STATE COLLEGE — The Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts has issued the Call for Entries for Images 2026, its annual juried fine art exhibition showcasing exceptional two-dimensional work by Pennsylvania artists. The exhibition will be on view July 1–31 at the Schlow Centre Region Library in downtown State College, Pennsylvania.
A signature visual arts component of the Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts, the Images exhibition offers artists an opportunity to present their work to one of the region’s largest arts audiences. The Festival, held July 8–12, attracts more than 125,000 visitors each year.
Images 2026 is open to artists age 16 and older whose primary residence is in Pennsylvania. Eligible media include drawing, painting, pastel, mixed media, photography, hand-pulled prints, watercolor, fiber, paper, and digital art. Submitted work must be original and completed after Jan. 1, 2023. The entry deadline is May 8.
The application and full Call for Entries are available at https://arts-festival.com/images-juried-exhibition. The website also includes a link to the online gallery of last year’s Images 2025 exhibition.
Dr. Amanda H. Hellman, the new Director of the Palmer Museum of Art at Penn State, will serve as juror for Images 2026. As juror, she will select the exhibiting artists and award recipients. Hellman brings extensive experience as a museum leader, curator, and advocate for contemporary art. Previously she held positions at Vanderbilt University Museum of Art and the Michael C. Carlos Museum of Emory University where she was the curator of African art. Dr. Hellman’s research on museum development in West and East Africa reveals how heritage formation and artistic practice are inextricably linked.
The juror will award a total of $1,800 in cash prizes, including Best of Show ($500), Best Painting ($200), Best Pastel ($200), Best Photograph ($200), four Merit Awards ($150 each), and Best Student Submission ($100).
Awards will be presented at the Images Awards Reception on July 9, 2026, during the Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts.
The Best of Show award in Images 2025 was presented to Philip Huber of Lock Haven for his ink and dye on scratchboard work, November Frost, Lapland, Sweden 1.
“The Images exhibition highlights the remarkable depth and diversity of artistic talent across Pennsylvania,” said Jennifer Shuey, Director of Development and Images Exhibition Coordinator. “We are proud to provide artists with a meaningful exhibition opportunity and to share their work with the thousands of visitors who attend the Arts Festival each year.”
The Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts encourages Pennsylvania artists to apply and be part of this celebrated annual exhibition.
The Images 2026 Exhibition is just one facet of the 60th Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts, which will be held July 8 through July 12, 2025. For more information visit https://arts-festival.com/.
The Arts Festival receives state arts funding support through a grant from the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, a state agency funded by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and additional grant support from the Happy Valley Adventure Bureau and Centre County Commissioners.
