ssac Competitions / Calls for Entry
Subscribe to our monthly email
Small Works
Small Works
November 12– December 19, 2026
Small Works
OPENING RECEPTION: Thursday, November 12th, 6 - 8 PM
Gallery Artist Show, open to all media, original works.
ABOUT THE THEME:
Small Works
Call for Gallery Artists Only
SSAC Gallery Artists are invited to exhibit up to 4 pieces to our annual Small Works exhibit.
This exhibit is free and exclusive to Gallery Artist participation. All pieces must be under 12 in x 12 in/ 144 sq. in. All pieces must be for sale.
Artworks are sold off the wall. Artists will be contacted to replace a sold piece, if they wish.
ENTRY DEADLINE: Monday, November 9th
JPEG SIZING: Images submitted via Smarter Entry should be at least 1280 pixels in the longest dimension at 72 ppi; file size not to exceed 3 MB.
FEES
$0
ALL WORKS MUST BE FOR SALE. South Shore Art Center receives 40% of the purchase price. Please submit only work that will be available at the time of the exhibition and will remain for its entirety. No accepted entry may be withdrawn prior to the close of the exhibition. No pricing changes will be allowed after acceptance. Living artists only. Work that is copied or done under the guidance of an instructor is not eligible.
SPECIFICATIONS
Two-dimensional work must be professionally presented and firmly wired. No sawtooth hangers, no sandwich frames.
DELIVERY OF ACCEPTED ARTWORK
Shipping, return shipping and a $25 handling fee for shipped work are the responsibility of the artist. No Sunday Deliveries. Shipped Delivery by Monday November 9th, 4pm. Hand delivered work drop off: Thursday, November 5th – Monday November 9th, 10:00am–4:00pm. We are closed Sunday, November 8th.
PICK-UP/RETURN DELIVERY OF ARTWORK
Hand delivered works may be picked up Monday, December 21st; January 4th - January 6th, 2027, 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. SSAC will return shipped work by January 30th, 2027. A handling fee of $25 is required for shipped artwork. SSAC will be closed December 22 - January 3rd.
LIABILITY
I understand that South Shore Art Center will insure work accepted to the extent of 60% of the artist’s stated value while the work is in the Art Center’s custody and control.
AGREEMENT
Submission to Small Works constitutes an agreement with all conditions of this show. South Shore Art Center reserves the right to photograph or use a submitted image for an accepted work for publicity purposes. South Shore Art Center reserves the right to reject any work not resembling the submitted entry or work that is not ready to be shown according to the aforementioned specifications.
72nd Annual South Shore Arts Festival - Craft Exhibitors
South Shore Art Center Arts Festival 2027
Calling all Craft Exhibitors
Save the date for the 72nd Annual Arts Festival on the Cohasset Town Common, Father’s Day weekend, June 18 - 20, 2027
How to apply:
All applicants, returning and new, must apply via Smarter Entry!
Submit your application via the Smarter Entry link that you can find on our website ssac.org under the Arts Festival tab or click on the link attached to this email. Please make sure you select South Shore Art Center on Smarter Entry. Upload images showing current work that you will have for sale, if accepted. You should upload five (5) images in total, to include four (4) images of work and one (1) of booth set-up. Please also include a description of your images as well as a price point for each piece shown. An artist statement is always helpful to the jury.
Application fees are non-refundable!
Booth fees, if accepted, are:
$425 Booth fee
$500 Corner booth fee
A salient part of what makes our Arts Festival a festival is the ‘art village’ of craft exhibitors from throughout New England and beyond who showcase and sell their original art, craft and designs to the 14,000 Festival goers each year. We invite you to apply to be one of these craft exhibitors!
Important dates:
February 7: Application due
February 12: Notifications to accepted craft exhibitors.
March 1: Booth Fees due
June 18 - 20: 72nd SSAC Arts Festival on Cohasset Common.
Exhibitor Standards
- All work must be handmade using original designs.
- Acceptable media includes decorative and wearable fiber, leather, wood, glass, sculpture, basketry, metal, jewelry, printmaking, ceramics, and paper.
- Fine art and photography are acceptable, but these media will be limited to no more than 10% of the exhibitors because of the concurrent Art Center exhibitions.
- Unacceptable work includes imported goods, flower arrangements, and craft made from kits or unoriginal designs.
- Booth space cannot be sublet to other artists nor can exhibitor act as a dealer for other artists or manufacturers.
Jury Process
A jury will review entries to ensure the handcrafted work is original and of the highest quality. Acceptance into the Arts Festival is at the discretion of the jury and the management of South Shore Art Center. Previous exhibitors will receive special consideration but are not guaranteed admission.
Refund Policy
If accepted and unable to commit to the show, a refund may be obtained before May 1, less a $50 cancellation fee. After May 1, a $75 credit will be given toward the 2028 Arts Festival.
