The Maine Arts Commission is honored to announce a call for submissions for the upcoming Maine Veterans Art Exhibition, set to be displayed at the State Capitol Complex in Augusta. This significant exhibition provides a unique and powerful platform for Maine Veterans to showcase their artistic talents and share their personal experiences through visual art with the wider community.

Veterans across Maine are invited to submit their visual artwork for consideration in the 2024/2025 Veterans Art Exhibit. Selected pieces will be prominently exhibited at various prestigious locations within the State Capitol Complex, including the second floor of the Burton M. Cross Office Building, and the Maine Arts Commission offices. The exhibition will run from Oct. 8, 2024, through Feb. 28, 2025.

In recognition of National Veterans and Military Families Month in November, the Maine Arts Commission will host a celebratory ceremony on Nov. 13 from 2 to 4 p.m.  at Togus Theater in Chelsea. This special event will honor the selected veteran artists and feature speeches, artistic performances, and an award ceremony presented by the Quilts of Valor Foundation. Veteran artists who have not been awarded a Quilt of Valor, will receive a custom-made quilt as part of the ceremony. The event will also include a panel discussion featuring veteran artists. The ceremony is a collaboration between the Maine Arts Commission, the Maine Bureau of Veterans’ Services, Togus VA, and the Quilts of Valor Foundation.

Submission guidelines and deadlines: The submission deadline for artwork is Sept. 28 by 5 p.m.  Each Maine Veteran artist may submit up to two pieces of two-dimensional, mounted or framed visual art. The artwork should be ready for display, securely framed, or professionally mounted with appropriate picture wire, and should not exceed 20 pounds in weight.

Submissions will be reviewed on Sept. 29 and artists will be notified of their selection status by Sept. 30. The Maine Arts Commission will coordinate with selected artists for art drop-off and other logistics. All applications and required materials must be submitted through the online Application Portal. Applicants are encouraged to review the details thoroughly and reach out to the Commission with any questions before submission.

Application Requirements: A brief bio and/or artist statement, describing the artist’s background, medium, typical subject matter, and themes (up to 1,300 characters). A list of works, formatted as "Title / Year / Size of Work / Medium / Price" (up to 2,000 characters).

This project is inclusive and open to all veteran artists, regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, gender, age, military status, sexual orientation, marital status, or physical ability.

The Maine Arts Commission is proud to provide this opportunity to honor the artistic achievements of Maine’s Veterans and to celebrate their contributions to the cultural fabric of our state. We look forward to showcasing the powerful and evocative works in this important exhibition.

For more information and to submit your work, please visit the Maine Arts Commission's website or contact Program Director Khristina Kurasz at 207-287-2713.

The Maine Arts Commission fosters and encourages public interest and participation in the cultural heritage and artistic expression in our state. We pursue our mission through partnerships and collaborations, initiatives, advocacy, and grants for organizations, individual artists, communities, and schools throughout Maine.