Artist Calls

To submit your art for consideration for our exhibitions and
​to find out about our open artist calls - click on the links below.

Open Artist Calls and Upcoming Exhibitions
Click on exhibition titles to see art call

 

THE GREAT HEIST - $100 AND BELOW IN THE JEAN RAWLS CLASSROOM
Submission Date: Closed
Exhibition Dates: May 22 - August 23
Just in time for the summer season at the beach the center will be presenting The Great Heist. Artworks priced $100 and below for a quick pick me up and take home. The center is visited by many tourists during the season, and the works are intended to be small and easy to carry. We will keep accepted art on reserve so as the works sell, we are able to replenish. Think no larger than 11" x 14" including a frame. We also not charging a submission fee and will be holding a ticketed fundraising event for this exhibit. Keep reading the art call for all the exciting news about this exhibit.

XS TINY ARTWORKS EXHIBITION
Submission Date: Closed
Exhibition Dates: July 3 - August 2
 Some of the most incredible things in the world are sometimes the tiniest. Think of the component of the phones we use or the gears that turn a wristwatch. A hummingbird, butterfly and bees, are so important to the environment yet small in scale in comparison to other animals. So it is in art that small masterpieces have been created throughout the centuries. Nicholas Hillard, Issac Oliver and Hans Holbein the Younger perfected small-scale portraiture in the 16th-17th centuries. Samuel Cooper and Richard Cosway achieved fame in the 18th century.
Today we have artist like Jon Almeda who creates functional pottery often no larger than a coin and Slinkachu a street artist who creates tiny, amusing, and poignant figurines placed in urban landscapes. You could turn to Dina Brodsky, Rosa de Jong and Anja Markiewicz, all modern artists of our own time for inspiration. So, for this year's tiny artworks exhibit you can only create no larger than 6" x 4" or smaller on a substrate of your choice. This size includes the frame so be mindful that you are not exceeding the required size.

TEACHERS AND STUDENTS EXHIBITION IN THE JEAN RAWLS CLASSROOM.
Submission Date: By 11:59pm August 6, 2026
Exhibition Dates: September 11 - November 8, 2026
It’s back, our annual Teachers and students Exhibition and we heard you loud and clear so we will be hosting it in the Jean Rawls Classroom at the center. We are looking forward to seeing how the instructors have influenced their students and even vice versa. The theme is open but there are some important guidelines to follow. The submission is open to students that have taken classes at the Virginia Beach Art Center during 2026. You do not have to be currently enrolled but may have taken a class earlier in the year, this also includes students that are or have taken private classes.

ILLUMINATED
Submission Date: Closed
Exhibition Dates: August 7 - August 30
There are so many troubling things in our world today. We all need to feel a sense of “light at the end of the tunnel”. Where there is shadow, there is light! Illuminated can take on so many interpretations, whether it be shedding light on a social issue to spotlight your muse for a photo shoot. Let light be your inspiration for this exciting exhibition.

A THING OF BEAUTY @ Towne Pavilion Center 1
Submission Date: Closed
Exhibition Dates: August 14, 2026 - January 10, 2027
"A thing of beauty is a joy forever," are the famous opening lines from the English Romantic poet John Keats' long poem Endymion. It suggests that beauty is an everlasting source of joy and energy that never fades away or loses its value, even in the world we live today. How can these words inspire you to create, using your imagination and skill to connect us to the beauty of your art.

ANIMALIA
Submission Date: By 11:59pm August 13, 2026
Exhibition Dates: September 4 - September 27
Animals of all kinds! From the tiniest microorganism to the largest animal on earth, they are all living things and contribute to our world. The options are too many to name! Impress us with your interpretation of Animalia.

FINE ART FUNDRAISER ART CALL
Submission Date: By 11:59pm August 6, 2026
Fundraising Dates: August 28 - September 6
​Artists are invited to donate original artwork in support of the Virginia Beach Art Center’s 2026 Fine Art Fundraising, taking place August 28–September 6.

AWARE'26 "Love Our Earth"
Submission Date: By 11:59pm September 10, 2026
Exhibition Dates: October 2 - November 1
This amazing planet we call earth is approximately 4.54 billion years old, with an incredible small margin of error of about 50 million years. This amazing celestial body has endured many changes and is continually in flux with ever changing environments. Modern humans have inhabited the earth for about 300.000 years with other human lineage stretching to about 6 million years. With evolution perfecting our species we are the custodians of this planet. It is upon us to love it and take care of it for future generations to come. We challenge you to create art that will enlighten the community and teach us how to ensure we are taking care of the planet. This year we have partnered with Lynnhaven River Now (LRNow) to aid us in disseminating the AWARE'26 message,
​"Love Our Earth".

AWARE'26 "Love Our Earth" Community Project
This year our community project is a Tree of Life which will be constructed in the middle of our main gallery and will contain approximately 500 images created by the community. The appropriately called Tree of Life is about the past, present and future of the globe. The images that will hang depict insects, flora and fauna, mammals, the cosmos, dinosaurs, humanity, aquatic creatures, and birds. 

FIGURE IT OUT
Submission Date: By 11:59pm October 15
Exhibition Dates: November 6 - 29
Figure it Out is a celebration of the human form whether it be realistic, abstracted or inspired by different artistic approaches. Think hard about this one since the theme has been heavily interpreted for millennia. All types of art celebrating the human form are heavily encouraged to be submitted. 

STEP OUT
Submission Date: By 11:59pm November 12
Exhibition Dates: December 4 - 23
Step beyond your comfort zone and your usual artistic routine by exploring a new muse and experimenting with a medium you have not used before. Take a leap of faith, gain a fresh perspective, and embrace artistic growth.
This exhibit is open only to artists who participated in any 2026 exhibition held at the Virginia Beach Center or satellite location.
​
HOLIDAY BOUTIQUE MARKET
Submission Date: By 11:59pm September 3
The Virginia Beach Art Center will be hosting two weekends of Holiday Boutique Markets. The first weekend will be Black Friday November 27, Small Business Weekend Saturday November 28, and Sunday November 29. The second weekend will be Saturday December 12, and Sunday December 13.
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SOLO EXHIBITION
Accepting Applications
Calling all artists to apply for a solo exhibit in the Jean Rawls classroom. This is a great space to attract collectors who will also see your artworks during our monthly exhibition openings and while they are taking one of our art courses offered at the center. 

RETROSPECTIVE AT TOWNE PAVILION CENTER 1
Submission Deadline: Closed
Exhibition Dates: February 20 - August 9, 2026
Our first exhibit of the year at our satellite location will contain a retrospective body of work by artists that have exhibited in the main gallery at the center in 2025. Artists may submit any work that has graced the walls of our main gallery in 2025.
The theme is open to any interpretation and if the artist wishes to create something new, they may do so if they exhibited with us in the past year.

We are proudly
sponsored by the
​following organizations: