Art Exhibits
The Festival exhibits are open to artists who reside, work, or belong to an art association in Essex County, Massachusetts. In juried exhibits, the artwork has been selected by judges with expertise and knowledge in their fields of judging. Awards will be distributed in each exhibit category on July 2nd, 6pm at the Front Entrance of Abbot Hall.
We invited eligible artists to enter their original artwork in one or more exhibit categories described below.
Youth and Student Art is open to Marblehead residents in public or private schools or art studio classes, residents who do not attend a Marblehead school and nonresidents attending school or art studio classes in Marblehead.
Online Registration is Open!
The following information is required for registration online (for each art entry).
A Marblehead Festival of Arts Account. You can check your account or create one here
The exhibit category you are entering
The title of your artwork
The medium of your artwork
The price you would like to sell your artwork for (or "NFS" if not for sale)
Size of your artwork
A photograph of your artwork (only used for online sales and historical information) - Judging is done In-person
Entry fee ($15.00/piece) - online credit card payment only; no fee for Youth and Students.
Before clicking Submit to enter one of the exhibit please read the Artist Agreement.
If you are planning to submit to DIgital Arts or Photography please also read the Generative AI Tool Agreements linked below
Exhibit Locations
The festival features art exhibits at six different venues: Abbot Hall, The Old Town House,
St. Michael’s Church, Old North Church, Unitarian Universalist Church of Marblehead, and King Hooper Mansion (MAA).
See below for more information about the exhibits at each of these locations.
2025 Exhibit Hours
All Locations
Thursday, July 3: 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
Friday, July 4: 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
Saturday, July 5: 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
Abbot Hall, The Old Town House and King Hooper Mansion
Sunday, July 6, 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
St Michael's Church, Old North Church and Unitarian Universalist Church
Sunday, July 6, 12:00 pm – 4:00 pm
GENERAL INFORMATION
Accepted work will be exhibited July 3 – July 6, 2025, and may not be removed before 4:00 pm on Sunday, July 6, 2025. No exceptions will be made.
Non-Accepted work can be picked-up: Saturday June 28th, 9-11 am at exhibit venue.
* We will hold any non-accepted artwork until the end of the Festival, pick-up on Sunday July 6th, 4-5 pm or Monday July 7th, 5-7 pm.
Accepted and non-accepted work picked-up: Sunday July 6th, 4-5 pm or Monday July 7th, 5-7 pm at all exhibit locations.
Artwork not picked up within 60 days after the close of the Festival shall become the property of the Marblehead Festival of Arts, Inc.
Awards Ceremony: Wednesday, July 2, 2025 @ 6:00 – 7:00 pm - Abbot Hall, Front Entrance
Liability: Artwork will be openly displayed in buildings, in areas open to the public. It is recommended that all artists insure their own works for the duration of the exhibition. The Marblehead Festival of Arts, Inc. (MFoA) is not responsible in any way for the loss, damage, disappearance, or harm of any kind to the works of art. Delivery of the works to MFoA constitutes an express waiver, release, and discharge of all claims, actions, or causes of action against the harm of any kind to the works of art.
Sales: The Marblehead Festival of Arts, Inc. will receive a 30% commission on any sales. All work for sale must be sold as displayed and may not be removed by the purchaser before the close of the Festival at 4:00 pm on Sunday, July 6, 2025.
Location:
A juried exhibit of original handcrafts, traditional or contemporary in nature, that are useful or decorative, such as calligraphy, quilts, needlework, textiles, leatherwork, wood & furniture, jewelry, pottery and stained glass. No kits allowed. Calligraphy must be framed, glassed, wired (wire & clip frames excluded) and ready to hang. Size of two-dimensional artwork may not exceed 3’ 6” in any direction including frame. Jewelry should be mounted for display. Fragile and small items should be packed in labeled containers for protection before and after judging. Quilters must provide their own quilt stands.
Submissions Open: April 1st, 2025
Submissions Close: Friday June 13th, 2025
*Tuesday June 17th, 5-7 pm and Friday June 20th, 5-7 pm ART DROP OFF at Abbot Hall
*Saturday June 21st, Judging to take place, with accepted artists and award winners notified the following week.
