A.E. Backus 45th Annual Best of the Best Annual Juried Art Exhibition Call for Artists

The A.E. Backus Museum & Gallery is pleased to announce the dates for its 45th Call to Artists for the annual juried art exhibition, The Best of the Best. The Museum will be accepting artist entries by advance appointments on Wednesdays–Sundays until 3:00 pm, beginning September 2 through September 25, 2026. Entry is open to both amateur and professional artists, offering an excellent opportunity to participate in this enduring and much‑loved competition. The entry fee is $35 per work and nonrefundable; a full prospectus with guidelines and an application form is available to download from the Museum’s website at www.BackusMuseum.org, or copies may be picked up during regular hours beginning September 2 at the Museum, located at 500 North Indian River Drive in Historic Downtown Fort Pierce, Florida. 

Artists may enter their work in The Best of the Best by submitting into one of four media categories: Oil and Acrylic paintings; Watercolor (including gouache and tempera); Varied Techniques (including mixed media, pastel, pencil, pen & ink, printmaking, graphics, collage, and computer‑generated works); and Three‑Dimensional. Accepted works will compete for cash prizes and placement honors (1st–2nd–3rd awards) in each category, culminating in an overall Best of Show award. At the close of the exhibition, visitor ballots will determine a special People’s Choice award. A full description of all categories, along with a presentation checklist, is available in the prospectus. Accepted artists and award winners will be announced online on October 2. 

To submit artwork for entry, artists are required to sign up online for an appointment in advance. Each 15‑minute entry appointment accommodates one artist entering up to three (3) works of art (artists wishing to enter more than three works must reserve additional entry appointments). Artists can access the online appointment schedule and all entry information by clicking the “Call to Artists” button at www.BackusMuseum.org/juried-shows. 

The Best of the Best annual juried exhibition will open the 2026–27 Season of the A.E. Backus Museum & Gallery, debuting with the opening reception on October 3 from 6:00–8:00 pm. The exhibition will remain on view during regular hours through November 13, 2026. 

ALL DATES AND PROGRAMMING SUBJECT TO CHANGE; PLEASE CHECK THE WEBSITE FOR ANY UPDATES OR CANCELLATIONS. 

About the A.E. Backus Museum & Gallery

Since its founding in 1960 and the first day the doors opened in 1961, the A.E. Backus Museum & Gallery has been a center and catalyst for creativity and culture in our region. The Museum houses the nation’s largest public presentation of artwork by Florida’s preeminent painter, A.E. “Bean” Backus (1906-1990), and also continues its more than sixty-year tradition of exhibiting and celebrating the paintings of the original Florida Highwaymen, who got their start here. In addition, the Museum organizes and hosts changing exhibitions from artists of regional, national and international acclaim. The Backus Museum was recognized as the 2026 Best Museum, 2021 Best Tourist Attraction, 2018 Best Museum in the Best of the Treasure Coast by the readers of Indian River Magazine;2025 & 2022 Best of the Best Community Choice Award for Best Art Gallery; and the 2024 Best Art Gallery by Hometown News. 

Preseason Hours beginning September 2: Wednesday – Saturday, 10 AM to 4 PM; Sunday, 12 Noon to 4 PM. Admission is $5 per person; AARP, AAA, and Veterans with appropriate ID receive a $2 discount. Students with school ID, children under 18, active duty military, and current members are always free. Additionally, the A.E. Backus Museum offers $1 admission to individuals and families presenting a SNAP Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card as part of the Museums for All access program, to encourage individuals of all backgrounds to visit museums regularly and build lifelong museum habits; and is also a Blue Star Museum, offering free admission to active military families May 16 – Sep 7 during regular hours. Please note the City of Fort Pierce is working to improve the North Indian River Drive Corridor from Seaway Drive south to Avenue A through January 2027. The Museum will remain open and accessible. For more information see this Traffic Notice.