Art Competitions for Minneapolis Artists

Whether you’re just starting to show your work or you’re a seasoned professional, applying to juried exhibitions, high-quality photographs of your artwork can make all the difference. Great photos help your submission stand out, show your work at its best, and can improve your competitive edge.
Many of the artists I’ve worked with have gone on to win major national and international awards. Here’s just a few of them:

Below, you’ll find a curated list of juried art competitions. These events offer opportunities for visibility, recognition, and sales; whether you’re submitting a painting, or mixed media piece.
If you know of a local or national competition I should add, feel free to send it my way. I enjoy helping my artists make the most of every opportunity.

🎯 Pro Tips for Entering Art Competitions

Submitting your work to juried exhibitions can be exciting, and a little intimidating. Here are a few tips to help you stand out and avoid common pitfalls:

Follow the rules exactly.  Each competition has specific requirements for file size, resolution, medium, dimensions, framing, and labeling. Submitting the wrong format or incomplete information can disqualify even excellent work.
Invest in professional photography.  Your image is your first impression. Blurry, unevenly lit, or distorted photos won’t do your work justice. I specialize in photographing artwork for competition entries and can help you ensure it looks its absolute best.
Choose your best, most cohesive work.  Select pieces that represent your style and skill level. If submitting multiple works, try to choose ones that feel like they belong together, even across different subjects or media.
Don’t wait until the deadline.  Give yourself time to prepare your files, fill out the application, and resolve any last-minute issues. Many competitions get a rush of submissions near the deadline, and slow servers or technical issues can be stressful.
Keep a record.  Track where and when you’ve submitted each piece, what images you used, and the results. This helps with planning and improves your chances over time.
Think beyond winning.  Even if your piece isn’t accepted, juried shows can still be valuable exposure, and the act of preparing and submitting helps sharpen your skills. Rejection is part of the process for even the most seasoned artists.

🏆 National Art Competitions for Painters – 2025

Art Renewal Center (ARC) Salon

Dates: Submission deadline June 13, 2025 Location: Online and select international exhibitions The ARC Salon is the largest competition dedicated to 21st Century Realism, offering over $130,000 in cash awards and opportunities for international recognition through partnerships with prestigious magazines, galleries, and museums. Let me know you are submitting and I can provide an image that fits their specifications exactly! Art Renewal Center (ARC) Salon website

PleinAir Salon Art Competition

Dates: Monthly competitions leading to the annual award in May 2025 Location: Online and Plein Air Convention & Expo This competition offers monthly awards and culminates in an annual grand prize of $15,000 and a feature on the cover of PleinAir Magazine. It is open to all types of paintings, not just plein air works. PleinAir Salon Art Competition website

Oil Painters of America (OPA) National Exhibition

Dates: Submission deadline March 4, 2025; Exhibition May 30–June 28, 2025 Location: Bradenton, Florida OPA’s National Exhibition showcases the best in representational oil painting, featuring a wet paint competition and various awards. Oil Painters of America National Exhibition website

Artists Magazine Annual Art Competition

Dates: Submission deadline July 8, 2025 Location: Online This competition celebrates outstanding works in various art media, offering cash prizes totaling $17,500 across five categories, with winners featured in Artists Magazine. Artists Magazine Annual Art Competition website

National Oil & Acrylic Painters’ Society (NOAPS) Best of America

Dates: Application deadline April 6, 2025; Exhibition October 3–25, 2025 Location: To be announced NOAPS’ Best of America is an international juried exhibition open to oil and acrylic painters, offering cash awards and recognition. NOAPS Best of America website

National Oil & Acrylic Painters’ Society (NOAPS) Spring International Online Exhibition

Dates: Application deadline April 7, 2025; Exhibition May 22, 2025 Location: Online This international juried online competition is open to all artists aged 18 and older working in oil and acrylic mediums, with cash awards totaling $4,500. NOAPS Spring International Online Exhibition website

*Some of these events have passed, but I included them anyhow because you might want to look into them for next year. That gives you time to look at the current competition and think about how you would like to approach them ahead of time.

🎨 The Great Minnesota Painting Competition – 2025

Minnesota State Fair Fine Arts Competition

Dates: August 21 – September 1, 2025
Location: Fine Arts Center, Minnesota State Fairgrounds, Falcon Heights, MN

Minnesota’s largest juried art exhibition showcases over 300 pieces selected from thousands of submissions by artists across the state. Open exclusively to Minnesota residents, the competition features eight classes: Painting/Mixed Media, Sculpture, Watercolor/Gouache/Casein/Tempera, Drawings/Pastel, Printmaking, Ceramics/Glass, Textiles/Fiber, and Photography. Each artist may submit one piece for consideration. The exhibition is displayed in the historic Fine Arts Center during the 12-day fair. Let me know you are submitting and I can provide an image that fits their specifications exactly!
Minnesota State Fair Fine Arts Competition website

🧭 Know of a Competition I Should Add?

