Railroad Street Artworks
Exhibition artwork

Railroad Street Artworks

Celebrate America

A juried show honoring the United States' 250th birthday

Fairport, NY

July 2 – August 2, 2026

Deadline is June 10th. 8 weeks left to enter.
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About the Exhibition

Railroad Street Artworks invites artists to submit work for Celebrate America, our July special exhibit honoring the 250th birthday of the United States. This is a juried show open to both gallery members and non-member artists.

America turns 250 this year — a milestone worth pausing to mark. But what does “Celebrate America” mean to you as an artist?

Perhaps it’s a grand and iconic landscape — sweeping plains, rugged coastlines, mountain ranges lit by an evening sky. Or perhaps it’s closer to home: a small-town Fourth of July, a worn flag on a front porch, a neighborhood that carries history in its streets. A portrait of someone who embodies the American spirit. The particular way light falls on a place you love.

We welcome all interpretations. We’re looking for original work that reflects America’s people, landscapes, history, culture, and enduring spirit — in whatever way it speaks to you as an artist.

$425 in prizes will be awarded.

Location

Railroad Street Artwork Gallery
3 Railroad Street, Suite G
Fairport, NY 14450

railroadstreetartworks.org

Entry Fees

  • Railroad Street Artworks members: $20 for the first entry, $5 for each additional entry—up to 3 entries total.
  • Non-members: $30 for the first entry, $5 for each additional entry—up to 3 entries total.

Sales

All work will be offered for sale. Standard member commission rates apply for Railroad Street Artworks members. Non-member artists, Railroad Street Artworks retains 15% of all sales; 85% goes to the artist. Artists will be notified by the Gallery’s administrative staff when a sale is made. Checks for sold works will be mailed during the first week of August.

Exhibition Requirements

  • Artists may submit up to three (3) works for jury consideration.
  • All submitted images must accurately represent the unframed work. Images are assumed to be of the completed piece.
  • The maximum size must not exceed 900 square inches (unframed).
  • All works must be professionally framed with wire for hanging. Sawtooth bar hangers are NOT accepted.
  • If displaying under glass, plexi-glass is strongly recommended. The Gallery is not responsible for broken glass damage.
  • Submitted work must be your own original creation, painted from your own photographic references, drawings, and original concepts. Direct copies of stock images or references to which you do not hold full copyright will not be accepted. Prints or digital art will not be accepted.
  • Accepted work must remain in place for the duration of the exhibition.
  • Accepted work must be labeled on the back with Title of Artwork, Medium, Price, Telephone, and Email Address.
Submissions not adhering to the above guidelines may be omitted from the exhibition.

Awards

  • Best of Show — $100
  • People’s Choice — $100
  • Juror’s Award (3) — $50 each
  • Merit Award (3) — $25 each
Entries are first reviewed by a jury of Railroad Street Artworks Gallery members, who select the works to be included in the exhibit. From the accepted works, a separate Awards Judge panel of three individuals will select winners for Best of Show, Juror's Awards, and Merit Awards.

The People's Choice award is determined by visitor voting throughout the exhibit and is announced on August 2. Ballots will be available in the gallery throughout the run of the show.

Awards Judge panel

To be announced

Liability

Railroad Street Artworks Gallery is not responsible for loss, fire, burglary, or any other damage to artwork submitted. Submitting a work implies agreement with all conditions stated in this prospectus. Images of accepted artwork may be used by the Gallery for publicity and advertising purposes.

Additional Notification Information

Notifications will be emailed and posted in your ShowSubmit account by the end of the day on June 19, 2026.

If you do not receive your email, login and view the notification in your account. We cannot respond to inquiries regarding the status of notifications.

Image and Filename Specifications

  • File Format: Submit original, high-quality JPEG image files. Other formats (e.g., PNG, TIFF) are not accepted.
  • Crop Your Image: Ensure only the artwork itself is visible in the image. Do not show any visible matting, frames, or background distractions.
  • Orientation: Make sure your image is oriented correctly (right side up) so that the artwork appears in its intended viewing direction.
  • Image Size: You do not need to resize your image files before uploading. The system will automatically resize them. Smaller images cannot be enlarged to meet the requirements, so ensure your images are high resolution before uploading.
  • File Names: You do not need to rename your files before uploading them. The system will handle any file naming requirements.
  • File Size: There is a 30mb maximum file size limit. Larger image files will take longer to upload and process.

Additional Entry Information

  • You will pay for your entry by credit or debit card using our secure checkout system.
  • After your entry is submitted and paid for, you may log back in to review your entry, edit artist and image information, and add or substitute images up until the entry deadline (June 10, 2026.)
  • Entry fees are not refundable and must be submitted and paid by the entry deadline.
  • Entries cannot be accepted or changed after the deadline. Incomplete entries will be disqualified.

Support

Questions about this exhibition?
Contact Pam Renfro ([email protected]) or Nancy Murty ([email protected]) for questions about the Prospectus, RSA, eligibility, artwork requirements, drop-off, pick-up, sales, etc.

Need help with ShowSubmit?
Visit our Help Center or Entry Guide for guidance on image uploads, payments, and managing your entry. If you still need help, email ShowSubmit Support ([email protected]). We respond Monday–Friday, 9am–6pm Eastern.