Academic Artists Association
Arts Center East, Vernon, CT
75th Annual National Exhibition of Traditional Realism
October 12 – November 2, 2025 |Arts Center East, Vernon, CT
Deadline is August 14th.
22 weeks left to enter.
Open to Members and Non-Members.
Deadline is August 14th. Open to Members and Non-Members. To enter, visit:
showsubmit.com/show/aaa-75th-annual-national-exhibition-of-traditional-realism
showsubmit.com/show/aaa-75th-annual-national-exhibition-of-traditional-realism
Artwork by Jeff Kern
Open Calls
or to submit.
Deadline for entry: August 14, 2025
Hours
Thursday – Saturday, 1–5pm
You must verify your membership via the list on the website before payment.
Venue
Arts Center East
709 Hartford Turnpike
Vernon, CT
860-871-8222
Vernon, CT
860-871-8222
Hours
Thursday – Saturday, 1–5pm
Awards
Over $5,000 in Awards.
Judge of Awards
Julie Beck
Julie Beck began her career as a graphic designer and video editor by day, and painter by night. After a decade of self-directed artistic exploration, her move to Massachusetts introduced her to atelier training at the renowned Academy of Realist Art, Boston. Discovering formal technical training in her 30s propelled her work to new heights and inspired a transformative shift in her life. Since 2013, Julie has served as both an instructor and the Assistant Director at ARA Boston.
Julie is an award-winning painter whose work bridges the realms of classical realism and contemporary expression. Her meticulous technique is complemented by a strong sense of narrative, imbuing her work with emotional resonance and timelessness. Drawing inspiration from art history, everyday objects, evocative figures, and the viewer’s experience, her paintings encourage thoughtful reflection on both the subject matter and the self.
Julie’s paintings, which have been collected and exhibited across the United States as well as internationally, have garnered accolades for their technical mastery and evocative power. Beyond the canvas, Julie is passionate about teaching and mentoring emerging artists, fostering a community dedicated to craftsmanship and creativity.
Julie Beck began her career as a graphic designer and video editor by day, and painter by night. After a decade of self-directed artistic exploration, her move to Massachusetts introduced her to atelier training at the renowned Academy of Realist Art, Boston. Discovering formal technical training in her 30s propelled her work to new heights and inspired a transformative shift in her life. Since 2013, Julie has served as both an instructor and the Assistant Director at ARA Boston.
Julie is an award-winning painter whose work bridges the realms of classical realism and contemporary expression. Her meticulous technique is complemented by a strong sense of narrative, imbuing her work with emotional resonance and timelessness. Drawing inspiration from art history, everyday objects, evocative figures, and the viewer’s experience, her paintings encourage thoughtful reflection on both the subject matter and the self.
Julie’s paintings, which have been collected and exhibited across the United States as well as internationally, have garnered accolades for their technical mastery and evocative power. Beyond the canvas, Julie is passionate about teaching and mentoring emerging artists, fostering a community dedicated to craftsmanship and creativity.
Entry Fees
- Members: $30 for 1 artwork, $10 for 1 additional artwork.
Members must have paid 2025 dues no later than March 30 or will have to pay the non-member entry fee. - Non-Members: $55 for 1 artwork, $10 for 1 additional artwork.
Entry fees will be collected as part of the online submission process and may be paid by credit card. Member dues must be paid separately and in advance.
Membership Dues
Dues of $35 must be renewed annually to maintain membership no later than March 30th. New members must pay yearly dues at time of membership approval. Members whose dues are not paid will be dropped from the membership list until all past dues are paid or the artist re-qualifies. The membership year is Jan. 1-Dec. 31. Membership dues may be paid via PayPal by following the instructions on the Academic Artists Association website academicartistsassociation.orgwhich includes a $1 dollar processing fee or by sending a check:
Payable to:
Academic Artists Association
Payable to:
Academic Artists Association
Mail to:
Sam Dupuis
13 Rockland Drive
Enfield, CT 06082
You must verify your membership via the list on the website before payment.
Membership in Academic Artists Association
Any artist whose work has been accepted in two (2) Academic Artists Association National Exhibitions, in a five (5) year period, automatically becomes a member, who will be required to maintain yearly membership dues. This process will continue for the 2025 calendar year.