*Saturday June 28th (Abbot Hall), 9-11 am. Non-accepted Art Pick-up.
*Sunday July 6th, 4-5 pm or Monday July 7th, 5-7 pm. All remaining artwork, sold, accepted, non-accepted to be picked up post festival.
Chairs:
Dawn Jenkins and Maggie Smist
Contact:
Awards:
Awards: Best of Show ($125), Outstanding Work ($50), Honorable Mention, People’s Choice Award
Special Award: Lee R. Smith Award
Location:
A juried exhibit of original two-dimensional artwork in a variety of digital techniques that are not represented in other Festival exhibit categories. Work must be created and produced using digital technology. All graphics must be the direct result of the artist's work. Art that requires electricity for viewing cannot be accepted.
Presentation Requirements:
All submissions must be completely dry, professionally presented (either framed or canvas wrapped), and securely wired for hanging. Sawtooth hangers and clip frames are not permitted.
Maximum artwork size, including frame, must not exceed 3'6" in any direction.
Submissions Open: April 1st, 2025
Submissions Close: Friday June 13th, 2025
*Tuesday June 17th, 5-7 pm and Friday June 20th, 5-7 pm ART DROP OFF at St. Michael's Church.
*Saturday June 21st, Judging to take place, with accepted artists and award winners notified the following week.
*Saturday June 28th (St. Michael's), 9-11 am. Non-accepted Art Pick-up.
*Sunday July 6th, 4-5 pm or Monday July 7th, 5-7 pm. All remaining artwork, sold, accepted, non-accepted to be picked up post festival.
Chairs:
Robin Hobart
Contact:
Awards:
Awards: Best of Show ($125), Outstanding Work ($50), Honorable Mention, People’s Choice Award
Location:
Drawing is a juried exhibit of original drawings in pencil, pen and ink, charcoal, conte’ crayon, pastel, and other media.
Presentation Requirements:
All submissions must be completely dry, professionally presented (either framed or canvas wrapped), and securely wired for hanging. Sawtooth hangers and clip frames are not permitted.
Maximum artwork size, including frame, must not exceed 3'6" in any direction.
Submissions Open: April 1st, 2025
Submissions Close: Friday June 13th, 2025
*Tuesday June 17th, 5-7 pm and Friday June 20th, 5-7 pm ART DROP OFF at UU Church.
*Saturday June 21st, Judging to take place, with accepted artists and award winners notified the following week.
*Saturday June 28th (UU Church), 9-11 am. Non-accepted Art Pick-up.
*Sunday July 6th, 4-5 pm or Monday July 7th, 5-7 pm. All remaining artwork, sold, accepted, non-accepted to be picked up post festival.
Chairs:
Barbara Naeser
Contact:
Awards:
Awards:Best of Show ($125), Outstanding Work ($50), Honorable Mention, People’s Choice Award
Special Award: Lee R. Smith Award
Location:
Mixed media is a juried exhibit of original artwork in two or more media in a single composition, using media such as paint, collage, drawing, image transfer, assemblage, papier-mache’, textiles, wax, and found objectives. Pieces may be displayed as two-or three-dimensional surfaces.
Presentation Requirements:
All submissions must be completely dry, professionally presented, and securely wired for hanging. Sawtooth hangers and clip frames are not permitted.
Maximum artwork size, including frame, must not exceed 3'6" in any direction.
Submissions Open: April 1st, 2025
Submissions Close: Friday June 13th, 2025
*Tuesday June 17th, 5-7 pm and Friday June 20th, 5-7 pm ART DROP OFF at St. Michael's Church
*Saturday June 21st, Judging to take place, with accepted artists and award winners notified the following week.
*Saturday June 28th (St. Michael's), 9-11 am. Non-accepted Art Pick-up.
*Sunday July 6th, 4-5 pm or Monday July 7th, 5-7 pm. All remaining artwork, sold, accepted, non-accepted to be picked up post festival.
