THE TENTH ANNUAL ART OF DARKNESS

October 1–November 11, 2026
Opening Reception: Thursday, October 22, from 6:00–9:00 PM

 

CALL FOR ARTISTS

Welcome to the 10th Annual Art of Darkness!

Over the past decade, Art of Darkness has become HeARTspot’s most popular annual exhibition, featuring artists from throughout New England—and, in some years, from across the country. We are thrilled to celebrate this milestone year and cannot wait to see what you create.

Subject matter may range from traditional Halloween imagery to artwork exploring the darker side of the human psyche. Work may offer a serious interpretation of the theme or take a more playful, mysterious, macabre, or whimsical approach.

Both 2D and 3D artwork will be considered.

 

EARLY BIRD REGISTRATION

Apply by August 20 and save $10!

• Early Bird Fee: $25 for up to three entries

• Regular Fee: $35 for up to three entries

The Call for Artists opens Monday, August 3, 2026.

 

MEDIA AND PRESENTATION REQUIREMENTS

All forms of 2D artwork that can be safely displayed on a wall will be considered.

Sculpture requiring a pedestal will also be considered, provided that it is no larger than 18” x 18” at the base and weighs no more than 50 pounds.

All wall-mounted work must be securely wired and gallery-ready. Artwork that is not properly wired will not be installed, even if it has been accepted into the exhibition.

Please note:

• No sawtooth hangers or clips

• No flimsy plastic frames

• Unframed paintings must be professionally presented

• No visible staples

• The sides of unframed canvases must be painted or otherwise professionally finished

 

HOW TO APPLY

1. Complete the online application form.

Uploaded images must be JPG files. Files should be no more than 10 inches in height or width and should have a resolution between 72 and 300 dpi.

High-quality photographs are important to the jurying process. Submitted images may also be considered for promotional materials, social media, and printed media.

2. Submit the entry fee through JotForm.

Payment must be made directly through the application form using a debit or credit card.

Applications will not be released to the juror for consideration until payment has been received.

 

APPLICATION DEADLINE

Entries must be received by:

Wednesday, September 9, 2026, at 11:59 PM

Late entries will not be accepted.

 

JUROR

Abigail Worden will serve as the juror for the 10th Annual Art of Darkness.

Jurying will take place from September 10–16, 2026. You can see some of her work here.

 

NOTIFICATION

Entrants will be notified of their acceptance status by email on:

Thursday, September 17, 2026

Please check your spam or promotions folders if you do not see your notification.

 

ACCEPTED ARTWORK DROP-OFF

Accepted artwork must be delivered to HeARTspot on one of the following dates:

• Thursday, September 24, from 11:00 AM–1:00 PM

• Saturday, September 26, from 2:00–4:00 PM

The exhibition will be installed September 27–30 and will open to the public on Thursday, October 1.

 

PRIZES

First Place/Best in Show: $200
Second Place: $100
Honorable Mention: Juror’s Choice
Honorable Mention: Gallerist’s Choice

 

ARTWORK PICKUP

Artwork must be picked up after the exhibition on one of the following dates:

• Thursday, November 12, from 11:00 AM–2:00 PM

• Saturday, November 14, from 2:00–4:00 PM

Artists may assign a third party to pick up their work when necessary.

Failure to retrieve artwork during the designated pickup periods will result in a storage fee of $10 per week.

 

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

By submitting an application, the artist agrees to the following terms and conditions:

The artist affirms that all submitted artwork is original.

All artwork must be available for sale. Artwork marked Not for Sale, or NFS, will not be accepted.

Artists should not submit artwork that may become unavailable after acceptance. All accepted artwork must remain on display for the full duration of the exhibition.

Submission fees are nonrefundable, including when an artist does not have work accepted into the juried exhibition.

The artist will confirm the selling price of each accepted artwork at drop-off and understands that HeARTspot LLC will retain a 50% commission from the selling price of any artwork sold.

The artist grants HeARTspot LLC permission to photograph accepted artwork and use those photographs for promotional, social media, publicity, archival, and printed-media purposes.

Every reasonable precaution will be taken to ensure the safety and security of the artwork. However, the artist understands that HeARTspot LLC’s insurance coverage is limited to the cost of the materials used to create the work.

The gallery director will determine the suitability and stability of all artwork, framing, hanging systems, bases, and support structures. Artwork determined to be unsafe, unstable, improperly prepared, or unsuitable for installation will not be displayed, regardless of its acceptance into the exhibition, and will be returned to the artist.

Artwork retrieved after the final pickup deadline will accrue a storage fee of $10 per week, beginning the day after the final designated pickup date. This fee is not prorated and must be paid in full before the artwork will be returned.