Insurance, Safety and Security
Exhibitors are responsible for their own insurance. All displays must be fireproof and there can be no use of open flame. Overnight security is contracted by South Shore Art Center.
Layout/Operations
Layout/Operations
The Arts Festival is held out-of-doors, rain or shine. Each exhibitor must provide a white canopy tent set-up to accommodate a 10’x10’ square space, including weather protection. All booths are on grass. Set-up begins at 8:00am on Friday, June 18, 2027; the Festival opens at 1:00pm. Accommodations can be made for a limited number of exhibitors to have access to electricity.
About South Shore Art Center
Founded in 1955, South Shore Art Center’s mission is to enrich the communities south of Boston by engaging artists and by fostering an understanding and appreciation of the visual arts through exhibitions and education. For 70 years we have worked tirelessly to meet this mission by installing thought-provoking exhibitions; hosting unforgettable events; providing a space for making art; offering courses and workshops to assist artistic growth and journeys; and of course presenting a regional Arts Festival.
Exhibitors must further agree to the following guidelines:
- All work displayed at my booth during the Arts Festival is my creation.
- I will not sublet my booth space or any portion of my booth or act as a dealer for other artists or manufacturers.
- All displays will be fireproof, and I will have no open flames.
- I understand I must provide my own insurance.
- I understand that the Arts Festival is held out-of-doors, rain or shine.
- I agree to comply with all state and local regulations.
Full Circle
Full Circle—Juried National Exhibition
Juror: Andrew Fish, Painter, Printmaker, Writer, Professor at Mass College of Art and Design, Boston, MA
November 12– December 19, 2026
Full Circle
OPENING RECEPTION: Thursday, November 12th, 6 - 8 PM
National Show, open to all media, original works.
ABOUT THE THEME:
FULL CIRCLE
Call for Artists
What comes around, goes around. What begins, may transform, change or remain the same.
Full Circle invites artists to explore the idea of cycles, return, and transformation. A circle has no beginning or end. Full Circle suggests continuity, connection, repetition, and the possibility of coming home to something familiar with a new perspective.
We invite artists to consider what “full circle” means to them. It may be a personal journey, a return to one’s roots, the cycles of nature, the passage of time, relationships, memory, loss and renewal, or the evolution of an idea. It can represent closure or the realization that every ending creates the possibility of a new beginning.
We welcome work that explores themes such as:
- Beginnings, endings & new beginnings
- Cycles of nature, life & time
- Return, homecoming & belonging
- Growth, transformation & reinvention
- Memory, nostalgia & reflection
- Patterns, repetition & rhythm
- Connection, relationships & interconnectedness
- Personal or collective journeys
- Healing and resilience
- The circular, cyclical, or infinite
Artists are encouraged to interpret the theme broadly and personally. Literal or abstract interpretations are equally welcome. We are interested in work that asks questions, reveals connections, challenges assumptions, or invites viewers to reflect on their own circles. We invite artists to think about where they have been, where they are now, and where they may be headed.
All mediums and approaches are welcome. Painting, drawing, photography, sculpture, ceramics, mixed media, fiber, printmaking, and digital work.
Sometimes the path forward brings us back to where we started, only to show us that we are no longer the same.
We invite you to complete the circle.
ENTRY DEADLINE: Monday, October 12th 2026, end of day.
JPEG SIZING: Images submitted via Smarter Entry should be at least 1280 pixels in the longest dimension at 72 ppi; file size not to exceed 3 MB.
FEES
$30 for first three images. $10 for each additional image up to 6 total images.
ALL WORKS MUST BE FOR SALE. South Shore Art Center receives 40% of the purchase price. Please submit only work that will be available at the time of the exhibition and will remain for its entirety. No accepted entry may be withdrawn prior to the close of the exhibition. No pricing changes will be allowed after acceptance. Living artists only. Work that is copied or done under the guidance of an instructor is not eligible. Entries must not have been previously exhibited at SSAC or the SSAC Arts Festival. If the work does not fully reflect what is represented on the submitted image, South Shore Art Center reserves the right to eliminate it from the exhibition.
SPECIFICATIONS
Two-dimensional work must be professionally presented and firmly wired. No sawtooth hangers, no sandwich frames. 3-D work should include a sturdy pedestal.
NOTIFICATION
All submitting artists will receive a group email by the end of day on Tuesday, October 20th, with a list of accepted works.
DELIVERY OF ACCEPTED ARTWORK
Shipping, return shipping and a $25 handling fee for shipped work are the responsibility of the artist. No Sunday Deliveries. Shipped Delivery by Wednesday, November 4th, 4pm. Hand delivered work drop off: Thursday, November 5th – Saturday November 7th, 10:00am–4:00pm. We are closed Sunday, November 8th.
