2026 Thumb Area Artists' Exhibit

This is a juried exhibit open to artists 18 years of age or older residing in the following Michigan Counties: Genesee, Huron, Lapeer, Macomb, Oakland, Sanilac, St. Clair, Tuscola and Wayne. 

The Romeo Guild of Art proudly presents the 65th Annual Thumb Area Artists' Exhibit August 27-September 25, 2026. This exhibition will be held at Starkweather Arts Center. Reception and awards presentation on Saturday, August 29, 2026 at 12pm-3pm at Starkweather Arts Center, 219 N Main Street, Romeo MI 48065. 

Starkweather Arts Center is a non-profit community arts center that has been open since 1999 in the historic home of Romeo art and drafting teacher Helen Starkweather. Our mission is to promote and foster appreciation of the arts and artists, and to support the preservation of the character and quality of life in the Historic Village of Romeo. Visit us at Starkweatherarts.com or on Facebook at Starkweather Arts Center. Visit the RGA on Facebook at Romeo Guild of Art.

Juror: Anita Bates

Dr. Anita Bates is a 2019 Kresge Arts Fellow and a native of Highland Park, Michigan.  A contemporary artist, she has been exhibited in several venues including the Trout Museum in Appleton, Wisconsin; the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History in Detroit; G.R. N’Namdi Gallery; Dell Pryor Gallery; Detroit Artists Market; River’s Edge Gallery in Wyandotte, Michigan; Querini Stampalia Museum in Venice, Italy; A Gathering of the Tribes Gallery in New York, NY and the Ashara Ekundayo Gallery in Oakland, California.

The artist and her work have been noted and reviewed in various periodicals and publications such as the Detroit News and Free Press, Detroit Home Magazine, Art News, BLAC Magazine, TR8T Magazine, Imago Mundi: The Luciano Benetton Collection and The Romeo Observer.

Dr. Bates’ work has been acquired for the Woodward West Art Collection; the N’Namdi Permanent Collection; the Luciano Benetton Collection and Detroit Public Schools Community District Artist Collaborative. 

Of late, Anita has expanded her artistic endeavors to curatorial practice, developing exhibitions for Detroit’s Cass Café, the Detroit Artists Market and most recently for the Progressive Arts Studio Collective (PASC), a studio and arts collective dedicated to artists with disabilities.

Ms. Bates holds both a PhD in Education and M.F.A. in Painting from Wayne State University.  She also has an MA in Studio Art with a painting concentration from Eastern Michigan University.  Other accomplishments include a Fulbright Memorial Fellowship in Japanese education and a King, Chavez, Parks Future Faculty Fellowship from Wayne State University.  Her research interests center around the ways in which museum narratives and visual imagery can be used to promote critical thinking regarding systems of inequity and representation.   Currently she serves as an Associate Professor of Teaching and Program Coordinator for Visual Art Education at Wayne State University.

www.anitabatestheartist.com

For information on how to join the RGA, contact rgathumbshow@gmail.com or Starkweather Arts Center at 586-752-5700.

Process

Applications for entry in the Thumb Area Artists' Exhibit are made through www.callforentry.org. 

The entry fee is $40 for non-RGA members. Discount is available for RGA members in good standing who use the provided coupon code.  Safe and secure entry fee payments can be made by PayPal or credit card.

Entry fees are non-refundable.  Payment of entry fees does not guarantee that the submitted works will be chosen by the juror for inclusion in the exhibit.

CAUTION: All entries will be juried directly from your CaFE (CallForEntry.org) submission. Artists are responsible for ensuring that all images and information within their CaFE portfolio— including title, medium, dimensions, and price—are accurate and up to date at the time your information is submitted to this call.

This information will be used to verify eligibility for entry, as well as for jurying and exhibition purposes. Incomplete or erroneous submissions may result in disqualification.

Accepted work must match the images and details provided in your CaFE application.}****

Artists that have works accepted are expected to honor their commitment to participate in this exhibition. 
IMPORTANT NOTICE!: Art pick-up September 26, 2026. Artists must pick up their work on Saturday September 27, between 10am-3:30pm at Starkweather Arts Center. For questions regarding pick up, please contact Starkweather at 586.752.5700

*Maximum 2 art entries per artist. Artists may only apply once to this call. Each entry must have a mininum of 1 image or video per piece. 

*Artists must be 18 years or older and reside in one of the following counties: Genesee, Huron, Lapeer, Macomb, Oakland, Sanilac, St. Clair, Tuscola and Wayne.

*All entries must be for sale and priced. No PORs. A 30% commission will be taken by Starkweather Arts Center on all artwork sales. Sold work must remain in place until the show ends. No price changes once art is accepted.

*Acceptable media: oil, acrylic, watercolor, pastel, drawing, graphics and sculpture (wood, metal, etc.)  Fibers, photography and AI/computer-generated art are not acceptable.

*Original work completed within the last three years and not previously exhibited in the Thumb Area Artists Exhibition is eligible. Class work, prints and reproductions of copyrighted works will not be accepted.

*Wire hanging only on wall pieces- NO SAW TOOTH HOOKS. No wet paintings.

*Size limits: Artwork may not exceed 40" in height, width or depth (including frame). Artwork exceeding these limits will be refused. All entries should be able to be handled by one person.  Affix the title and artist name to the back of accepted work.

For juror, RGA membership, or eligibility questions: rgathumbshow@gmail.com