Chairs:
Robin Hobart
Contact:
Awards:
Awards: Best of Show ($125), Outstanding Work ($50), Honorable Mention, People’s Choice Award
Special Award: Don Howard Award
Location:
Painting is a juried exhibit of original paintings in oil, acrylic, ink or watercolor.
Presentation Requirements:
All submissions must be completely dry, professionally presented (either framed or canvas wrapped), and securely wired for hanging. Sawtooth hangers and clip frames are not permitted.
Maximum artwork size, including frame, must not exceed 3'6" in any direction.
Submissions Open: April 1st, 2025
Submissions Close: Friday June 13th, 2025
*Tuesday June 17th, 5-7 pm and Friday June 20th, 5-7 pm ART DROP OFF
*Saturday June 21st, Judging to take place, with accepted artists and award winners notified the following week.
*Saturday June 28th (Abbot Hall), 9-11 am. Non-accepted Art Pick-up.
*Sunday July 6th, 4-5 pm or Monday July 7th, 5-7 pm. All remaining artwork, sold, accepted, non-accepted to be picked up post festival.
Chairs:
Dawn Jenkins and Maggie Smist
Contact:
Awards:
Awards: Best of Show ($125), Outstanding Work ($50), Honorable Mention, People’s Choice Award
Special Award: Edward D. Carey Award
Location:
Plein air painters in Essex County are invited to join in Painting the Town – a two-day event
culminating in a judged exhibit. Artists proceed directly to their selected painting locations in town and paint scenes en plein air. Artists frame their works and submit them to the Festival.
2025 Dates to be announced - stay tuned!
Chairs:
Jean Guastaferri and Peggy Farrell
Contact:
Awards:
Awards: Best of Show: ($125), Outstanding Work: ($50), Honorable Mention, People's Choice Award
Location:
Photography is a juried exhibit of original photography, in black-and-white or color.
Juried Photography Exhibition – Submission Guidelines
This juried exhibition showcases original photographic works created using traditional, digital, and experimental photography techniques in Black & White or Color. Accepted methods include but are not limited to: digital photography, film photography, cyanotypes, photogravure, tintypes, daguerreotypes, gelatin silver prints, and alternative process photography.
All photographs must be composed and captured solely by the submitting artist. AI-generated images or reproductions of other artworks will not be accepted. (Please see Artist's Agreement)
Please submit photogravure and other printmaking-based photographic processes to our Printmaking exhibit.
Presentation Requirements:
All submissions must be completely dry, professionally presented (either framed or canvas wrapped), and securely wired for hanging. Sawtooth hangers and clip frames are not permitted.
Maximum artwork size, including frame, must not exceed 3'6" in any direction.
Submissions Open: April 1st, 2025
Submissions Close: Friday June 13th, 2025
*Tuesday June 17th, 5-7 pm and Friday June 20th, 5-7 pm ART DROP OFF (Old Town House)
*Saturday June 21st, Judging to take place, with accepted artists and award winners notified the following week.
*Saturday June 28th (Old Town House), 9-11 am. Non-accepted Art Pick-up.
*Sunday July 6th, 4-5 pm or Monday July 7th, 5-7 pm. All remaining artwork, sold, accepted, non-accepted to be picked up post festival.
Chairs:
Stanley & Sheila Rich
Contact:
Awards:
Awards: Best of Show ($125), Outstanding Work ($50), Honorable Mention, People’s Choice Awards
Special Awards: Samuel Chamberlain Award, Photojournalism Award
Location:
A juried exhibit of original prints in a variety of categories, such as etching, engraving, dry point, linoleum cuts, and other relief forms, silk-screen, lithography, monoprints, woodcut and wood engraving, and other forms of printmaking. All plates, screens or blocks must be the direct result of the artist’s work.
Presentation Requirements:
All submissions must be completely dry, professionally presented (either framed or canvas wrapped), and securely wired for hanging. Sawtooth hangers and clip frames are not permitted.
Maximum artwork size, including frame, must not exceed 3'6" in any direction.
Submissions Open: April 1st, 2025
Submissions Close: Friday June 13th, 2025
*Tuesday June 17th, 5-7 pm and Friday June 20th, 5-7 pm ART DROP OFF
*Saturday June 21st, Judging to take place, with accepted artists and award winners notified the following week.
