Call for Art
West Windsor Arts announces plans for a special art exhibition to celebrate New Jersey’s role in the 250th anniversary (Semiquincentennial or “Semiquin”) of our nation’s founding. Up to 10 selected artists will be paired up with local museums or historical sites that are offering special Semiquin programming. Artists will create new artwork in response to what they experience — artwork that explores the relevance of these stories in today’s America, and reflects the cultural richness of our region. These new works will be exhibited in the main gallery of the West Windsor Arts during the summer of 2026.
The process: Artists are invited to submit qualifications and a statement of interest in response to this open RFQ (request for qualifications). The exhibition’s juror will select up to 10 artists to participate in the exhibit. Invited artists will be notified by mid-October and paired with a partner heritage organization or museum. Artists are expected to visit their partner site for the first time within a month of selection, and will have six months to complete and deliver their work and written statements to the West Windsor Arts gallery. Staff will visit artists’ studios at least once to view artist’s progress and discuss development of interpretive materials. A $100 stipend will be provided to invited artists to help offset materials, travel, and other costs. Artists may create more than one work, but final selection will be up to the Juror. Art may be offered for sale. Artists retain 70 percent of sales.
The juror will determine artist selection based on the work samples submitted by artists, review of artist bios and exhibition histories, and evaluation of the artist’s Statement of Interest. Professionalism, handling of media, sensitivity to subject, technical skill, and creativity will all factor into the consideration. In reviewing the Statement of Interest, the juror will be looking for, among other things, the artist’s thoughtfulness and engagement in response to the exhibit’s theme, intent, and process. Artists must reside within a 40-mile radius of Princeton Junction/West Windsor in order to qualify for consideration.
Juror Tricia Fagan has worked at the intersection of art and history for more than 25 years as a curator, writer, administrator, producer, and consultant. She currently lives in West Windsor and works for the NJ Department of Treasury as an arts and history specialist.
The deadline for artists to apply is Wednesday, October 1. Acceptance notifications will be sent to artists on October 15, and artists must select partner cultural organizations by November 1. The deadline for finished art is May 13, 2026, and the exhibit will run from June 30 through August 7, 2026.
For additional information and to apply, visit www.westwindsorarts.org/call-for-art/10-for-the-semiquin.
Calls for Creatives
The Arts Council of Princeton has issued open calls for several upcoming events.
The Sauce for the Goose: Outdoor Art Market takes place Saturday, November 8, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. in downtown Princeton, featuring more than 100 artisans working in ceramics, textiles, jewelry, printmaking, drawing and painting, apparel, home décor, and more. There is no rain date.
Vendors are responsible for staffing their booths for the entirety of the sale.
Artists will be assigned 10’ x 10’ spaces and are responsible for their own displays, including providing tables, tent, display stands, racks for cards, jewelry, etc., as well as any packaging materials required for sales.
It is the artists’ responsibility to have a change fund to handle cash sales and a mobile device to accept credit cards.
Artists are expected to conduct themselves in a professional and courteous manner for the duration of the sale. At no time may an artist’s display encroach on an adjacent artist’s area or protrude beyond the confines of the allotted 10′ x 10′ space.
The sale closes promptly at 4 p.m. and vendors must stop sales at that time. All displays and unsold work must be loaded out by 6 p.m., when the street will reopen to all traffic. Visit artscouncilofprinceton.org/artists/sauce-for-the-goose/ to learn more or complete the vendor application.
The Arts Council and the Historical Society of Princeton host the third annual Princeton Community Chili Cook-Off on Saturday, October 5, from noon to 3 p.m. at Updike Farmstead. Home cooks as well as restaurants, caterers, and private chefs are invited to enter. Registration is $25 for amateurs and $50 for professionals. Visit artscouncilofprinceton.org/event/chili-25/ to register or for more information.
The Arts Council also invites artists and artisans to participate in its holiday chalets operating Thursdays through Sundays from November 13 through December 21 from non to 6 p.m. In addition to four chalets, 10 artists each week will have booths on Saturdays and Sundays. The Artist Winter Village is located on Hinds Plaza, next to Princeton Public Library.
The application deadline for both chalets and booths is Wednesday, August 27, by 11:59 p.m.
Both are intended for vendors selling handmade or sourced items. Food vendors will not be considered for this opportunity. Artists are responsible for staffing the Chalet for the duration of the business day.
It is the artists’ responsibility to have change to handle cash sales and a mobile device to accept credit cards. Free public WiFi will be available, but we ask that artists come prepared with a back-up plan for processing payments.
Artists are responsible for their own display, including tables, display stands, racks for cards, jewelry, etc. Artists must provide bags and/or wrapping materials. Nails or hooks can be used on the 2×4 framing boards inside the shed (not the shed walls). All nails and hooks must be removed at the end of the time slot. Space heaters are not permitted in the chalets. Once an artist is booked/confirmed for a chalet or booth, there are no refunds, including for inclement weather.
A “booth” is an empty 10×10′ space to outfit with your own display. Artists are responsible for bringing all necessary materials. There is an application fee of $25. If accepted, the booth fee for two days is $100. Artists are responsible for staffing the booth for the duration of the business day as well as set up and break down.
To learn more or apply, visit artscouncilofprinceton.org/artists/artists-winter-chalet.
Call for Directors
ActorsNET of Bucks County is looking for experienced directors to helm two exciting productions in the upcoming season. The theater is seeking talented and passionate individuals to bring these compelling stories to life on stage:
“Inspecting Carol” by Daniel Sullivan, with performances December 5 through 21, is a chaotic and hilarious behind-the-scenes look at a small theater company attempting to mount a production of “A Christmas Carol” when an NEA inspector arrives unexpectedly, leading to mistaken identities, outrageous misunderstandings, and a frantic scramble to save the show and their funding.
“Calendar Girls,” by Tim Firth, has performances March 13 through 29, 2026. Based on a true story, this heartwarming and uplifting comedy follows a group of ordinary women in a Yorkshire village who decide to pose nude for a charity calendar to raise money for a local hospital, challenging conventions and celebrating friendship, courage, and community spirit.
To express interest, please complete the Director Application Form accessible by visiting www.actorsnetbucks.org/open-audition by Sunday, August 17. Should you have any questions, email executive director Maryalice Rubins-Topoleski at top@actorsnetbucks.org.
