Tuscaloosa Artists Can Compete for $1,600 in Art Awards

Artists in Tuscaloosa County have an opportunity to showcase their creativity and compete for cash prizes as the Arts Council of Tuscaloosa prepares for its annual West Alabama Juried Art Show.

The competition will accept submissions from November 16 through December 4, 2026, with selected artwork displayed at the Dinah Washington Cultural Arts Center from January 19 through February 19, 2027.

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The annual exhibition, which has brought local artists together since the 1980s, will feature original two-dimensional and three-dimensional artwork in various media.

A total of $1,600 in cash prizes will be awarded, including a $1,000 Best of Show Award, a $500 Gail Skidmore Memorial Award of Excellence and an additional $100 award.

"The Juried Show not only highlights the talent and creativity among the visual arts community in Tuscaloosa, but also continues to bring the artists together as it has since the 1980s," said Sandra Wolfe, Executive Director of the Arts Council.

Only artists residing in Tuscaloosa County are eligible to enter. The entry fee is $35 and allows participants to submit up to three original works.

Artwork previously displayed in a West Alabama Juried Show is not eligible, and submissions cannot include pieces created during a class or workshop.

Entries must also meet size and weight restrictions, with a maximum size of four feet by four feet and a weight limit of 50 pounds.

Artists must email their completed applications and up to three digital images to competitions@tuscarts.org by December 4.

An opening reception and awards presentation will take place February 5, 2027, from 5 to 7 p.m. during downtown Tuscaloosa's First Friday celebration. The public is invited to attend.

The Dinah Washington Cultural Arts Center is located at 620 Greensboro Avenue.

Complete entry requirements and applications are available here. For additional questions, email kevin.ledgewood@tuscarts.org.