The Celebrate Agriculture with the Arts Competition and Exhibition continues its long-standing tradition of highlighting the vital role of agriculture while showcasing the creativity and talent of California artists. This unique event invites artists to explore agriculture not only as an industry, but also as a way of life, expressing its beauty, challenges, and significance through their work.

The exhibition was first launched in 1994 with support from the California Arts Council, when the Madera County Arts Council introduced the agricultural-themed show as part of the statewide California Countryside Festival. Following its success, the Council established the competition as an annual event in 1995, and by 1997 participation had expanded to artists from across California.

Now entering its 33rd year in 2026, the exhibition continues to be a meaningful celebration of the connection between art, agriculture, and community. Each year it brings together artists, patrons, and residents to reflect on the enduring importance of agriculture in our region and throughout the state.

Submission Deadline Extended to June 12!

About Central Valley Community Foundation 

For 60 years, the Central Valley Community Foundation (CVCF) has served California’s Central San Joaquin Valley, because this place and the people who live here matter.  CVCF is a steady presence in this region, weaving together the vision of community members, the dedication of nonprofits and the generosity of local donors to support big and lasting change. In honor of our 60th Anniversary, we are celebrating a year-long tribute honoring this place we call home. Our celebration includes reflecting on our shared history by highlighting the people, places, and accomplishments that make our region exceptional. 

Awards 

Approximately eight (8) proposals will be awarded $1,500 plus materials to complete a new work of art that reflects the theme of this Call for Proposals. 

Submission Guidelines 

The Call for Proposals is open to artists nationwide; however, all subject matter must be related to historic moments of the last 60 years (since 1966) in California’s Central San Joaquin Valley (Merced, Mariposa, Madera, Fresno, Tulare, and Kings Counties) OR national and/or international events that directly impacted the region. The Call for Proposals is open to visual artists and artisans working in all physical media including but not limited to oil & acrylic painting, watercolor & gouache, pastel, mixed media, printmaking, photography, drawing & sketching, fiber art, glass, ceramics, and woodworking. Work must be original and not have been produced prior to Proposal Selection. Proposals from any artist are welcome, including those from diverse and underrepresented backgrounds. Please submit your application in English. Selected artists will be communicated with in English, with interpretation available upon request. 

Ownership 

Central Valley Community Foundation is sole owner and rights-holder to all works created and funded by this Project. 

Entry Procedures  

Each artist is limited to one Proposal Submission. Entry is through SmarterEntry.com only. No other types of submission will be accepted. 

Text Document Requirements 

Proposal Submission should include an Artist Statement, and Artist Biography. These documents must be submitted BEFORE your images can be uploaded.   

• Your Artist Statement should be a thorough description of what you propose to produce if your Proposal is selected. It should include your subject, medium, budget with materials list, why you chose the subject and its relevance to the theme.  

• Your Artist Biography should include more general information about your career as an artist, including education, philosophy, history, and other highlights you consider important. 

Image Requirements 

Artists must submit one digital file of an existing piece of work in the same medium that you are proposing to create. This allows our Proposal Selection Committee to evaluate your technical expertise in executing your medium. Digital files must be in a .jpg format. Each image must be less than 8 megabytes in size. We recommend dimensions of at least 1280 pixels on the long side. Higher resolution is OK as long as the file size does not exceed 8 megabytes. Do not submit images smaller than 800 pixels on the long side.  

File Names 

Please use your last name, followed by an underscore, followed by your first name as your filename. Do not use numbers or special characters; letters and underscore only. For example: Smith_Mary.jpg 

Proposal Selection Committee 

Proposal submissions will be reviewed by a Proposal Selection Committee composed of one representative from the Central Valley Community Foundation and six County Arts Council representatives, one from each of the CACs within CVCF’s service area (Merced, Mariposa, Madera, Fresno, Tulare, and Kings). 

Selection and Awards Procedures 

The Proposal Selection Committee will evaluate all Proposals and select up to twenty finalists. Finalists will be interviewed in June 2026. Award recipients will be notified by July 6, 2026, and the award will be issued shortly thereafter.  

Specifications and Requirements 

Maximum size: 5’ x 5’ 

Receiving 

The final product of your commission must be delivered September 21st - 28th, 2026 to Central Valley Community Foundation offices in Fresno, located at 1260 Fulton Street, Suite 200. 

Important Dates: 

April 3, 2026 –Request for Proposals Opens 

May 29, 2026 –Requests for Proposals Closes 

June 2026 – Proposal Selection Committee Meetings with Finalists 

July 6, 2026 – Notification to Selected Recipients 

July 6, 2026 - September 27th – Creation Period 

September 21-28, 2026 - Receiving 

Participation Agreement 

Submission of a Proposal constitutes an agreement by the artist to the terms and conditions in this Prospectus.