Art
2026 Entry Instructions
ONLINE ENTRY IS REQUIRED. To be an Exhibitor, click on the Online Entry link and follow the instructions. If you have questions, or are unable to complete the online form, please contact the department superintendent.
Entry deadlines are listed on the Entry Deadlines and Delivery Schedule page.
Rules & Guidelines
- Exhibitor Requirements
- You must be 16 or over to enter.
- Amateurs only, please! You may not enter a category in which you earn money through employment, selling, teaching, etc.
- We encourage entering more than one category, but limit one entry per category (i.e., entering Painting, Lot 1 and Lot 4 is OK).
- Entry limit: 8 works per exhibitor.
- Original art created by the exhibitor submitting.
- Entry Requirements. All works MUST be:
- Completely original in composition and execution and not previously exhibited at the Durham Fair.
- Dry. No wet work will be accepted.
- Framed and wired for hanging (unless a sculpture). No standing frames. Wires must be firmly attached to the frame itself and NOT to the backing. No work hung by use of ribbon, string, tape, glue, glued tabs or tabs punched into cardboard will be accepted.
- Size: must not exceed 24" × 36" (framed work) or 24" × 24" × 36" high (3-D). Larger works cannot be accepted.
- No nudes.
- Copyrighted images: Published images (such as comic/cartoon characters or others’ artwork) are protected by copyright laws and cannot be accepted. This said, we would accept a copyright-inspired work as long as it is 1) an original composition, 2) entered under Humor in Art / Parody or Art Inspired by Art, and 3) submitted with a mandatory copy of the source material.
- Date: Entries must have been created within the past 5 years (unless special permission is granted by the Superintendent).
- No Kit Art will be accepted.
- No digitally-produced artwork will be accepted
- No photography. Please enter in the Photography Dept.
- When possible, a committee member will oversee the Art department during the Fair. The building is locked at night and security guards are on duty. However, the Fair is not responsible for any damaged or missing items.
- Item pick-up is Sun. from 6–7:30 pm and Mon. following the Fair from 4–7 pm. The Art Department is not responsible for items not picked up within these hours.
- Like the Durham Fair Art Department on Facebook to stay current with the department for updates and activities.
Judging Criteria
- All entries will be judged on their own merits, including those where there is no other competition in the category.
- Judges reserve the option to reclassify entries.
- Points will be deducted if framing criteria are not met.
Points will be awarded in the following categories:
- Elements of art: Color, space, form—up to 8 points.
- Creativity: Uniqueness, originality—up to 5 points.
- Technique: Use of media and tools—up to 7 points.
- Presentation: Appearance, framing—up to 3 points.
For 2-D pieces (paintings, drawings, etc)
- 1st place ribbon: 18 – 23 points/$12 check
- 2nd place ribbon: 12 – 17 points/$10 check
- 3rd place ribbon: 7 – 11 points/$8 check
- Honorable Mention ribbon: 1 – 6 points
For 3-D pieces (sculptures, mobiles, woodworking, etc.)
- 1st place ribbon: 17 – 20 points/$12 check
- 2nd place ribbon: 13 – 16 points/$10 check
- 3rd place ribbon: 8 – 12 points/$8 check
- Honorable Mention ribbon: 1 – 7 points
• For art inspired by art
- 1st place ribbon: 15 – 18 points/$12 check
- 2nd place ribbon: 11 – 14 points/$10 check
- 3rd place ribbon: 7 – 10 points/$8 check
- Honorable Mention ribbon: 1 – 6 points
Special Ribbons
- Best in Show Rosettes for best (1) Painting and (2) Drawing from any category; (3) Other Media (2-D or 3-D Mixed Media, Print-making, Sculpture).
- Judges' Special Rosettes: to acknowledge excellence.
- Inspiration Rosettes to acknowledge excellence for the categories Eco-Art, Humor in Art, Art Inspired by Art
- Seniors
- 2026 Special Categories
- People’s Choice Rosette for Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday.
