Burlington County Seeking Artists for New Art Challenge Event and 50th Annual Juried Art Show
The Burlington County Commissioners are calling on all artists to showcase their skills and creativity in two upcoming Burlington County exhibitions.
Artists are wanted for the new Creative Spark Art Challenge on August 14 and August 15, 2026, and the 50th Annual Burlington County Juried Art Show running from October 9, 2026, through January 3, 2027.
“The arts are a major contributor to the quality of life and sense of community that residents love about living in Burlington County, and we are thrilled how the county’s art scene has continued to grow and thrive,” said Burlington County Commissioner Deputy Director Allison Eckel, liaison to the Department of Resource Conservation and Parks. “Our Board and the Burlington County Parks System continue to support the arts by providing new opportunities for artists to showcase their work. The upcoming Creative Spark Art Challenge and the Juried Art Show are great examples, and we’re excited to see the talent of local and regional artists on display.”
Creative Spark Art Challenge
The Creative Spark Art Challenge is a new event organized by the Burlington County Parks System. Participating artists will attend one of the two workshop sessions on August 14 and August 15, where they will be given three hours to create an original piece of art based on a “mystery theme” that will be revealed to them at the workshop.
Artists will be given a list of specified materials to bring, and supplemental materials will also be available at both sessions.
The creations will be exhibited and judged during a special show at the Burlington County Arts After Dark Festival at Historic Smithville Park on September 19. One piece from the challenge will also be selected for a solo spot in next year’s Arts After Dark Pop-Up Exhibit.
The challenge is open to all artists 12 and up, but space is limited (interested artists will be added to a wait list once capacity reached). To sign up, go to https://shorturl.at/UdvZZ .
“Many people have watched cooking challenges on television where chefs are tasked with cooking a dish with specific ingredients and a set time limit, well, we’re challenging artists to create an original work of art with certain materials in under three hours,” said Commissioner Randy Brolo. “It’s a fun concept that challenges participants to demonstrate their artistic skills and creativity while on a clock.”
50th Annual Juried Art Show
Burlington County’s long-running juried art exhibition is celebrating its milestone 50th year, and organizers are hoping to make this year’s show one of the most memorable yet.
The show was originally created by the Burlington County Cultural and Heritage Commission in honor of the nation’s Bicentennial in 1976. Its success prompted the County to make it an annual event to showcase the region’s artists.
Works from 64 different artists were exhibited during last year’s show and this year’s show is expected to draw additional interest because of the anniversary and enhanced prizes.
The Best of Show winner this year will receive a $500 prize, and the First Place winners in each category will receive $150 each.
“For 50 years the Juried Art Show has provided a showcase for many of the region’s most talented professional and non-professional artists,” said Commissioner Eckel. “We’re proud to continue this longstanding tradition and seeing the diverse art on display in beautiful Smithville is something we look forward to each year.”
Artists 18 and up are eligible to submit up to three works of art for consideration for the show. Not all submissions will be exhibited. Typically, the show attracts hundreds of submissions.
Eligible mediums include paintings, drawings, printmaking, mixed media, sculptures, stained glass, digital art, and photography. No crafts, kits, copies of paintings, or AI created artwork will be accepted.
Artists interested in submitting work for the show must complete a prospectus and make the $20 entry payment in advance of the show’s intake dates on September 25 and September 26. The prospectus and registration/entry payment links are at https://www.burlingtoncountynj.gov/1820/Call-For-Artists .
Selected works will be exhibited at the Smithville Mansion Annex Gallery from October 9 through January 3. There will also be an artists’ reception at the Annex Gallery on October 30 from 5 PM to 7 PM.
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