Artists, Welcome to the Unionville Plein Air Festival!
Submissions: April 6 - 30th
Presented by The Markham Group of Artists & The Varley Art Gallery
Celebrating Unionville’s Artistic Heritage
Rules and Terms to Apply:
- Artwork submitted for review must have been executed in the plein air method and not in the studio.
- Applicants must have a valid, working email address. Please be sure to adjust your email settings to accept messages from markhamartist@gmail.com to prevent your notification from going into junk mail or your spam folder.
- The entry fee is non-refundable.
- All work completed in the festival must be framed and wired for hanging.
- Artwork created during the festival must remain on display for the duration of the exhibit. (8PM)
- All paintings exhibited must be available for sale. The Markham Group of Artists processes all sales and will retain 30% commission of the sale price, or on any sale that results from mediation by the Markham Group of Artist staff.
- Submission of work to this exhibition constitutes an agreement on the part of the artist to all terms and conditions of this entire prospectus, which includes, but is not limited to, the right of the Markham Group of Artists to use entry images for publicity purposes.
- While all precautions will be taken to ensure the protection of work upon receipt, The Markham Group of Artists cannot assume liability for any loss or damage to artwork in transportation.
- All unsold artworks must be retrieved from the Varley Art Gallery by the artist or their representative Saturday June 13 at 8:00PM.
- Any paintings remaining at Varley Art Gallery after Saturday June 13th, 2026 will become property of the Markham Group of Artists, unless special arrangements are made. Artists are responsible for the return of their unsold work, including the cost of shipping.
Festival Rules for Painters
- All artists must register between 9:00 am - 11:00 am, on their arrival at the Varley Art Gallery or Markham, 216 Main St Unionville, Unionville, ON L3R 2H1, before beginning their paintings.
- Each blank canvas, or painting surface intended to be used by entrants, will be inspected for complete “blankness,” and marked with the MGA stamp before painting can begin. Any works entered for final judging must bear the MGA stamp. Gessoed and toned canvases are allowed:
- Artists may apply transparent or opaque grounds, without 3-dimensional textures, to their support of choice before registration. Supports with drawing or sculptural effects will not be permitted.
- Each canvas/panel/paper or other support must be stamped on the back at the registration area prior to painting.
- No unstamped art will be accepted for the show.
- Use of reference photos is not allowed at any time and submitted work must be direct paintings of the scene surrounding the artist. All paintings must be completed outside.
- Artists may create as many paintings as desired but only one artwork per artist may be entered for judging.
- Size of the image is not to exceed 400 square inches, artists must provide their own materials.
- Only two-dimensional artwork will be accepted. No photography or prints allowed.
- It is the responsibility of the artist to secure any permission needed to paint on private properties within the competition area.
- Artwork for judging must be brought to the Varley Art Gallery by Saturday June 13th from 2:00pm - 3:00pm. Early or late submissions will not be accepted.
- Title, medium, size and artist’s name and number, must be written on the identification labels included in your artist’s kit.
- All artwork entered into judging on must come with completed labels, framed and wired, with the ability to be hung.
- Event staff will set up the artwork for the judging process and exhibition.
- Artists should be prepared to leave their artwork until the end of the show at 8:00 pm on Saturday, June 13th. Artwork may not be removed before 8pm.
- It is the responsibility of the artist, to provide suitable mounting/framing of the art work. Pricing is at the discretion of the artist. A 30% commission will be applied to pieces that have been sold.
- Artists will allow the MGA to use photographs of the art, artist and/or the festival for promotional purposes.
- The event will take place rain or shine. There are no refunds.