Call for Entry – 2026 En Plein Air Competition

Get ready to create, explore, and be inspired in the great outdoors! Our competition takes place during the Neilson Park Creative Festival on Saturday, July 11 from 11:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., wrapping up with a celebratory awards ceremony at 4:30 p.m.

“En plein air” is French for “in the open air” and all about making art outside, and we’re taking that spirit to the next level. Whether you paint, draw, sculpt, stitch, weave, or experiment in mixed media, all styles and materials are welcome! Set up wherever inspiration strikes: among the trees, near the lively vendors, or beside the festival’s music and energy—anywhere outdoors in Neilson Park or Markland Woods.

Bring your creativity, soak up the atmosphere, and join in the fun! Be sure to register by July 10 at 4:00 p.m.

Click here for the application form and full details.

Competition Categories and Entry Fee

There are two competition categories:
Youth, 13 – 17 years of age, free of charge to enter
Adults 18+, $5.00 (with H.S.T $5.65) entry fee

Awards

Youth category: First, $100; Second, $75; Third, $50
Adult category: First, $200; Second, $100; Third, $75

Juror
Helen McCusker
Artist, Art Instructor

A graduate of Sheridan’s Illustration Program, Helen has been making art for more than 40 years. Her practice is rooted in a deep engagement with the landscape, creating expressive drawings and paintings that explore atmosphere, movement, and an emotional connection to place.

Working both on-site and in the studio, Helen begins with direct observation—capturing the shifting qualities of light, weather, and terrain through drawing. She is drawn to the elusive qualities of the landscape that move beyond representation, seeking moments that convey energy, memory, and a sense of presence. Her work often evolves in layers, sometimes incorporating found imagery to build subtle narratives within the natural environment.

Alongside her landscape practice, Helen continues to explore form through drawing and paper engineering, creating abstract pop-up sculptures with hand-painted papers and collage. These works act as a counterpoint to her paintings, extending her interest in structure, space, and transformation.

Helen McCusker

Submission Information

Artists must check-in, and may pick up their easels (if needed) inside the Neilson Park Creative Centre between 11:30 p.m. – 12:00 p.m. on July 11. Any time before 4:00 p.m. the artists may return the easels and drop off their completed paintings at the same location inside the Centre. The jurying will take place at 4:15 p.m. sharp with an artists’ reception and award ceremony at 4:30 p.m.

Click here to register for the youth category (13-17 years of age.)

Click here to register for the adult category (18+ years of age.)

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