Jen Picicci
November 4 - End of Year: Small Works 2026
Artist Eligibility: HCAC Artist Members
Exhibit Submission Form Due Date: Monday, October 26, by 5 pm
Drop-off Date & Time: Tuesday, November 3, from 10 am - 5 pm
Exhibit Dates: November 4 - End of Year
Opening Reception & First Friday: Friday, November 6, from 5 - 8 pm
First Friday: December 4, from 5 - 8 pm
Exhibit Description: The Haywood County Arts Council invites artists to submit work for our annual, community-favorite exhibit, Small Works! This holiday-themed show celebrates creativity in miniature, featuring artwork 12x12 inches or smaller, as well as handcrafted ornaments. All mediums welcome. Small Works is the perfect opportunity to share your art in a compact format that’s ideal for gift-giving, seasonal décor, or personal collections. Bring your creativity in small packages and help spread the joy of art this holiday season!
Artists may submit a total of four pieces — either up to four wall pieces or two pedestal pieces (or a combination totaling four). In addition, artists may submit up to twelve ornaments. Extra entries will not be accepted.
2027 Gallery Exhibitions
Seven thematic exhibits were selected by the Gallery Committee for 2027. Each exhibit encourages artists working in all media to participate. If you’re an artist and would like to exhibit in our downtown gallery, join the HCAC Artist Membership Program today!
Amanda Janes
January 30 - March 1: Artist Choice
Artist Eligibility: HCAC Artist Members
Exhibit Submission Form Due Date: Monday, January 18, by 5 pm
Drop-off Date & Time: Tuesday, January 26, from 10 am - 5 pm
Exhibit Dates: January 30 - March 1
Opening Reception: Saturday, January 30, from 5 - 9 pm. Visit Haywood Ice Block Party, Downtown Waynesville, from 3 - 9 pm.
Exhibit Description: We’re kicking off 2027 by celebrating creativity, individuality, and personal expression! For Artist Choice, artists are invited to submit piece(s) that are personal favorites or hold special meaning. With no set theme, artists are encouraged to share pieces that reflect their unique styles, interests, and artistic perspectives.
Heidi Bleacher
March 3 - April 19: HCAC Arts Prize (Juried Exhibit)
Artist Eligibility: Open to Artist Members & Non-Members
Exhibit Application & Fee Due Date: Monday, February 8, by 5 pm
Application Fee: $15 for Artist Members, $25 for Non-Members
Payment Options:
You can pay for your application fee in any of the following ways:
By Mail: Send a check to HCAC, PO Box 306, Waynesville, NC 28786. Please write “Juried Exhibit Fee” in the memo line.
In Person: Pay by cash, check, or credit card at Haywood Handmade Gallery, 86 N. Main Street, Waynesville. Gallery hours are Monday – Saturday, 10 am – 5 pm, and Sunday, 11 am – 4 pm.
Drop-off Date & Time: Accepted Artists will be notified via email; drop-off Tues., Mar. 2
Exhibit Dates: March 3 - April 19
Opening Reception: Friday, March 5, from 5 - 8 pm
Exhibit Description: Haywood County Arts Council proudly presents its first juried exhibition, celebrating the creativity and diverse talents of our regional artists. Artists are invited to submit their work for consideration by a guest juror. The guest juror will be announced in January 2027. One outstanding artist will receive the top prize: a $100 Blick Art Materials gift card and the title of 2027 HCAC Arts Prize Winner!
Jennifer Sharkey
April 21 - May 31: Bloom
Artist Eligibility: HCAC Artist Members
Exhibit Submission Form Due Date: Monday, April 12, by 5 pm
Drop-off Date & Time: Tuesday, April 20, from 10 am - 5 pm
Exhibit Dates: April 21 - May 31
Opening Reception: Friday, April 23, from 5 - 8 pm
First Friday: May 7, from 5 - 8 pm
Exhibit Description: Bloom can represent many ideas: the moment a flower opens, a season of growth, or reaching your fullest potential. This exhibit invites artists to explore various interpretations of bloom through their work. Artists are encouraged to explore; literal depictions and abstract interpretations are welcome.
Sabine Allen
June 2 - August 2: Movement
Artist Eligibility: HCAC Artist Members
Exhibit Submission Form Due Date: Monday, May 24, by 5 pm
Drop-off Date & Time: Tuesday, June 1, from 10 am - 5 pm
Exhibit Dates: June 2 - August 2
Opening Reception & First Friday: Friday, June 4, from 5 - 8 pm
First Friday: July 2, from 5 - 8 pm
Exhibit Description: How can art capture or create movement? Artists are invited to explore movement in all its forms, from the energy of a brushstroke and the flow of a sculpted form to the rhythm and motion captured in a scene. Consider how color, line, texture, and composition can suggest motion, or how a work of art might physically move and engage viewers in an active experience.
Jason Pierson
August 4 - 30: Creating Space
Artist Eligibility: HCAC Artist Members
Exhibit Submission Form Due Date: Monday, July 26, by 5 pm
Drop-off Date & Time: Tuesday, August 3, from 10 am - 5 pm
Exhibit Dates: August 4 - 30
Opening Reception & First Friday: Friday, August 6, from 5 - 8 pm
Exhibit Description: What is space? Is it the vastness of outer space, the quiet refuge of the mind, the physical world around us, or the space we create for ourselves and others? Artists are invited to traverse the many meanings and interpretations of space through their chosen mediums, styles, and perspectives. From expansive landscapes and imagined worlds to intimate moments, abstract concepts, and the spaces between things, we welcome creative interpretations that challenge, inspire, and expand our understanding of what it means to create space.
