remarkable. — Justin M Zielke (2023)

Coming from the over populated landscape of New York City, it took me a while to adjust to the wide sky, to the desert’s prickly but fascinating creatures, the overwhelming daylight and the overwhelmingly dark nights, and the dry dry heat. But eventually, thanks to my fellow residents, and to the warmth and kindnesses of the JTHAR board members, Joshua Tree became the place I was able to feel myself again. My time there helped me reengage with my writing in a way I very much needed. It’s a bit counterintuitive perhaps, but the barbed landscape eventually proved itself capable of holding me tenderly. And so I let it. And for that gift, I’m immensely grateful. — Bernard Ferguson (2021)

About Joshua Tree Highlands Artist Residency

Founded in 2007, JTHAR is a nonprofit artist residency, which invites artists from around the world to create work amidst the beauty of Joshua Tree National Park. Connect to the vibrant local artistic community. The residency provides scholarship funds, accommodations, studio space, and a gallery exhibition. JTHAR has been providing a place for artist to create new works for 19 years. It is the only non profit residency in Joshua Tree, California, that has an open call for artists.

Located next to Joshua Tree National Park, which has two distinct desert ecosystems, the Mojave and the Colorado. A fascinating variety of plants and animals make their homes in a land sculpted by strong winds and occasional torrents of rain. Dark night skies, a rich cultural history, and surreal geologic features add to the wonder of this vast wilderness in southern California.

For more information, contact info@jthar.com

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The Second Half (50 and Over) Art Exhibition – Call For Artists

The Second Half (50 and Over) Art Exhibition – Call For Artists

[Side Arts Certified Sponsored Listing] Las Laguna Art Gallery announces a call for artists for The Second Half (50 and Over), an in-gallery and online art exhibition. This is an open theme, open medium call for artists for any artist 50 years of age or older.

Click here for the application / registration

Enter by: 30 May 2024

Las Laguna Art Gallery is looking to celebrate the talent, experience, and unique viewpoint of those in “the 2nd half” of life. As we grow older, the maturity and insight life has given us multiplies. The viewpoints and experiences that come with age are invaluable lessons to us all on how to live life – and live it well.

For the online exhibition, each artist that submits will have at least one artwork selected to be shown. Las Laguna Art Gallery promotes artists and their artwork on their website, Instagram, Facebook, and to a group of collectors and supporters.

About Las Laguna Art Gallery

Las Laguna Art Gallery is located in the well-known art community of Laguna Beach, California. They are on an oceanside cliff in a cute little village of art and shops. Each month, they host a different themed show featuring artists from around the world. They pride themselves in being an entry point for artists new to showing their artwork, as well as a place that experienced artists love to exhibit.

For more information, contact laslagunaartgallery@gmail.com

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