NICEVILLE, Fla. (May 20, 2025) — The Mattie Kelly Arts Center (MKAC) at Northwest Florida State College (NWFSC) welcomes artists of all styles and media to apply for participation in the 33rd Annual Emerald Coast National Juried Arts Exhibition.
This competitive exhibition is an open call for ALL STYLES OF ART AND ALL MEDIUMS, including sound, kinetic, sculpture, photography, video, design, functional art, fiber, textile, and performance. This year, we introduced themes of texture and touch, as they connote connection, involvement, function, use, comfort, and more.
The Emerald Coast National features working artists from all over the country, and programming that provides engagement opportunities for the community, artists, students, and faculty.
This year's guest judge is Mr. Nicholas Croghan, MA, MFA, Artist,Curator, Director of the Pensacola Museum of Art of the University of West Florida.
Selected artists will exhibit in the 1500-square-foot McIlroy Gallery, opening August 18, 2025, with an artist reception on September 4, 2025. The best-in-show artist will win $1,000 and a solo exhibition in the Holzhauer Gallery in 2026. The second-place artist will win $500, and the third-place artist will win $250.
MKAC Galleries includes three art exhibition spaces, outdoor sculpture, the Doolittle Raid Permanent Exhibition, and the Congressman Robert L.F. Sikes Museum. These are teaching adjuncts to NWFSC students and communities. The MKAC Galleries occupy 7,000 square feet and hold a collection of over seven thousand artworks and artifacts valued at six million dollars. The galleries are a cultural gem of the Emerald Coast. MKAC Galleries are free and open to the public.
Ready to apply? If you have a Google account, click the image below to sign in and access the application form. Don’t use Google? No problem—just email artgalleries@NWFSC.edu to request the form and apply today!
Deadline to Apply: June 13, 2025
Exhibition Dates: August 18, 2025 – December 18, 2025
Artist's Reception: September 4, 2025
Gallery Hours: Monday – Thursday:10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
90 minutes before Mainstage and Sprint Theater Performances
Attendance is free. All are welcome!
