2026 Holiday Art Competition

Concept

The Holiday Art Competition is jointly presented by The Delaplaine Arts Center (the Delaplaine) and the Holiday Committee, a sub-committee of Celebrate Frederick Inc., a private, non-profit corporation working in partnership with the City of Frederick.

The theme for the competition is a secular celebration of “The Holidays in Historic Frederick.”

The artwork should be a way for people unfamiliar with Frederick to have an idea of the winter wonderland that awaits locals and tourists during the winter months.

The selected artwork, or portions of the artwork, will be used by Celebrate Frederick in several “The Holidays” promotional pieces for the upcoming year. The finished product may include logos and/or copy added by Celebrate Frederick as needed.

Accepted artwork will be announced on November 7. Artwork may be accepted for display just during the competition reception (see below) or both the reception and the Delaplaine’s Community Outreach Gallery throughout December.

The Holiday Art Competition reception will be held Wednesday, December 2, 5:30 to 7:00 pm, 2026, at the Delaplaine Arts Center and is open to the public.

The Holiday Committee will retain exclusive commercial rights for two years for the production of posters featuring the artwork and for five years for any other promotional pieces. Details will be arranged with the winning artist.

Judging

The competition will be judged in two rounds:

1. The first round will be conducted virtually through the Delaplaine’s online exhibit entry portal, with all judges working remotely and individually. This round will determine which artworks will be accepted for exhibition during the Holiday Art Competition reception (see below), as well as which of those will remain on display at the Delaplaine throughout December.
2. The second round will be conducted in person after the artwork has been installed, and these judges will confer with each other to make their decisions. This round will determine the recipients of the Judges’ Choice Award, and if applicable, the Judges’ Special Award.

Awards and Recognition

1. Accepted artwork will be announced on November 7. Artwork may be accepted for display just during the competition reception (see below) or both the reception and the Delaplaine’s Community Outreach Gallery throughout December.
2. The Holiday Art Competition reception will be held Wednesday, December 2, 5:30 to 7:00 pm, 2026, at the Delaplaine Arts Center and is open to the public.
3. Judges’ Choice: A prize of $1,000 will be awarded to the winning artist during the reception.
   • Judges’ Choice is based on artistic merit, ease of reproduction, exemplification of theme, and adherence to rules.
   • The chosen artwork, or segments of it, will be utilized in the upcoming year’s promotional campaign for “The Holidays in Historic Frederick”. The artist will be given credit wherever the artwork is used. As stated above, the Holiday Committee will retain exclusive commercial rights for two years for the production of posters featuring the artwork and for five years for any other promotional pieces. Details will be arranged with the winning artist.
   • After the exhibition, Celebrate Frederick will retain the winning artwork for no more than 30 days, during which time they will have a digital scan made. They will then arrange pick up with the artist, or if the artwork was purchased, with the Delaplaine on behalf of the buyer.
   • Celebrate Frederick will mail the prize check within 30 days of receipt of the winning artist’s W9.
4. Barbara Maghan People’s Choice: A certificate will be awarded to the winning artist during the reception as selected by popular vote that evening.
5. Judges’ Special Award: Judges may choose to honor an artist with a Judges’ Special Award certificate recognizing exceptional artistic merit.

Dropoff, Display, and Pickup

1. All artwork accepted for exhibition is to be hand delivered to the Delaplaine at 40 S. Carroll Street in Frederick, MD on Monday, November 16, or Tuesday, November 17, 2026, between 9:00 am and 4:30 pm.
   • Alternatively, artwork may be shipped to the Delaplaine. However, shipped work arriving after November 17 will not be included.
2. The Delaplaine will insure the artwork from the time of delivery until the designated pick-up time (for an amount that shall not exceed the sale price less commission).
3. All accepted artwork will be on public display during the Holiday Art Competition reception (see above).
4. Artwork NOT selected to remain at the Delaplaine must be picked up no earlier than Thursday, December 3 and no later than Monday, December 7, during the Delaplaine’s regular open hours.
5. Artwork selected to stay at the Delaplaine for display in the Community Outreach Gallery will remain on exhibition there December 5–27, 2025. These pieces must be picked up on Sunday, December 27, 4:30 to 5:00 pm, or Monday, December 28, 2026, 9:00 am to 4:30 pm.
   • Any other pick-up arrangements must be made in advance by contacting Corey Frey, Delaplaine Exhibitions Manager, at 301-698-0656 ext. 108 or cfrey@delaplaine.org.
   • Any work left at the Delaplaine for longer than the designated pick-up dates may be disposed of at the Delaplaine's discretion.
   • Celebrate Frederick will retain the Judges’ Choice artwork as outlined above.