Emerging Artist Show
Sponsored by the Frame Center of Hanover, the Hanover Cultural Council, Hingham Cultural Council, and Marshfield Cultural Council.
Exhibition Dates: December 18, 2026 - January 23, 2027
Opening Reception: Friday, December 18, 2026 from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm
Eligibility
This exhibition highlights artists in the early stages of their professional careers, offering a platform for those within the first five years of practice to share their work in a professional gallery setting. Artists may be at any stage in their schooling.
All eligible, accepted work must be available for viewing and purchase in person.
You must be age 18 or older to submit work.
No pieces may have been shown or displayed previously at The James Library & Center for the Arts.
All works must be original and created within the last three years.
All entries for this exhibit must be submitted online through this form.
2D pieces must not exceed 48 inches x 72 inches (including diagonal) or weigh more than 75 pounds, if hung. Works must be framed or otherwise ready for hanging/installation. Pieces must be wired or hanger clips attached on each side of piece. No French Cleat style hangers are allowed. No clamped glass, cardboard, paste-on or saw tooth hangers allowed. Large 2D pieces normally framed in glass that exceed 48 inches in either direction must be framed using an acrylic glazing (such as Plexiglass) only.
Due to safety concerns, any work found to not be suitably framed may be disqualified and rejected from the exhibit with no refund of entry fee(s).
Any sculpture or 3D pieces that requires a pedestal must be included in entry and available for use should the piece be accepted. Sculpture entries cannot weigh over 200 lbs. 3D pieces must not exceed 36 inches x 60 inches.
Any work accepted for the exhibition that is not deemed representative of what was presented in the submission process is subject to rejection with no reimbursement of entry fee(s). This includes any changes or modifications to the work.
All pieces must be available for exhibit throughout the duration of the exhibition. All work must be available for sale. A 35% commission/donation to The James will be due within 14 days from close of the exhibit. Accepted works not made available for the full duration of the exhibit will be disqualified from the exhibit as well as from receiving any awards possibly won. No early pickups. No exceptions.
Artists, or an assigned representative, must submit accepted works in person. No exceptions. All pieces must be labeled on the back with artist name, title of work, phone number, email, and mailing address.
Originality & Rights
Artworks must be entirely the work of the entrant, executed without the supervision of an instructor.
Artists should have all the rights to present and publish their artworks.
Entries must not be copies or derivatives based in any way on other copyrighted or published paintings, photographs, or other artistic work. Any infraction of this rule will result in disqualification.
Submission Fees
$5 entry fee and $5 per artwork*
Limit of six (6) artworks per artist
*All fees are non-refundable
Jurors
The exhibition is juried by Christina Godfrey and Jenn Kyle.
Christina Godfrey is an art consultant, curator, and galleryist who serves as the Director and co-owner of Savage Godfrey Gallery in Norwell, Massachusetts. The gallery focuses on promoting regional emerging to mid-career artists, offering custom commissions, appraisals, framing, and collection development. Outside of her primary gallery, Godfrey co-curates the Mini Art Museum at Boston Children's Hospital, advises corporate art collections across Greater Boston, and frequently serves as a juror and portfolio reviewer for local organizations like the South Shore Art Center and the Cambridge Art Association. More information can be found at savagegodfrey.com.
Jenn Kyle is the Art Exhibit Coordinator for the Dolphin and Clemens Galleries located at the Hingham Public Library in Hingham, Massachusetts. She joined the library staff in 2015 and started teaching monthly creative workshops. In 2019 she began managing the library’s Art Collection of circulating artwork. Jenn became the Art Exhibit Coordinator in 2024 and collaborates with the North River Art Society to alternate bookings in the Dolphin Gallery. Jenn received a B.A. in Art Education from Massachusetts College of Art and Design where she explored a variety of art materials and processes. Jenn’s mixed media artwork has been featured in several group shows in theBoston area and was recently selected for Artypants Magazine (issue 04). More information can be found on her website: jenndiane.wixsite.com/jenniferkyle or instagram: @jennsimmkyle.
Awards for Best in Show
$250.00 First Place
$125.00 Second Place
$75.00 Third Place
Honorable Mention
Important Dates
September 14 through November 1, 2026 at 11:59 pm EST: entries accepted through Jotform.
November 20: Artist notification and list of accepted works will be posted on The James Library & Center for the Arts website.
December 8 - 12: Drop off of accepted artworks during business hours, Tuesday through Friday 1-5pm and Saturday 11am-1pm. See website for current hours of operation: https://www.jameslibrary.org/location-hours
December 18, 2026: Opening Reception from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm
January 23, 2027: Last day of exhibition
January 26 - 30*: Pickup of unsold artwork during business hours, Tuesday through Friday 1-5pm and Saturday 11am-1pm.
See website for current hours of operation: https://www.jameslibrary.org/location-hours
*Artists will be charged a $5.00 per day storage fee for any work not picked up within the pickup window.About the James Library & Center for the Arts
The James Library & Center for the Arts is a nonprofit organization offering programs in music, art, and literature. Housed in a landmark 1874 Victorian building in the heart of historic Norwell Center, in Norwell, Massachusetts. The James features a concert hall with a Steinway B grand piano, a free lending library, and an art gallery.