16th Annual Wayne Art Center Plein Air Festival

The Wayne Art Center Plein Air Festival is one of the longest-running and most popular outdoor painting events in the country. Founded in 2008, the festival has welcomed over 500 artists to paint the Philadelphia area and has become one of the most eagerly anticipated cultural events in the region. The 16th Annual Wayne Art Center Plein Air Festival kicks off on May 5, 2024, with 32 juried, nationally recognized, and emerging artists painting in Wayne, Pennsylvania to capture the beauty of the Delaware Valley. Artists will showcase over 300 works created during the festival in three spacious, light-filled, state-of-the-art exhibition galleries on view and sale through June 22, 2024 (6 weeks). A full schedule of events includes community paint-outs, artist demos, lectures, and other programs. The galleries at Wayne Art Center are enjoyed by more than 30,000 visitors each year, and sales during the exhibition are robust throughout its span.

For returning artists, the festival offers an opportunity to reconnect with collectors and compete for $25,000 in cash awards. For emerging artists, acceptance represents an important step in achieving national recognition. Artist housing will be provided by community members. Participating artists are requested to attend a Welcome Breakfast on Sunday, May 5, with comprehensive orientation and canvas stamping. Throughout the festival week, painters work on location throughout surrounding areas with varied landscapes including historic architecture, rolling hills, and views of Center City Philadelphia and its waterfronts.

The Collectors' Preview & Awards Ceremony takes place Friday, May 10, 6-9 pm at Wayne Art Center, 413 Maplewood Avenue, Wayne, PA 19087. Over ten major cash awards totaling $25,000 will be presented by Juror Jill Carver, including Best of Show, First Place, Second Place, Third Place, and Special Themed Awards. The Best of Show award winner will be invited to participate in the next year's plein air event. Entry fee is $50. Artists must submit 1-4 JPG images at 300 dpi resolution, 1200 pixels or greater on the longest side, under 5 MB. Open to artists 18 and older from the United States. Artists participating may not exhibit at other galleries within a 50-mile radius of Wayne Art Center during the exhibition period (May 11-June 22, 2024). All unsold work must be picked up by July 26, 2024.