Paint Grand Traverse 2026

The ​Crooked Tree Arts Center in Traverse City, Michigan, seeks artists for the national plein air painting festival, Paint Grand Traverse, now in its ninth year. Paint Grand Traverse is a plein air (outdoor) painting festival and competition featuring 33 artists from across the country.

Prizes and Awards: 
Best of show: ​$3,500 cash award. A total of $18,000 in cash and prizes will be awarded in a variety of categories.

The ​Crooked Tree Arts Center in Traverse City, Michigan, seeks artists for the national plein air painting festival, Paint Grand Traverse: a plein air affair, now in its seventh year. Paint Grand Traverse is a plein air (outdoor) painting festival and competition featuring 33 artists from across the country.

Prizes and Awards: 
Best of show: ​$3,500 cash award. A total of $18,000 in cash and prizes will be awarded in a variety of categories.

The Grand Traverse region is located in northwest lower Michigan and is known the world over for its gorgeous scenery, hundreds of miles of Lake Michigan coast, and historic small towns and villages. The largest of these, Traverse City, is nestled on the southern shore of West Grand Traverse Bay, and is home to Crooked Tree Arts Center - Traverse City.

Paint Grand Traverse is presented by Crooked Tree Arts Center. Founded in 1971, CTAC is a community-based arts center serving Northern Michigan from campuses in Traverse City and Petoskey, Michigan. We offer events and classes in visual arts, dance, music, culinary arts, and more. To learn more about Crooked Tree Arts Center, visit us online at www.crookedtree.org.

This call is open to all artists working throughout the United States. All painting media are eligible.

Housing will be available for artists who live more than an hour away, in local host homes. 

Applicant Calendar:

Submit 5-7 entries online October 28 - December 15, 2025

Entries will be scored by a panel of jurors, December 15 - 31, 2025

Notification of acceptance will be sent on or before January 12, 2026.

Accepted artists must submit a signed letter of agreement, bio, and promotional images by February 1, 2026.

Event dates: June 21 - 28, 2026

Extended Exhibition dates: July 1 - August 15, 2026

Jurors: 

A team of five jurors, comprised of practicing artists, teachers, collectors, and curators, will review all submissions. Top scoring entries will be accepted.

Rules:

Submissions must be original works of art created by the artist submitting the work.

Artists may submit five images of recent plein air work. Please do not submit images of studio work.

The Crooked Tree Arts Center galleries are sales galleries and works created during the festival must be for sale. Price is set by the artist. The Crooked Tree Arts Center will retain a 40% commission on all sales.

A non-refundable fee of $30.00 per artist is required for entry (CTAC members $20.00). CTAC Artist Guild Members can submit their work free of charge. Members and Artist Guild Members: If you need a discount please contact Kristi@crookedtree.org or call CTAC at (231) 941-9488. If you have questions about your membership status, or are interested in becoming a member, please call CTAC at (231) 941-9488. We are unable to provide a refund if you forget to apply coupon code.

Submit requested application materials via CaFÉ. Entries must be submitted online via CaFÉ and file formats must meet CaFÉ specifications.

Jury will be done online. 

Notification will be delivered via email on or before January 12, 2026.

Accepted artists must submit a signed letter of agreement by February 1, 2026.

Application Requirements:

Submit 5-7 images of recent plein air artwork, including artwork title, dimensions, medium, and date. Digital images should be cropped to show the painting only - no frame, no background.

Artist Bio and C.V.

Artist Statement

Link to online portfolio (URL) (optional)

Eligibility:

This opportunity is open to all U.S. residents, 18 years and older. All painting media are eligible