EXHIBITION TITLE

Frank Bette Plein Air Paintout

 

EXHIBITION DATES

July 27 - August 1, 2026

FOLLOW UP GALLERY EXHIBIT

“En Plein Air” Exhibit at Frank Bette Center

August 7– September 26, 2026

 

LOCATION

San Francisco Bay Area. Artists will paint the island city of Alameda’s tree lined streets, stately Victorian-era homes, shops, marinas, ships in the Estuary, views of San Francisco and the Bay

 

JUROR

Clark Mitchell

​

COMMISSION

60% Artist; 40% Frank Bette Center for the Arts

 

APPLICATION DEADLINE

Monday, April 6, 2026

 

HOW TO APPLY

2026 Fee for New Entries:

• $60

• Non-refundable

• Payable when you apply online using a credit card or PayPal

• Unpaid applications will not be considered for selection

• Print your receipt for your records

​

Upload all artwork through Online Juried Shows

​

Submit:

• RGB color images in jpeg format

• No more than 4000 px on the longest side, 1400 px on the shortest side

• @ 300 dpi

• Submitted images should represent recent plein air artwork.

​

ENTRY FEE

The non-refundable 2026 fee for new entries of $60 is payable when you apply online using a credit card or PayPal.

 

NOTIFICATIONS

Artists are selected from all applicants by the selection team. Selected artists will be notified by email and the list will be posted on FBCA web site by Wednesday, May 6, 2026.    

 

CONSIDERATIONS

• Participation in the Saturday, August 1 PAPo exhibit at South Shore Center is required.

• Artwork submitted for Awards must have been created en plein air, within Alameda city limits, and in the specified limits of the “Off Island Day” between July 27- July 31, 2026.

• All painting mediums are acceptable.

• Artists are responsible for framing their exhibited artwork, bringing it to the exhibit locations and hanging it on the displays provided. Artwork with plexiglass instead of glass is preferred. 

• Artwork with a finished edge is acceptable. Filament line for hanging artwork and scissors are provided.

• All exhibited artwork must be for sale. Artists set their own prices.  Artist may bring other works to sell.

• Only those paintings created in the 2026 Frank Bette Plein Air Paintout are eligible for awards. 

• All paintings submitted for awards must have the 2026 Frank Bette Plein Air Paintout event stamp(s) on the substrate and be labeled with the supplied Frank Bette Logo labels

• All sales transactions during the paintout must include sales tax and be processed by FBCA (Frank Bette Center for the Arts), whether sales are made during an exhibit or off your easel on location. 

• 60% of the sale price is paid to the artist. A 40% commission on all sales is retained to benefit FBCA; as this is a fundraising event for the center. 

• Unsold paintings are the responsibility of the artist.

• Artwork refunds to purchasers are permitted within 7 days with a receipt; if artwork is in original condition. 

• All artists are invited to submit works from the week of painting for “En Plein Air” in the gallery at Frank Bette Center for the Arts (August 7- Sept 26) at no additional cost.

 

 ACCOMMODATIONS  

Upon request, by July 12, we will do our best to provide complimentary lodging for artists from outside the area in private homes in Alameda for the week of the PAPo, if conditions allow. 

 

QUESTIONS

Margaret Fago, Chair, 2026 Frank Bette Plein Air Paintout

email: president@frankbettecenter.org

text: 510 332-6922

Frank Bette Center for the Arts

1601 Paru Street, Alameda, California 94501

​