In 2025, artists may also choose to submit 3-5 pieces of their original art to be juried by the Academic Artists Association council for acceptance as members.
Please see academicartistsassociation.org for more information.
In 2025, artists may also choose to submit 3-5 pieces of their original art to be juried by the Academic Artists Association council for acceptance as members.
Please see academicartistsassociation.org for more information.
Exhibition Requirements
- Open to all living U.S. artists.
- Any original representational art in the categories of Oils, Acrylics, Watercolors, Graphics, Pastels and Sculpture will be considered.
Note: Casein and Egg Tempera will be judged with Acrylics. - Submissions must have been completed within the past five (5) year period.
- Two submissions allowed per artist.
- A maximum of one work per artist will be accepted.
- Submissions must be the artist’s original composition.
- Photographs, Giclée’s or Digital Prints, artwork done in a class or under an instructor’s guidance are not allowed.
- Your entry constitutes your permission to reproduce your artwork in our catalog and PR materials.
Frame Requirements
- Framed work must not exceed 40 inches in width including frame - strictly enforced.
- All work must be framed/prepared to professional standards and wired for hanging.
- No saw-tooth hangers allowed.
- Works on paper should be framed under glass or acrylic (Plexiglas).
Sculpture
- Weight limit is 75 pounds. Sculpture must be fully assembled.
- Two views must be submitted with complete description, size, weight and medium on all digital entries.
- A limited number of sculpture stands will be available for use. Artists are encouraged to supply their own stand.
Shipped Work
A $50 handling fee (check payable to Letterpress Arts) and a pre-paid, return addressed shipping label must be included.
Send shipped entries to:
Letterpress Arts
13 Rockland Drive
Enfield, CT 06082
- Shipped work must be received by Wednesday, October 1st. No COD’s Accepted.
- Arts Center East will not accept shipped work.
- There is a 75 pound limit, including crate, for any shipped work.
- Plexiglas is recommended for shipped artwork.
- We are not responsible for broken glass. Framed work must not exceed 40 inches in width, including frame - strictly enforced.
- Pack well in a reusable carton. Submitting artist will be responsible for any additional costs if packing material and container are not adequate for return shipping. Any insurance desired by the artist from the time of shipping to the time returned should be purchased by the artist from his/her own insurance company.
For questions related to shipping only:
860-745-3608 or email: samdupuis45@outlook.com
Artwork Removal
Art pickup begins on Sunday, November 2nd when the show closes and is the preferred time for pickup. All entries must be removed from Arts Center East no later than Monday, November 3rd, 2025, by 12 pm. Artwork not removed is subject to a storage fee of $10 per day.
Artwork not picked up after 60 days will become the property of Academic Artists Association. Shipped work will be returned as soon after the end of the show as possible.
Liability
Neither the Academic Artists Association, nor its agents, will be responsible for loss or damage while artwork is on display, in storage, or in transit. All reasonable care will be taken, but Academic Artists Association accepts no liability whatsoever, in any form, resulting from the entry, acceptance or rejection of exhibits or from any other matter connected with the Exhibition. Entry to this show constitutes permission to photograph your work for catalog or publicity purposes. Submission to this Exhibit signifies acceptance of these terms.
Sales
A 20% commission will be retained on all sales. If work is listed “Not For Sale” (N.F.S.), value must be given.
More Information
For questions about the 2025 Academic Artists Association Exhibit, please contact:
Annual Meeting
Open to all Members and Interested Parties.
Date and location to be announced and posted at academicartistsassociation.org
Additional Notification Information
Notifications will be emailed and posted in your ShowSubmit account by the end of the day on August 25, 2025.
You may view the notification in your ShowSubmit account by logging in and clicking tapping the Notifications at the top right of the screen, or in your Entry History.
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.
Note: Entries made prior to 2023 may not display the View Notification link.
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 (August 14, 2025.)
- 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
For questions about AAA or this Prospectus, please contact (info@academicartistsassociation.org).
For technical support or entry questions, first check our Help Center or Entry Guide. If you still need help, email ShowSubmit Support (support@showsubmit.com). We’ll respond between 9am and 6pm Eastern Time, Monday through Friday.