Timothy C. Jacobs
September 1 - November 1: Home
Artist Eligibility: HCAC Artist Members
Exhibit Submission Form Due Date: Monday, August 23, by 5 pm
Drop-off Date & Time: Tuesday, August 31, from 10 am - 5 pm
Exhibit Dates: September 1 - November 1
Opening Reception & First Friday: Friday, September 3, from 5 - 8 pm
First Friday: October 1, from 5 - 8 pm
Exhibit Description: What does home mean to you? More than a physical place, home can be a feeling, a memory, a sense of belonging, or the people and places that make us feel connected. Artists are challenged to explore this theme through familiar surroundings, cherished traditions, personal histories, imagined places of comfort, or the experience of finding where we belong. From the warmth of a well-loved space to the complexities of identity and belonging, we welcome diverse interpretations that capture the many stories, emotions, and experiences that make a house, a place, or a moment feel like home.
Randy Rayl
November 2 - End of Year: Small Works 2027
Artist Eligibility: HCAC Artist Members
Exhibit Submission Form Due Date: Monday, October 25, by 5 pm
Drop-off Date & Time: Tuesday, November 2, from 10 am - 5 pm
Exhibit Dates: November 3 - End of Year
Opening Reception & First Friday: Friday, November 5, from 5 - 8 pm
First Friday: December 3, from 5 - 8 pm
Exhibit Description: The Haywood County Arts Council invites artists to submit work for our annual, community-favorite exhibit, Small Works! This holiday-themed show celebrates creativity in miniature, featuring artwork 12x12 inches or smaller, as well as handcrafted ornaments. All mediums are welcome. Small Works is the perfect opportunity to share your art in a compact format, ideal for gift-giving.
Artists may submit a total of four pieces — either up to four wall pieces or two pedestal pieces (or a combination totaling four). In addition, artists may submit up to twelve ornaments. Extra entries will not be accepted.
Gallery Exhibit Protocols
Please Note: A separate submission form is required for each artwork you wish to enter. For example, if you are submitting three pieces, you must complete and submit the form three separate times, once for each piece. Artists may submit up to three artworks per exhibit. Please note that while all submitted works will be considered, the Haywood County Arts Council cannot guarantee that all pieces will be displayed at the same time. Before submitting, please review the Gallery Protocols located at the bottom of this page and ensure that your artwork meets all requirements.
The goal of the Haywood County Arts Council's Gallery is to promote the handmade work of HCAC artist members. Please review carefully!
Eligibility:
Only artist members may participate in exhibits. This requirement is exempt for specially curated exhibits only. To learn more about Artist Memberships, click here.
All artists must live in the Western North Carolina Mountain Region, which includes the following North Carolina counties highlighted on the map at the bottom of this page.
Jury & Fees:
No jury for exhibits
No exhibit entry fees
General:
HCAC reserves the right to refuse any work it deems unacceptable.
Artists must complete the exhibit submission form before the deadline. Please note: Fill out the form for each piece you're submitting for the above exhibit. You need to submit a NEW form per piece. As an example, if you're submitting three pieces, you will fill this form out three times.
Once the exhibit submission form is completed, no changes may be made to the price, title, etc.
Please ensure all work is appropriate for all ages.
Demonstrates creativity, originality, and excellence in design
Work is saleable and for sale
Each piece is individually made by the artist - must be original to the artist
Each piece is capable of maintaining its structural integrity over time
Art should be family-friendly
No content that is political, religious, or pornographic in nature
No group or club affiliations or symbols
No late entries
Artwork must be for sale; the typical 30/70 split between HCAC and the artist will apply.
Installation Process & Requirements:
Artists may submit up to three pieces of wall or pedestal artwork per exhibit with the exception of jewelry, in which the artist can submit up to five pieces. Another exception is ornaments for the Small Works exhibit; up to four exhibit pieces can be submitted. (Tree ornaments, up to twenty for Small Works).
Due to our limited space, exhibits are hung in the Salon-Style, and artworks will be hung at varying heights.
The volunteer installation crew considers size, colors, and themes when hanging each exhibit.
The total number of artworks varies from exhibit to exhibit. The volunteer installation crew tries to install all artworks. If space does not allow everything to be installed, pieces will be stored on-site and displayed as replacement pieces until the exhibit's close date. With this in mind, we try to hang at least two to three pieces from each artist, unless an artist submits multiple large pieces. In which case, one would be hung.
If a piece is larger than 36 inches in any direction, the artist must email the Art & Gallery Manager (artist@HaywoodArts.org) for approval.
Pieces must be "Installation Ready," see section below.
Installation Ready:
Two-Dimensional, Wall-Hanging Pieces:
Frames, mats, acrylic, backing, and writing must be high quality, clean, neat, and secure.
The ability to hang pieces such as wire, a clasp, or, for quilts, a bar or rod of some kind that can adhere to the wall is provided.
Three-Dimensional, Jewelry, Sculptures, and Pottery:
All work must have a stable, neat, and secure way to stand on its own accord.
Fragile work and jewelry must come with appropriate packaging materials.
Commercially Printed Items:
Notice: Commercially printed items other than illustrated books from handmade artworks, prints, and cards are not allowed in exhibits.
Artificial Intelligence (AI):
Artwork should not be created by generative AI, either in its final appearance or during the creation process. We acknowledge that technology and its impact on the arts continue to evolve, and we will continue to thoughtfully and intentionally review these guidelines and encourage conversations around this relatively new technology.

