ArtFields Info Session

Friday, October 3rd at 2:00pm
Doors opening at 1:30pm

Free Event!

Arts Council of the Valley invites all area artists to attend an ArtFields information session to learn about a Southeastern visual art competition that awards more than $100,000 in prize money. ArtFields representatives will share details on how to apply, along with tips to strengthen submissions. The ArtFields festival (April 10-May 2, 2026) is an annual celebration of art and community in Lake City, SC.

The ArtFields competition anchors an annual festival where nearly 400 artworks are on display in nontraditional venues, plus live entertainment, specialty contests, student field trips, and more.

Selected artworks will be exhibited in one of the Southeast’s largest and most prestigious art events, and be in the running for more than $100,000 in cash prizes. Hundreds of works are exhibited throughout Lake City’s downtown in galleries, warehouses, restaurants, shops, and other venues. Thousands of people attend the festival each year, including art curators, collectors, critics, and news media. The event offers a special way for art to be displayed outside of the traditional white walls of a gallery or museum and encourages the public to have impactful art experiences everywhere they turn – from grabbing a cup of coffee to getting a haircut.

ArtFields began in 2013 with a mission of elevating the profile of artists who live and work in the Southeastern United States. The event was designed to incorporate the whole town of Lake City into celebrating art and the stories artists have to tell.

Participating artists must reside in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, or West Virginia for at least six months and be over 18 years of age.

The submission deadline is 11:59 pm November 1, 2025. A simple submission tool, ArtBooth, allows artists to upload their artwork photo, artist statement, and bio. The submission fee is $25.

Arts Council of the Valley is located at 311 South Main Street in Downtown Harrisonburg, Virginia. Programs are supported in part by ACV 25th Anniversary Presenting Sponsor Kathy Moran Wealth Group, and 25th Anniversary Visionary Sponsor Riner Rentals. A 501(c)3 nonprofit, ACV is dedicated to cultivating the arts, creating experiences, and connecting communities throughout the City of Harrisonburg and Rockingham County. Since it was established in 2000, ACV has grown into a multi-faceted community organization that fosters innovative partnerships among area businesses, civic organizations, schools, and artists.

Today, ACV manages Court Square Theater and Smith House Galleries, funds local art projects through its Advancing the Arts grant program (awarding more than $518,300 since 2001), supports public art initiatives, and coordinates monthly First Fridays of the Valley community gatherings.

ACV is supported in part by the City of Harrisonburg, the Harrisonburg Redevelopment & Housing Authority, and the Virginia Commission for the Arts, which receives support from the Virginia General Assembly. To learn more, visit valleyarts.org.