PICK-UP/RETURN DELIVERY OF ARTWORK
Hand delivered works may be picked up Monday, December 21st; January 4th - January 6th, 2027, 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. SSAC will return shipped work by January 30th, 2027. A handling fee of $25 is required for shipped artwork. SSAC will be closed December 22 - January 3rd.
LIABILITY
I understand that South Shore Art Center will ensure work accepted to the extent of 60% of the artist’s stated value while the work is in the Art Center’s custody and control.
AGREEMENT
Submission to Full Circle constitutes an agreement with all conditions of this show. South Shore Art Center reserves the right to photograph or use a submitted image for an accepted work for publicity purposes. South Shore Art Center reserves the right to reject any work not resembling the submitted entry or work that is not ready to be shown according to the aforementioned specifications.
PRIZES
First Prize, $350
Second Prize, $250
Third Prize, $100
Awards of Merit (3)
About the Juror
Andrew Fish is a painter and printmaker who studied at School of Visual Arts in NYC and has attended multiple artist residencies including the VT Studio Center, Manship Artists Residency + Studio in Gloucester, MA, Red Gate Gallery, Beijing, China, and Mass MoCA’s Assets for Artists Residency in North Adams, MA. He is the recipient of a Mass Cultural Council Finalist award in Painting, a Somerville Arts Council grant, a NY Studio School Award, and a St. Botolph Club Fellowship. His work has been exhibited in solo and group shows nationally and internationally including The Painting Center, NYC, Childs Gallery, Boston, MA, Artzu Gallery in Manchester, UK, and Addison Ripley Fine Art in Washington, DC. Fish teaches at Massachusetts College of Art and Design in Boston and Lesley Art + Design in Cambridge, MA. His work explores the intersection of abstraction and representation, using the figure to investigate contemporary society and personal experience.
Blue Ribbon 2026
Blue Ribbon Members' Show 2026
Juror: Kaly Molnar
July 30 – September 11th, 2026
Blue Ribbon Members' Show 2026
OPENING RECEPTION: Thursday, July 30th, 6 - 8 PM
Members Show, open to all media, original works.
ABOUT THE THEME: South Shore Art Center invites current members to submit work for the Annual Blue Ribbon Members Show 2026.
This beloved annual exhibit offers all current members a chance to exhibit any work of their choosing. This is one of two annual exhibits where SSAC members are guaranteed to exhibit their work.
Membership must be current through September 11th, 2026.
Note the SSAC will be closed August 24th through September 7th, reopening Tuesday September 8th.
ENTRY DEADLINE: Sunday, July 19th end of day.
JPEG SIZING: Images submitted via Smarter Entry should be at least 1280 pixels in the longest dimension at 72 ppi; file size not to exceed 3 MB.
FEES
$15
ALL WORKS MUST BE FOR SALE. South Shore Art Center receives 40% of the purchase price. Please submit only work that will be available at the time of the exhibition and will remain for its entirety. Work must have been created within the past five years. No accepted entry may be withdrawn prior to the close of the exhibition. No pricing changes will be allowed after acceptance. Living artists only. Work that is copied or done under the guidance of an instructor is not eligible. Entries must not have been previously exhibited at SSAC or the SSAC Arts Festival. If the work does not fully reflect what is represented on the submitted image, South Shore Art Center reserves the right to eliminate it from the exhibition. South Shore Art Center reserves the right to reject any work at the time of installation, for any reason, including but not limited to size and weight of the work.
SPECIFICATIONS
Two-dimensional work must be professionally presented and firmly wired. No sawtooth hangers, no sandwich frames. 3-D work should include a sturdy pedestal.
DELIVERY OF ARTWORK
Shipping, return shipping and a $25 handling fee for shipped work are the responsibility of the artist. No Sunday Deliveries. Delivery by Saturday, July 25th, 10:00am - 4:00pm. Hand delivered work drop off: Monday, July 20th through Saturday, July 25th, 10:00am–4:00pm. We are closed Sundays.
PICK-UP/RETURN DELIVERY OF ARTWORK
Hand delivered works may be picked up Saturday September 12th, Monday and Tuesday September 14th and 15th, from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. SSAC will return shipped work by October 3rd, 2026. A handling fee of $25 is required for shipped artwork.
LIABILITY
I understand that South Shore Art Center will ensure work accepted to the extent of 60% of the artist’s stated value while the work is in the Art Center’s custody and control.
AGREEMENT
Submission to Blue Ribbon Members' Show 2026 constitutes an agreement with all conditions of this show. South Shore Art Center reserves the right to photograph or use a submitted image for an accepted work for publicity purposes. South Shore Art Center reserves the right to reject any work not resembling the submitted entry or work that is not ready to be shown according to the aforementioned specifications.
PRIZES
Four Blue Ribbons will be awarded, $100 each prize