I’m always looking to expand this list with more opportunities, especially local or regional competitions that might not get as much promotion.
If you know of a juried show, plein air event, or art competition (big or small) that other artists should hear about, feel free to email me the details. I’d love to include it.

Let’s help each other find the good stuff.

🎨 Midwest Plein Air Painting Competitions – 2025

Plein Air Grand Marais

Dates: September 5–13, 2025 Location: Grand Marais, MN An annual tradition since 2008, this event brings outdoor painters to the North Shore of Lake Superior for a week of painting, learning, competition, and camaraderie. Plein Air Grand Marais website

Door County Plein Air Festival

Dates: July 20–26, 2025 Location: Fish Creek, WI The Midwest’s premier outdoor painting event, featuring 30–36 invited artists from across the U.S., with an online exhibition and sale following the festival. Door County Plein Air Festival website

Prairie Lakes Plein Air

Dates: Summer 2025 Location: Otter Tail County, MN A festival of art education, exhibition, and competition open to artists of all skill levels, set in the idyllic lakes country of West-Central Minnesota. Prairie Lakes Plein Air website

Plein Air at the Fair – Wisconsin State Fair

Dates: August 4–5, 2025 Location: West Allis, WI Open to all artists, this competition challenges participants to create artwork onsite at the Wisconsin State Fair, with finished works available for purchase by the public. Plein Air at the Fair website

Prairie Plein Air Competition and Show

Dates: April 25–May 9, 2025 Location: Schaumburg, IL Artists are invited to create original plein air paintings or drawings within Schaumburg city limits, with entries displayed at the Al Larson Prairie Center for the Arts. Prairie Plein Air Competition website

Jefferson Plein Air

Dates: June 11–14, 2025 Location: Jefferson, WI Artists capture historic buildings, rivers, landscapes, and other points of interest throughout Jefferson during this four-day outdoor painting competition. Jefferson Plein Air website

Evanston Plein Air Festival

Dates: July 18–20, 2025 Location: Evanston, IL A weekend event featuring a Paint Out competition, plein air art market, live music, and opportunities for artists to sell their work directly to the public. Evanston Plein Air Festival website

Red Wing Arts Plein Air

Dates: Summer 2025 Location: Red Wing, MN Celebrating its 19th annual event, artists paint recognizable scenes of Red Wing, capturing the interplay of light and shadow along the Mississippi River bluffs. Red Wing Arts Plein Air website

Paint Cedarburg

Dates: May 31–June 7, 2025 Location: Cedarburg, WI Wisconsin’s largest gathering of plein air artists, with over 165 participants painting historic structures, coffee shops, and the picturesque countryside. Paint Cedarburg website

Into Nature Plein Air Competition

Dates: Summer 2025 Location: White Bear Lake, MN Open to artists of all experience levels, this competition captures the beauty of Minnesota summer, with all artwork displayed in the Ford Family Gallery. Into Nature Plein Air Competition website

Waukesha Plein Air Competition

Dates: September 29–October 4, 2025 Location: Waukesha, WI A week-long plein air event culminating in an artists reception and sales event during the Waukesha Art Crawl. Waukesha Plein Air Competition website

Paint the Towns in Fall Color

Dates: October 1–8, 2025 Location: Plymouth, WI Midwest artists are invited to a full week of plein air painting in historic Plymouth and surrounding rural areas, concluding with a public exhibition and silent auction. Paint the Towns in Fall Color website

Mississippi Riverscapes Plein Air Art Competition

Dates: June 1, 2025 Location: Alton, IL An open-air art competition inviting artists to capture the scenic beauty of the Mississippi River, open to all professional and amateur artists aged 16 and up. Mississippi Riverscapes Plein Air Art Competition website

Iowa Plein Air Competition

Dates: Labor Day Weekend 2025 Location: Amana, IA Iowa’s longest-tenured plein air event, combining the talents of Midwest artists with Iowa’s incredible scenery for a collaborative and comprehensive experience. Iowa Plein Air Competition website

Fairfield PaintOut

Dates: Summer 2025 Location: Fairfield, IL Artists are invited to paint rural settings, small-town scenes, and picturesque shorelines in Southeastern Illinois, with housing and most meals provided during the week. Fairfield PaintOut website