2027 Small Works on Paper

Small Works on Paper (SWOP) is an annual, juried, touring art exhibition sponsored by the Arkansas Arts Council. SWOP is open to visual artists who are Arkansas residents, aged 18 years or older. 

EXHIBITION AND TOUR 
Small Works on Paper (SWOP) is an annual, juried art exhibition sponsored by the Arkansas Arts Council. Each year, the artwork of both emerging and established Arkansas artists is showcased in a year-long traveling exhibition.  

The SWOP exhibition tours the state and can be viewed at up to ten locations in Arkansas. The exhibition will open in January 2027 at the South Arkansas Arts Center in El Dorado. A complete touring list will be available at ArkansasArts.org.
 
ELIGIBILITY  
SWOP is open to Arkansas citizens who are aged 18 years or older. Current Arkansas Arts Council advisory board members, staff of the Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage, and Tourism (ADPHT) or members of their immediate families are not eligible.
  

JURIED ARTIST DIRECTORY
Artists chosen by the juror to be part of Small Works on Paper have the opportunity to be added to the Juried Artist Directory, which was created to support, market and recognize creatives who have earned awards and recognition through the Arkansas Arts Council. 
 
JUROR                                                                                            
As a Taiwanese American artist, Kathy Liao looks for patterns and repetitions that weave through the immigrant families’ experience in her mixed-media work. She is the recipient of various recognitions, including the 2023 Joan Mitchell Foundation Fellowship, 2022 21c KC Artadia Award, 2020 Charlotte Street Foundation Visual Artist Award, and a public art commission for the new Kansas City International Airport. As a mentor and educator, Liao has lectured and presented at multiple institutions and conferences nationwide. Her work was shown in galleries and museums in Boston, New York, Los Angeles, Seattle, Kansas City, and many other cities nationally and internationally. Formerly, Liao was Director of the Painting and Printmaking department at Missouri Western State University. She was nominated “Most Influential Professor” in 2019. She is currently the organizational services program officer at Mid-America Arts Alliance.

PURCHASE AWARDS 
Up to $2,000 may be available for juror-selected awards. Artwork selected by the juror may be considered for purchase by the Arkansas Arts Council for the price listed by the artist at the time of entry. The artwork may then become part of the SWOP permanent collection.  

SPECIFICATIONS 

• Eligible mediums include painting, photography, drawing, printmaking, mixed media and collage.
• Only original artwork will be accepted. Works developed from a reference photo not belonging to the artist entering SWOP may not be considered.
• Work must have been completed within the past two years.
• Do not submit work copied or reproduced from another artist's creation. Artwork created by using reference material must be significantly different from its source.
• Do not submit AI generated artwork.
• All artwork must be created on paper. Artwork created on canvas is not eligible.
• Dimensions of actual work can be any size, but accepted work must be matted or mounted to fit a frame that is one of the following sizes: 18" x 18" or 18" x 24" (H x W or W x H).
• The Arkansas Arts Council reserves the right of approval of any work submitted, and in its editorial discretion, any work that is deemed offensive or political in nature will not be accepted.

 ACCEPTED WORK  

• A maximum of 40 works will be selected by the juror.
• Accepted work is due in the Arkansas Arts Council office by Nov. 13, 2026. Artwork may be hand-delivered or shipped to the Arkansas Arts Council.
• Artwork may be refused if the digital image is not an accurate representation of work.
• Accepted work must fit in a standard low-profile frame measuring 18" x 18" or 18" x 24" (H x W or W X H).
• Frames will be provided by the Arkansas Arts Council.
• Artists must provide a hinged window mat and rigid backboard for their artwork. Mounted artwork, plus a backing board is acceptable.
• All mats should be of conservation quality mat board.
• The entire thickness of artwork, mat, and backing board should not exceed 1/2" thickness to fit the Arkansas Arts Council's frames.
• Do not deliver a copy or reproduction of the original artwork that was selected by the juror.

SALES 
Please indicate the sale price for each work submitted. If the work is not for sale, please list a monetary value. The work can be marked NFS and still be in the exhibition. Commissions are not taken on sales. All proceeds go to the artists.  
 
ARTIST NOTIFICATION 
All artists will be notified regarding acceptance of work in October 2026.  
 
ENTRY FEES AND DEADLINE 
Entry fees are $15 to submit one digital image, $20 for two digital images or $25 for three digital images.  
 
INFORMATION 
For more information, please email scarlet.sims@arkansas.gov. 

All artwork must be original, on paper and completed within the last two years. Non-original art (copied from another artist's creation, whether painting, drawing or photography is not eligible). AI generated artwork is not eligible. The Arkansas Arts Council reserves the right of approval of any work submitted, and in its editorial discretion, any work that is deemed offensive or political in nature will not be accepted.

SWOP is open to all visual artists who are Arkansas citizens, aged 18 years or older.  

Current Arkansas Arts Council advisory board members, staff of the Arkansas Department of Heritage, Parks and Tourism (ADHPT) or members of their immediate families are not eligible.

(NOTE: Do not enter if you do not reside in Arkansas.)