2026 Bettie Awards

The Delaplaine Arts Center announces the 2026 Elizabeth Barker Delaplaine Award for Young Artists (the Bettie Award). Bettie Delaplaine was a lifelong supporter of the arts in Frederick County, Maryland, and her strong belief in the importance of the arts in the community and supporting young emerging artists inspired The Delaplaine Arts Center to create this award program in her honor. The award program is an annual event run in March, nationally recognized as Youth Art Month.

Artists residing or attending school in Frederick County, Maryland, in grades 9–12 (public, private, or homeschooled) are invited to apply. There is no application fee. All media are eligible, including but not limited to painting, printmaking, photography, ceramics, drawing and sculpture. Submitted artwork must have been created by the applicant within the past two years and must not measure more than 5 feet in any direction.

A first round jury will select at least 10 artists to be named Bettie Award Winners, with selected artworks delivered between February 23 and March 1, 2026. A second-round jury will select one artwork from among the award winners to be named the Bettie Award Grand Prize Winner, who will receive $1,000. All other Bettie Award winners will receive $100. Visitors will vote for their favorite work throughout the exhibition, with the People's Choice Award Winner receiving $250. The exhibition runs March 7–April 26, 2026, with an awards presentation and opening on March 7, 2026, at 2 pm.