NAF2026 | OPEN CALL FOR VISUAL ART
Ends on
For 25 years, Newark Arts Festival has not happened by accident. It has been built and sustained through care, collaboration, and a deep respect for the people and practices that shape Newark’s creative community.
This year’s theme, On Purpose, reflects how this Festival is created and what Newark Arts Council values. Every artist, performer, and program is selected with intention. Every experience is thoughtfully developed and presented with rigor. We believe in the power of the arts to connect, inspire, and transform; and we are committed to supporting that work with integrity, responsibility, and care.
From October 7 – 11, 2026, New Jersey's largest and longest-running arts festival invites local, regional, and nationally recognized artists to present bold, festival-only work that honors where we've been and shapes where we're going.
Visual artists, performing artists, and programmers are all encouraged to apply.
All applications must be submitted via Submittable. Incomplete applications will not be considered.
Open Call for Visual Art
Are you a visual artist or part of a collective looking to be part of Newark Arts Festival 2026? We want to hear from you! Curators of established collectives are welcome to apply, but each artist must submit their own application (please reference your collective by name). This Open Call is for visual artists eager to share their creative visions in spaces dedicated to joy, connection, purpose, and artistic expression.
- Painting (oil, acrylic, watercolor, gouache, tempera, encaustic)
- Drawing (charcoal, graphite, ink, pastel, colored pencil)
- Printmaking (etching, lithography, screen printing, woodcut, monoprint)
- Sculpture (stone, wood, metal, clay, glass)
- Collage (2-dimensional works using, paper, fabric, found objects)
- Assemblage (3-dimensional works using various materials and found objects)
- Installation Art (site-specific, immersive environments)
- Textile & Fiber Art (weaving, quilting, embroidery, felting)
- Ceramics
- Digital Painting & Illustration
- Photography (film, digital, experimental)
- Video Art & Experimental Film
- 3D Modeling & Animation
- Augmented Reality (AR) & Virtual Reality (VR) Art
- Light Art (using LEDs, neon, projections)
- Conceptual Art (idea-based works, often text-based or ephemeral)
For this call, visual art does not include:
- Graphic Design
- Street Art & Graffiti
- Mural Art
- Performance Art (visual elements combined with live action)
- Body Art (tattoos, piercings, body painting)
Submission Guidelines:
- Submit only artwork you wish to be considered for exhibition. Selected pieces must match the submitted works and be available for the exhibition.
- A non-refundable application fee of $10 is required per submission, supporting exhibition and administrative costs. Payment is made securely through Submittable.
- Financial hardship? Fee waivers are available by contacting festival@newarkarts.org with a brief explanation.
- Exhibition Opportunities: Artwork may be showcased in various festival locations, including:
• Newark Arts Festival Signature Group Exhibition at Express Newark
• NICO Kitchen + Bar at NJPAC
• Newark ArtSpace
• Pop-up galleries throughout the festival
- Selected artwork(s) may be listed for sale on newarkarts.org. A 25% commission will support Newark Arts’ administrative costs. Please price your work accordingly.
- Application info session (mandatory for first-time applicants): May 26, 2026, at 7pm EST. Register here.
- Submission Deadline is Sunday, June 1, 2026, at 11:59pm
Need Help?
Join us on May 26, 2026, at 7PM/EST for a virtual information session. Register here.
Get support from a NAF representative, ask questions, and receive guidance on completing your application. For additional questions, contact festival@newarkarts.org.
Let’s make Newark Arts Festival 2026 our most purposeful and purpose filled festival yet!