Standing Out Merit Artists Show 2026

To be considered for this juried award, artists must have an active membership with the Rockport Center for the Arts and must have artwork on view in the 2025 Annual All-Members Exhibition, The Big Wave! Three artists will be selected for the Merit Artist award by a guest juror and announced on December 13, 2025. The three winning applicants will hold the title Merit Artist 2026 and be given the opportunity to show their work in a 3-person group exhibition, Standing Out, during RCA's Annual All-Members Exhibition in 2026.

Artists who wish to be considered for 2026 Merit Artists should submit an artist statement and optionally 1-3 images of other work they make to help the juror in making their decision. Each of the three selected Merit Artists will be awarded a studio visit by a member of the Rockport Center for the Arts Exhibition Committee to help guide the Merit Artist in the creation of their body of work.

Requirements for artwork in The Big Wave! Annual All Members Exhibition include: paintings, sculptures, photographs and all media are accepted, however giclée prints of original art are not allowed. Artwork cannot be larger than 50" x 50" and cannot be smaller than 10" x 10". Artwork cannot be priced higher than $7,000 or lower than $100, though artwork does not have to be for sale. There is no theme to this exhibition. It is free to apply, and an average of 20 applications are submitted each year with 3 artists selected.