Celebrating Eight Decades of Michigan Water-Media
May 22 – July 16, 2027
Location: Holland Area Arts Council | 150 E 8th St Suite 200, Holland, MI 49423
Juror of Selection and Awards: Lorraine Watry, NWS, AWS, TWSA, AWA
The Michigan Water Color Society is proud to announce our historic 80th Annual Exhibition. This year’s exhibition will be hosted at the Holland Area Arts Council. We are honored to welcome award-winning artist, instructor, and past National Watercolor Society President Lorraine Watry as our juror.
We invite Michigan artists to submit their finest water-media works to this highly selective juried show. Cash awards will be selected by the juror, with eligibility reserved exclusively for works designated to participate in the Traveling Show.
📅 Exhibition Calendar & Timeline
| Event Milestone | Date & Details |
| Submission Deadline | February 13, 2027 (Midnight) |
| Spring Membership Meeting | TBA (Projection of entries) |
| Notification of Results | Week of April 4, 2027 (Emailed to each artist) |
| Shipped Artwork Delivery | May 3 – 7, 2027 (Arrival at Holland Area Arts Council) |
| Hand-Delivered Artwork Intake | May 8, 2027 (11:30 AM – 2:30 PM) |
| Exhibition Workshop | May 19, 20, & 21, 2027 (Enrollment required) |
| Opening Reception | May 22, 2027 (12:00 PM – 3:30 PM) |
| Juror Presentation & Awards | May 22, 2027 (12:30 PM – 2:30 PM) |
| Exhibition Closes | July 16, 2027 |
| Artwork Pick-Up (Out-take) | July 17, 2027 (11:30 AM – 2:30 PM) |
Note: All notification results will be delivered via email. Standard USPS mail notifications will not be sent.
🎨 Show Eligibility & Guidelines
Artist Eligibility
- Artists must be 18 years of age or older.
- Must be a past or current resident of Michigan.
Artwork Rules
- Entry Limit: Each artist may enter a maximum of two (2) paintings. A maximum of one (1) painting per artist may be selected for the final exhibition.
- Execution Date: Only artwork completed after January 1, 2024, is eligible.
- Exhibition History: Works previously exhibited in any MWCS Annual Exhibition are strictly ineligible.
- Approved Media: Paintings must be water-media on paper, Yupo, Aquabord, or Claybord. Stretched canvas and canvas boards are not permitted.
- Collage & Mixed Media: Collage materials are allowed, but aqueous medium must constitute 80% or more of the work. All collage materials must be original designs executed on paper by the artist. Other media must be used in conjunction with water media, which must remain dominant.
- Prohibited Items: Digital media, photography, prints, reproductions, diptychs, or triptychs are not permitted.
- Originality: Source and photo reference material must be the artist’s original composition and design, and not derived from published images or copies of another artist’s work. Computer-generated imagery, photocopies, offset prints, and giclée prints are prohibited.
Size Restrictions
- Minimum Image Size: 5″ x 7″
- Maximum Outer Frame Size: 60″ x 48″
💼 Sales, Insurance, & Traveling Show
Artwork Sales
- All exhibited work will be considered for sale at the price listed on the entry form.
- Work not for sale must be clearly marked NFS, and an insurance value must still be provided.
Sales transactions are handled directly by the Holland Area Arts Council, which retains a 40% commission. Sold work must remain on display for the duration of the entire exhibition
Insurance & Liability
- Artists must obtain their own insurance coverage. No insurance is provided by MWCS or the Holland Area Arts Council. Venues and the society assume no responsibility for damage, loss, or theft during storage, exhibition, or transport.
Exhibition Documentation & Promotion
- Catalog: Every entrant receives a complimentary copy of the official exhibition catalog at the opening reception. Additional catalogs will be available for purchase at the venue.
- Photography: MWCS reserves the right to photograph and reproduce accepted artwork in color or black and white for organizational purposes.