Boston Emerging Artists Exhibition 2026–27: Greater Boston Artists, Video Works and $1,000 Awards
Show art in Boston City Hall Galleries
Boston’s Mayor’s Office of Arts and Culture is accepting works for the Emerging Artists Exhibition at Boston City Hall Galleries. The deadline is Monday, November 2, 2026, at 4:59 p.m. Boston local time. Selected artworks will be exhibited from December 7, 2026, to February 26, 2027. The programme invites visual artists early in their practice who have ties to Greater Boston; it is not an international digital-art contest for applicants anywhere in the world.
The exhibition grew from the Fay Chandler Emerging Art Exhibition, founded through the support of the family of Boston artist and arts advocate Fay Chandler. Its history includes annual displays and published past awardees. The City’s official arts website provides eligibility, format rules, awards and the current application link.
Who can enter, and who cannot?
Artists must be at least 18 years old, reside in the Greater Boston area and identify as early in their artistic careers—regardless of chronological age. Examples include people who began making work in recent years, current or recent students, artists with limited exhibition history, and artists returning to art practice later in life. These are examples rather than rigid requirements to satisfy all at once.
Commercially gallery-represented artists, anyone who previously had work accepted into the Fay Chandler Emerging Artists Exhibition, and applicants with specified conflicts of interest cannot apply. The artistic work submitted must have been created within the past three years and must remain available for the complete exhibition.
Media and installation conditions
The call includes two-dimensional, three-dimensional and video works. Two-dimensional pieces must be ready to hang and no more than 30 by 30 inches including the frame; works on paper must be framed. Three-dimensional pieces need to be freestanding or fit a standard eighteen-inch pedestal.
Digital video artists should note a particularly important accessibility condition: video work must be captioned and have a running time shorter than ten minutes. The City does not automatically provide monitors or bespoke installation technology for every accepted work, so artists requiring equipment should confirm technical arrangements before applying.
Awards are jury prizes, not fees for every exhibitor
The announced juried prizes are Best in Show (US$1,000), 50+ Award (US$1,000), and New Voice Award (US$500). These amounts are prizes for selected winners, not automatic stipends paid to every participating artist. The City does not promise travel grants or shipping reimbursement. Applicants should compare the value of participation with installation, framing and transport costs.
Selected artists must arrange drop-off of their work between November 16 and 25, 2026, and collect it between March 2 and 6, 2027. Participants will sign an exhibition waiver. The City states that it will take care of works to the best of its ability but does not assume responsibility for damage during display; insurance and transport therefore merit careful consideration.
Organizer background and how to apply safely
The organizer is the City of Boston’s Office of Arts and Culture, a municipal public institution operating the City Hall Galleries, which presents arts programmes, public exhibitions and artist opportunities. Its dedicated exhibition page includes images and names of awardees from past editions as well as application details. This institutional record allows applicants to confirm the call without relying on third-party listings.
Prepare clear photographs or a captioned sample of the eligible work, accurate dimensions, a concise artist statement and an explanation of why this is an emerging-artist application. Submit through the official link on Boston.gov; do not assume that a similar event title on social media points to the correct form. The precise documentation requested in the submission form should be reviewed before applying.
Official call and dates
Boston City Hall Emerging Artists Exhibition: https://search.boston.gov/departments/arts-and-culture/emerging-artists-exhibition
Apply by November 2, 2026, at 4:59 p.m. Boston time. Exhibition: December 7, 2026–February 26, 2027. Official source checked October 18, 2026.