CALL FOR ARTWORK: Desert Pools
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APPLICATION DEADLINE: Sunday, July 26, 2026 @ 11:59 PM PST
An Exhibition at the Winchester-Dondero Cultural Center Gallery
We are excited to announce our newest open call for art: DESERT POOLS
Calling All Visual Artists of Clark County:
Water is the most abundant and essential substance on Earth. Bodies of water are everywhere - even within a city nestled into the relentless Mojave Desert. From disappearing water levels in Lake Mead to the manmade luxury oasis of Lake Las Vegas, $14 bottles of water to backyard escapes via swimming pools, water demands a staggering level of appreciation and attention.
DESERT POOLS invites artists to consider the various ways in which our relationship to bodies of water inherently shapes our world, and each other. What is the color of water? What does water remember? Where is water within your own life? Where can you imagine water existing?
Artists are encouraged to create work fantastically, realistically, or any realm in between.
We invite you to submit to this call through various visual mediums including painting, drawing, sculpture, photography, printmaking, fiber art, writing, and more.
*NOTE: Please carefully read the Terms and Conditions section below for content limitations, video media display, and Gallery Preparation Guide link.
SUBMISSION GUIDELINES:
- Eligibility: Open to artists ages 8 and up; applications for artists under age 18 must include signature and contact information of parent or guardian.
- Mediums: All mediums are accepted, including but not limited to painting, sculpture, textiles, and mixed media; NO REPLICA PRINTS OR AI GENERATED WORK SHALL BE ACCEPTED.
- Deadline: All submissions must be received by July 26, 2026, by 11:59 PM PST.
EXHIBITION DETAILS:
- Exhibition Dates: The exhibition will run from August 11, 2026 – October 8, 2026.
- Venue: The Gallery at Winchester-Dondero Cultural Center, 3130 McLeod Dr, Las Vegas, NV 89121
- Reception: A reception will be held on October 8, 2026, from 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM, where artists will have the opportunity to meet and discuss their work.
AWARDS AND RECOGNITION:
- Best in Show: $300 Desert Art Supplies gift certificate
- Honorable Mentions: $150 (x2) in Desert Art Supplies gift certificate
- Gift certificates are only valid in person at any Desert Art Supplies location. Awards will be distributed at the exhibition reception to artists in attendance.
TERMS AND CONDITIONS:
- Open to any artist aged 8 and older; applications for artists under age 18 must include signature and contact information of parent or guardian.
- Must be original artwork medium; digital art, photography, and printmaking are acceptable; no replica prints or Ai generated works shall be accepted.
- Images included in applications must be of actual artwork, not conceptual images.
- Artist MUST be available for pick-up and drop-off dates to sign in and sign out their work. Artwork must be hand delivered or shipped to the address on this form. If shipping the work, the costs of round-trip shipping are at the artist’s expense and must be pre-paid and on time.
- The artist agrees to leave their work up through the end of the exhibit date. No artist may drop off or remove their artwork without consent of the Clark County Public Arts.
- Artwork that contains offensive language, smoking, drugs, alcohol, overtly political, religious, and/or sexual content, or imagery, including nudity, shall not be considered.
- All 2D flat work (on paper or similar) must be framed with a hanging point on the back. Canvas and larger 2D work must have D-rings, a wire, or an existing hanging point secured to the back, and be ready to hang.
- See our Gallery Preparation Guide for more details.
- 2D artwork dimensions may not exceed 36” wide or 36” high; weight cannot exceed 40 lbs.
- Perishable artwork shall not be considered.
- All parts of the artwork must be secured and stable. For example, sculptures must be securely glued or welded together.
- 3D artwork dimensions may not exceed 20” L x 20” W x 35” H; weight cannot exceed 50lbs.
- A pedestal will be provided for selected three-dimensional works.
- Clark County Public Arts reserves the right to disqualify and remove any artwork that poses a threat to fall, break, or cause harm to the public, the facility, or the artwork itself.
- Please note that Clark County does not secure insurance on exhibited artwork. The artist will exhibit at their own risk. We encourage you to purchase your own insurance during the exhibit to recover any loss from broken or stolen artwork.
- Artist agrees to hold harmless the County, its officers, employees, and agents from all liability for any injury or damage that may occur to artwork as a result of the negligent acts or omissions of its members, employees, officers, and/or agents and to sign a waiver that will be provided if accepted into the exhibit.
- Artist acknowledges that the gallery is a public space. Art that is exhibited in the gallery may be photographed by visitors, members of the press, and County staff for promotional and educational purposes. This includes social media postings before, during, and after the exhibit.
- Artist is responsible for delivering art to and from the exhibit space.
- Artist acknowledges that if the art is not picked up at the agreed-upon date set forth in this agreement, the County will have the art removed immediately from the exhibit space at the artist’s expense. Any art that is left longer than 10 days will be considered abandoned property and will be subject to a $100.00/day storage fee.
- Sale of goods is facilitated solely by the Artist; no County staff will take payment. If a purchaser is interested, County staff will put them in touch with the artist with the artist’s consent. All proceeds of any sale go to the Artist.
- Artist agrees to drop-off at the Gallery between the hours of 12:00 PM – 2:00 PM on August 7, 2026, and to pick-up artwork after 8:00 PM at the end of the reception on Thursday October 8, 2026. Artist must bring ID.
For questions, please email: CCPublicArt@ClarkCountyNV.Gov