Notification will be made on December 3

Deadline to Enter was November 4, 2026

Virtual Awards Ceremony will be January 6, 2027 at 5:30 EST via Zoom

Introducing the Winter Member Show

Maryland Federation of Art (MFA) invites all MFA Members residing in any of the states or territories of the US, Canada, and Mexico to enter our Winter Member Show 2027. Any original 2D or 3D work will be considered. MFA exhibitions are blind juried by professional and credentialed art experts. Works selected by the juror will be exhibited in MFA’s Circle Gallery from January 6 – 30, 2027.

Click this icon to view and print the downloadable prospectus.

Juror: Summer Brown, Master Instructor of Fine Art at Howard University

Summer Brown is a graduate of Howard University. She majored in Drawing & Painting in the College of Fine Arts, and graduated Magna Cum Laude earning the B.F.A. in Painting. Professor Brown received her M.F.A. in Museum Exhibition Planning & Design at The University of the Arts in Philadelphia, PA., graduating Magna Cum Laude from Graduate School.

Since graduation, Professor Brown has worked at Staples & Charles, Ltd. as an Exhibit Designer; Hargrove Inc. as a Special Events /Tradeshow/ Exhibit Designer; U.S. Center of Military History as a Curatorial Assistant; NIH National Library of Medicine as an Exhibition Coordinator; Washington Latin Public School & The Children’s Guild as an Art Teacher; and currently at Prince George’s Community College as an Adjunct Lecturer at Howard University teaching in the Chadwick A. Boseman College of Fine Arts building as Senior Instructor. She was awarded the 2024- 2025 Distinguished Faculty Award for Outstanding Teaching at Howard University.

Professor Brown is still very active as a practitioner in her craft. She paints, draws, and exhibits her work often. She received an Emmy for “Art Direction” on the short film entitled “Vote” https://youtu.be/Z1sYgEFkTrg, in the Public Announcement category (National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences National Capital Chesapeake Bay Chapter). She’s also Founder of a small business called “Art with Summer” (specializing in paint & sips and commissioned work).

Juror’s Statement

To be published with the awards on January 7.

Awards

Awards designated by the juror total $700.

  • $500 is designated by the juror.
  • $100 Conley Award for 3D work chosen by Susi and Rob Conley.
  • $100 Friends of the Arts (FOTA) Award

Information for Accepted Artists

Exhibition Schedule

Exhibition Schedule

  • Sept 1 Online Entry Opens for Submissions
  • Nov 4 Entry Deadline
  • Dec 3 Notification @ 5 PM
  • Dec 27 – 30 Accepted and Shipped Work Must Arrive at MFA Circle Gallery from 12 PM – 4
  • Jan 6 Exhibition Opens
  • Jan 6 Virtual Awards Ceremony from 4 – 5 PM via Zoom
  • Jan 30 Last Day of the Exhibition; Closing Reception at MFA Circle Gallery from 4 – 6 PM
  • Jan 31 – Feb 1 Pick-up Hand-Delivered Work from 11 AM – 4 PM
  • Feb 4 Shipped Work Will Be Sent

NOTE: Should Circle Gallery or any other exhibition space be closed for reasons beyond our control, MFA reserves the right to move a planned physical exhibit to our online gallery.

Delivery and Shipping

Delivery

  • All work delivered to the gallery must have the following information affixed to the non-viewing side of the artwork:
    • Artist Name
    • Address, phone number, and email
    • Title of the work, medium, and price. Be specific with medium descriptions (e.g., oil on hardboard or canvas, not oil; chromogenic print or archival inkjet print, not photography or digital print; oil pastel on paper, not pastel; etc.)
  • Work must arrive on scheduled dates.
  • Paintings must be dry.
  • Measure to ensure work meets size limitations before delivery, include outer edges of frames. Work not in compliance with the exhibition guidelines and MFA’s General Guidelines will not be exhibited. No exceptions. Work delivered must correspond with the images submitted to the juror.
  • All shipped work must include a bar-coded shipping label. Do not send by United States Postal Service (USPS). We prefer UPS but accept FedEx. No shipping peanuts allowed.
  • Please affix packing/repacking instructions to OUTSIDE of the shipping box.
  • Tips on shipping can be viewed on the RedDotBlog

Pickup and Storage

Pickup and Storage

  • Work may not be removed from the exhibition early for any reason. Artists may pick up their work on the specified dates, or at 6 PM after the Closing Reception.
  • Unless previous arrangements have been made, work placed in storage after announced pickup dates will be subject to a fine of $10 per piece, per week. Work left in storage longer than two (2) weeks shall become MFA property and may be disposed of, or used for fundraising purposes. There are no exceptions.

Liability

Liability

  • All work is blind juried. Artists’ name and identifying information is hidden from the juror. Watermarks are discouraged to ensure blind jurying.
  • All work will be handled with all possible care, but pieces submitted for exhibition are at the artist’s risk. In the event of damage or theft, the MFA will not be held liable. If insurance is desired, the artist must carry it.
  • Should Circle Gallery or any other exhibition space be closed for reasons beyond our control, MFA reserves the right to move a planned physical exhibit to our online gallery.

Sales

Sales

  • All work entered into any exhibition must be for sale unless prior agreements are made, and marked either with a price or POR for Price On Request.
  • Artists will retain 70% from sales (75% for MFA Members). MFA will retain 30% commission (25% for MFA Members) on any work sold through MFA.
  • The sale of artwork is taxable and all sales tax processing will be handled by MFA.
  • MFA processes all sales, no exceptions. Payment from sold work will be mailed to the artist 30 days after the close of the exhibition.
  • Sold artwork requiring shipment will be handled by MFA with costs collected from the buyer. Buyers will be asked if the work may be retained until the exhibit ends. If the buyer disagrees, the Gallery will let the work go, and the artist will be informed.
  • MFA asks that artists donate 20% from any sale made through a direct referral from MFA within three months. All donations are used to help defray operating costs of the Maryland Federation of Art and are tax-deductible by the artists to the full extent of the law.

Notification

All entrants will receive notification by email. Accepted artists will also be posted on MFA’s website. Artists who have unsubscribed from MFA emails will not receive notification. The notice to accepted artists will include specific details and could vary from the prospectus. Please set your email account to recognize eleanor@mdfedart.org and info@mdfedart.org. Contact Circle Gallery if you do not receive notice by 6 PM on the day of notification.