Winners Circle 2027
Location:
Visual Arts Center
210 Maud Street
Punta Gorda, FL 33950
Winners Circle 2027 Show Dates: February 17 - March 19, 2027
Call to Artists: December 23, 2026 - February 3, 2027
Artwork Receiving: Monday, February 15, 2027
Winners Circle Reception: Thursday, February 25, 2027
Artwork Retrieval: March 20 - 22, 2027
If you cannot deliver or retrieve your artwork(s) on these dates, you must arrange for someone to do so for you. Kindly inform the Chairperson who will collect your artwork on your behalf.
Kindly direct all inquiries to the Chairperson, Resa Abbey, President.ACSWF@gmail.com.
Celebrating Excellence in Southwest Florida Visual Arts
The Winners' Circle is intended to celebrate excellence in the visual arts while presenting a professional museum-quality exhibition representing the very best of the Art Council of Southwest Florida's Affiliate Member Organizations.
The Winners' Circle is the Art Council of Southwest Florida's premier biennial exhibition featuring award-winning artists from the Council's Affiliate Member Organizations. Every two years, the exhibition brings together the region's finest artists whose work has earned distinction through juried competition.
Presented by the Art Council of Southwest Florida at our partner’s location, Visual Arts Center in Punta Gorda, Winners' Circle 2027 showcases the artistic excellence, diversity, and creativity that define Southwest Florida's vibrant visual arts community.
Invitees are ACSWF member organization artists who won either First, Second or Third place awards on original work from January 1, 2024 through December 31, 2025. Artworks that appeared in Winners’ Circle 2025 are not eligible for Winners’ Circle 2027.
There will be three awards, First, Second and Third Place, and Best of the Winner’s Circle Awards.
About the Art Council of Southwest Florida
Founded to foster cooperation among visual arts organizations throughout the region, the Art Council of Southwest Florida serves as a collaborative alliance dedicated to advancing excellence in the visual arts.
The Council encourages artistic growth through exhibitions, education, advocacy, networking, and regional partnerships while promoting public appreciation of the arts across Southwest Florida.
The Winners' Circle Exhibition reflects this mission by recognizing artists who have achieved distinction through competitive exhibitions hosted by the Council's Affiliate Member Organizations.
Together these organizations represent thousands of artists working in virtually every medium and collectively contribute to the rich cultural landscape of Southwest Florida.
Artwork Specifications
To ensure a professional exhibition and facilitate safe handling and installation, all accepted artwork must meet the following requirements.
Winners’ Circle 2027 is for 2D and 3D art. Permissible mediums include Painting, Drawing, Photography, Clay, Ceramics, Glass Art, Textiles, Wood, Metal, Stone, Jewelry, Photography, and Mixed Media.
The Winners’Circle is open to member organization artists who won either First, Second or Third place awards on original work from January 1, 2024 through December 31, 2025.
All works for wall display must be framed or gallery-wrapped (at least 1½” depth) and have a hanging wire: the extended center point of the wire must be 3” to 4” below the top of the frame.
Textiles must have a hanging sleeve or dowel. The dowels must exceed at least 1” but no more than 2” from either side of the fabric. Permission is required from the Resident Curator for any other hanging mechanisms in advance of registration. The Art Council reserves the right to reject artwork that does not meet presentation standards.
Sales:
The Winners' Circle Exhibition encourages the sale of original artwork while supporting both the artist and the hosting organizations. All artwork submitted may be offered for sale unless designated Not For Sale (NFS) by the artist.
Sales occurring during the exhibition will be divided as follows:
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Artist: 60%
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Art Council of Southwest Florida / Exhibition Host: 20%
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Visual Art Center 20% - credit card purchases
All sales are final.
Purchased artwork will remain on display until the close of the exhibition unless otherwise authorized by the Exhibition Committee.
Insurance
Artists are solely responsible for maintaining insurance coverage on their artwork during transportation, exhibition, storage, and return. Artists are encouraged to obtain personal fine art insurance appropriate to the value of their work.
The Art Council of Southwest Florida, the Visual Arts Center, volunteers, sponsors, exhibition committee members, and partnering organizations do not provide insurance coverage for loss, theft, damage, or deterioration of artwork.
Liability
Every reasonable precaution will be taken in handling and displaying artwork.
Submission of artwork constitutes acceptance that the Art Council of Southwest Florida, the Visual Arts Center, volunteers, sponsors, officers, directors, and exhibition personnel shall not be held liable for accidental damage, theft, loss, fire, water damage, or circumstances beyond their reasonable control.
Artist Agreement
Submission of artwork to the Winners' Circle 2027 constitutes agreement that:
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The artwork is the original creation of the exhibiting artist.
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The artwork complies with all eligibility requirements contained in this prospectus.
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The artist grants the Art Council of Southwest Florida permission to photograph and reproduce images of the artwork for exhibition publicity, educational purposes, printed materials, social media, websites, catalogs, and future promotional materials without additional compensation.
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The artist certifies that the submitted information is accurate.
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The artist agrees to abide by all deadlines, delivery requirements, installation standards, and exhibition policies.
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The artist accepts the sales commission, insurance responsibilities, and liability provisions established for the exhibition.
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Decisions of the Exhibition Committee regarding eligibility, installation, awards, and interpretation of prospectus rules are final.
About the Visual Arts Center
In 1961 a small group of artists organized an outdoor show for Punta Gorda, and an astonishing 3,000 people came. These artists realized they were on to something and began to organize themselves into the Charlotte County Art Guild, Inc. They started with informal meetings, organized more art shows and held art classes in various locations around town including banks, schools and small storefronts. At first members had to be juried into the Guild (an artist had to have a certain amount of experience and skill to be a member). Membership was opened to the general public in the 1970’s.
Early in the 1980’s artist Henry Lohse led an energetic charge to get a brick-and-mortar Visual Arts Center built in Charlotte County. The Guild secured a long-term lease of Punta Gorda City property at the corner of Maud Street and Marion Avenue. Fred Babcock was the first Patron of the Arts and contributed greatly to the building fund.
The Center was built in phases as money was raised by the community. The Guild received two matching capital grants from the State of Florida’s Division of Cultural Affairs in 1985 and 1987. The ground-breaking ceremony occurred in February 1988 and doors officially opened in 1989.
Today we provide the finest art classes, instructors and exhibit opportunities for our members and visitors alike. Courses are designed for all ages and skill levels with a variety of classes and workshops throughout the year.