2023 Farm to Forest Plein Air Festival

The Farm to Forest Plein Air Festival will be held October 12-15, 2023 in Alexandria, Louisiana at the Alexandria Museum of Art (933 Second Street, Alexandria, LA 71301). Artists must be 18 and older and work in 2D mediums. The entry fee is $55.00, and artists may submit up to 3 applications with 1-3 work samples of plein air work completed within the last 3 years.

Artists may paint as many paintings as they choose during the festival and display them at designated wall space. All works must be completed during the event and stamped with the museum's Farm to Forest Plein Air stamp. Materials allowed include canvas, panel, paper, copper, and wood boards up to 12"x16" in oil, acrylic, pastel, watercolor, gouache, ink, and pencil. Artists may paint at suggested daily locations or anywhere within Central Louisiana (Rapides, Avoyelles, Grant, and Vernon parishes). All artwork can be dropped off at the museum lobby and will be hung by museum staff. Paintings displayed in the museum must have accompanying label and info cards and hanging hardware.

Art sales are split 70% to the artist and 30% to the museum, with artists setting their own prices. Payment will be made within 3 weeks of the event. A Quick Paint Challenge will be held Thursday, October 12 from 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm, a timed open-air painting event open to the public. Awards include First Place $1,000, Second Place $750, Third Place $500, Peoples' Choice $250, and Artists' Choice (Ad in Plein Air Magazine). The 2023 juror is John P. Lasater IV. The museum will keep finished works on display from October 16-21, 2023 for additional public viewing. Housing is available on a first come first serve basis for accepted artists.