Firehouse Arts Center

Harrington Gallery

Exhibition: Fresh Works Jr.

Exhibition Term: Saturday, March 21 – Saturday, May 23, 2026
Location: Harrington Gallery, Firehouse Arts Center
4444 Railroad Avenue, Pleasanton, CA 94566
Gallery Hours: Wed–Fri 10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. | Sat 10:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m.
Website: Upcoming Exhibition - Firehouse Arts Center

Overview

Fresh Works Jr. invites youth and teen artists (grades K–12) residing in the greater Bay Area to submit original artwork for a juried exhibition. All media and subject matter are welcome. Acceptances and awards will be selected by a guest judge, Soraya Renteria, who is an art and architectural historian. She teaches a wide array of art history courses at Las Positas College where she is also the coordinator of the Las Positas Art Gallery. Previously, she has worked at several Bay Area art museums and galleries.

Eligibility

·         Artists must be in grades K–12.

·         Artists under 18 must be represented by a parent or legal guardian.

·         Registration must use a parental email address.

·         All correspondence and notifications will be sent to the parental email address.

·         Artwork must be hand-delivered; shipping is not available.

·         Artists are responsible for shipping costs for non-local buyers.

·         All two- and three-dimensional media accepted.

·         Freestanding 3D work must fit on a 15” x 15” x 40” pedestal.

·         Video/digital art considered based on space; artists provide equipment. Video submissions must be emailed to      OnlineJuriedShows@gmail.com.

Rules of Entry

·         All artwork must be original and available for sale.

·         No changes to title or pricing after online submission.

·         Submissions and payments must be made through www.onlinejuriedshows.com.

·         Each artist may submit up to 3 entries for $50; additional entries are $5 each, max 5 entries total     (non-refundable).

·         The City may decline work containing nudity, sexually explicit, overtly political or religious content, graphic violence, or profanity.

·         Improperly prepared work will not be exhibited, and fees will not be refunded.

Installation Requirements

·         Flat D-ring hardware with 3/16” opening or larger, placed 2–4” from top.

·         Artwork must be wired; wire must not be visible. No saw-tooth hangers or protruding screw eyes.

·         Artwork must be clean; frames in good condition.

·         Plexiglass preferred

·         No wet paintings allowed upon delivery; unframed canvas must be gallery wrapped.

·         Photography must be matted and framed (no canvas prints).

·         Metal prints allowed but must be wired.

·         Tutorial for installing a wire onto artwork: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YDb8wymwiH0

Digital Entries

·         Images must be JPG/JPEG format.

·         Images should be cropped to artwork only; no mats or frames.

·         Images must be under 4MB and at least 1920 pixels on the longest side at 72 dpi.

·         Do not photograph artwork through glass.

·         Image quality may affect jury decisions.

·         Full specifications: https://onlinejuriedshows.com/Help.aspx

·         For help with your entries, contact onlinejuriedshows@gmail.com or 888-666-1351

Sales, Fees, and Pick-Up

·         All artwork must be for sale.

·         City retains a 30% commission on all sales.

·         Parents, legal guardians, or artists of age must complete a W-9 to receive payment.

·         Payments issued approximately three weeks after W-9 receipt.

·         Artwork may not be removed before Saturday, May 23, 2026, 3:00–5:00 p.m.

·         Late pick-up fee: $5 per day per artwork.

·         Artists may authorize someone else to retrieve work with prior notice.

·         Early delivery requests may be approved at staff discretion; fees may apply.

Insurance

The City of Pleasanton does not provide insurance for artwork. Artists are responsible for insuring their own work during transit, exhibition, and retrieval.

Awards and Publicity

·         $100 Nancy & Gary Harrington Award

·         Two Merit Awards of $50 each

·         Honorable Mention Awards

·         Exhibition promoted through print and digital media

·         City may use submitted images for promotional purposes

Important Dates

·         Entries & Payment Due: Tuesday, March 3, 2026, 11:59 p.m.

·         Notification: Saturday, March 7, 2026

·         Artwork Delivery & Bio Due: Saturday, March 14, 2026, 10:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.

·         Exhibition Opens: Saturday, March 21, 2026

·         Reception & Awards: Saturday, March 28, 2026, 1:00–3:00 p.m

·         Exhibition Closes: Saturday, May 23, 2026, 3:00 p.m.

·         Artwork Pick-Up: Saturday, May 23, 2026, 3:00–5:00 p.m.

For additional information, contact HarringtonGallery@cityofpleasantonca.gov

If applicants are under the age of 18, Registration must be done through a parental email address. All correspondence and notifications will be sent to the parental email address.