*Saturday June 28th (Abbot Hall), 9-11 am. Non-accepted Art Pick-up.
*Sunday July 6th, 4-5 pm or Monday July 7th, 5-7 pm. All remaining artwork, sold, accepted, non-accepted to be picked up post festival.
Chairs:
Dawn Jenkins and Maggie Smist
Contact:
Awards:
Awards: Best of Show ($125), Outstanding Works ($50), Honorable Mention, People’s Choice Award
Location:
Sculpture is a juried exhibit of original three-dimensional sculptures encompassing all styles and genres. All works must be an appropriate size for display indoors.
Maximum artwork size must not exceed 36" in any direction, with a weight limit of 45 lbs.
Submissions Open: April 1st, 2025
Submissions Close: Friday June 13th, 2025
*Tuesday June 17th, 5-7 pm and Friday June 20th, 5-7 pm ART DROP OFF (St. Michael's)
*Saturday June 21st, Judging to take place, with accepted artists and award winners notified the following week.
*Saturday June 28th (St. Michael's), 9-11 am. Non-accepted Art Pick-up.
*Sunday July 6th, 4-5 pm or Monday July 7th, 5-7 pm. All remaining artwork, sold, accepted, non-accepted to be picked up post festival.
Chairs:
Amy Hourihan
Contact:
Awards:
Awards: Best of Show ($125), Outstanding Work ($50), Honorable Mention, People’s Choice Award
Special Award: Beverly Seamans Award
Location:
Senior Art is a non-juried exhibit of original artwork comprising crafts, digital art, drawing, mixed media, painting, photography, printmaking and sculpture by persons 65 years of age or older.
Presentation Requirements:
All submissions must be completely dry, professionally presented (either framed or canvas wrapped), and securely wired for hanging. Sawtooth hangers and clip frames are not permitted.
Maximum artwork size, including frame, must not exceed 3'6" in any direction.
Submissions Open: April 1st, 2025
Submissions Close: Friday June 13th, 2025
*Tuesday June 17th, 5-7 pm and Friday June 20th, 5-7 pm ART DROP OFF (UU Church)
*Saturday June 21st, Judging to take place, with accepted artists and award winners notified the following week.
*Saturday June 28th (UU Church), 9-11 am. Non-accepted Art Pick-up.
*Sunday July 6th, 4-5 pm or Monday July 7th, 5-7 pm. All remaining artwork, sold, accepted, non-accepted to be picked up post festival.
Chairs:
Maggie Raftus and Betty Spellios
Contact:
Awards:
Awards: Best of Show ($125), Outstanding Work ($50), Honorable Mention, People’s Choice Award
Special Awards: Louise Remick Brown Award; Bob and Ruth Sinclair Award
Location:
Youth & Student is a non-juried exhibits of original artwork comprising crafts, digital art, drawing, mixed media, painting, photography, printmaking, and sculpture by Youth (preschool through Grade 4) and Students (Grades 5 -12).
Presentation Requirements:
All submissions must be completely dry, professionally presented (either framed or canvas wrapped), and securely wired for hanging. Sawtooth hangers and clip frames are not permitted.
Maximum artwork size, including frame, must not exceed 3'6" in any direction.
Submissions Open: April 1st, 2025
Submissions Close: Friday June 13th, 2025
*Tuesday June 17th, 5-7 pm and Friday June 20th, 5-7 pm ART DROP OFF (Old North Church)
*Saturday June 21st, Judging to take place, with award winners notified the following week.
*Sunday July 6th, 4-5 pm or Monday July 7th, 5-7 pm. All artwork to be picked up post festival.
Chairs:
Contact:
Awards:
Overall Exhibit: People’s Choice Award
Student Art Awards (Grades 9-12)
Best of Show ($50 prize), (2) Outstanding Work ($25 prize), (4) Honorable Mention
Student Art Awards (Grades 5-8) (4) Honorable Mention
Youth Art Awards (Pre-K-Grade 4)
Ribbons for each entry.
Special Awards: Debra and Jack Highberger Awards,
Nordia Kay Award.