Entry Categories
Painting
Painting lots, categories, and prize amounts| Lot | Description | 1st | 2nd | 3rd |
|---|
| 1 | Oil | $12 | $10 | $8 |
| 2 | Acrylic | $12 | $10 | $8 |
| 3 | Watercolor | $12 | $10 | $8 |
| 4 | Other: Please specify medium. | $12 | $10 | $8 |
Drawing
Drawing lots, categories, and prize amounts| Lot | Description | 1st | 2nd | 3rd |
|---|
| 1 | Pencil | $12 | $10 | $8 |
| 2 | Colored Pencil | $12 | $10 | $8 |
| 3 | Pastel | $12 | $10 | $8 |
| 4 | Pen and Ink | $12 | $10 | $8 |
| 5 | Charcoal | $12 | $10 | $8 |
Portrait
Portrait lots, categories, and prize amounts| Lot | Description | 1st | 2nd | 3rd |
|---|
| 1 | Single Person | $12 | $10 | $8 |
| 2 | Single Animal | $12 | $10 | $8 |
| 3 | Single Flower, Plant or Tree | $12 | $10 | $8 |
"Scapes"
"Scapes" lots, categories, and prize amounts| Lot | Description | 1st | 2nd | 3rd |
|---|
| 1 | Landscape | $12 | $10 | $8 |
| 2 | Seascape | $12 | $10 | $8 |
| 3 | Farm scene | $12 | $10 | $8 |
| 4 | Plein Air: must be painted outside on location | $12 | $10 | $8 |
Still Life
Still Life lots, categories, and prize amounts| Lot | Description | 1st | 2nd | 3rd |
|---|
| 1 | Still life plant subject | $12 | $10 | $8 |
| 2 | Still life food subject | $12 | $10 | $8 |
| 3 | Still life miscellaneous subject | $12 | $10 | $8 |
Mixed Media
Mixed Media lots, categories, and prize amounts| Lot | Description | 1st | 2nd | 3rd |
|---|
| 1 | 2 - Dimensions | $12 | $10 | $8 |
| 2 | 3 - Dimensions | $12 | $10 | $8 |
Sculpture
Sculpture lots, categories, and prize amounts| Lot | Description | 1st | 2nd | 3rd |
|---|
| 1 | Must be 3D: no kits or purchased greenware. Not to exceed 24" × 24" × 36" high. | $12 | $10 | $8 |
Printmaking
Printmaking lots, categories, and prize amounts| Lot | Description | 1st | 2nd | 3rd |
|---|
| 1 | Please list technique on entry form | $12 | $10 | $8 |
Folk Art
Folk Art lots, categories, and prize amounts| Lot | Description | 1st | 2nd | 3rd |
|---|
| 1 | Painting | $12 | $10 | $8 |
| 2 | Drawing | $12 | $10 | $8 |
| 3 | Other media | $12 | $10 | $8 |
Fiber Art
Fiber Art lots, categories, and prize amounts| Lot | Description | 1st | 2nd | 3rd |
|---|
| 1 | Art produced from textiles | $12 | $10 | $8 |
| 2 | Fiber mixed medium | $12 | $10 | $8 |
Leather Works
Leather Works lots, categories, and prize amounts| Lot | Description | 1st | 2nd | 3rd |
|---|
| 1 | No Kits, all designs must be original | $12 | $10 | $8 |
Miscellaneous
Miscellaneous lots, categories, and prize amounts| Lot | Description | 1st | 2nd | 3rd |
|---|
| 1 | Miscellaneous: Please refer to rules. No Digital Art. No kits. Art must be created by artist submitting. | $12 | $10 | $8 |
Seniors
Seniors lots, categories, and prize amounts| Lot | Description | 1st | 2nd | 3rd |
|---|
| 1 | Art executed when age 75 years or older | $12 | $10 | $8 |
Special Categories, any medium
Special Categories, any medium lots, categories, and prize amounts| Lot | Description | 1st | 2nd | 3rd |
|---|
| 1 | Eco-Art: Scrap metal cans and parts, leaves, plastic junk, or fabric scraps. Take what you find in nature and recycle or make something beautiful, interesting, wonderful! Must be your own idea and creation from found/recycled materials. | $12 | $10 | $8 |
| 2 | Humor in Art: For example a parody of another work of art, trompe l'oeil piece, or other humorous content. | $12 | $10 | $8 |
| 3 | Miniatures: Any medium, not to exceed 3" x 3" x 5" (not including frame) | $12 | $10 | $8 |
| 4 | Art inspired by Art: What if the Mona Lisa were a sculpture, collage, or cartoon? Re-create a favorite image in a different medium! Your entry MUST be 1) original, 2) in a different medium, and 3) accompanied by a picture of the source material. | $12 | $10 | $8 |
| 5 | Red White or Blue: Art primarily using Blue, Red or White | $12 | $10 | $8 |
| 6 | History: Subject depicting an historical image | $12 | $10 | $8 |
| 7 | Stars or Stripes: Strong presence of Stars or Stripes | $12 | $10 | $8 |
| 8 | America the Beautiful: Personal skills common theme | $12 | $10 | $8 |
