Watercolor USA moves to Joplin for 2025: Call for artists now open
JOPLIN, MO A celebrated American tradition in water media finds a new home in 2025. For the first time since its founding in 1962, Watercolor USA, the premier national exhibition of water media painting, will be hosted by the George A. Spiva Center for the Arts in Joplin, Missouri.
“As the Museum board and staff made plans for the Museum’s temporary closure, we knew we had to find a way for Watercolor USA to continue,” said Nick Nelson, director of the Springfield Art Museum. “And we’re pleased to announce that during site construction, our colleagues at Spiva Center for the Arts in Joplin will host Watercolor USA starting in 2025.”
The exhibition will run from Saturday, August 23 to Saturday, October 11, 2025, at the Harry M. Cornell Arts & Entertainment Complex, home of the Spiva Center for the Arts, with an opening reception and awards presentation on Friday, August 22.
“George A. Spiva Center for the Arts is honored to host this year’s Watercolor USA,” adds Heather Lesmeister, Spiva’s executive director. “We are incredibly grateful to our friends at Springfield Art Museum for entrusting Spiva with this prestigious exhibit. We look forward to working with the artists and the Watercolor USA Honor Society and welcoming them to Joplin in 2025.”
Call for Artists Now Open
Artists working in water media are encouraged to submit their work for this historic exhibition. Entries are now being accepted through the CaFÉ™ platform. Complete prospectus details and submission guidelines can be found at https://bit.ly/
Important Dates:
- March 28: Online entry opens
- May 12: Entry deadline (Midnight CST)
- June 5: Notifications sent via CaFÉ and email
- June 12 – July 8: Window for shipped artwork to arrive
- July 8 – 12: Hand-delivered artwork drop-off (10 AM – 4 PM)
- August 22: Opening reception and awards
- August 23: Exhibition opens to the public
- October 11: Exhibition closes
- October 14 – 15: Artwork pickup and return shipping begins
Spiva is proud to uphold the legacy of Watercolor USA, continuing its mission to highlight the diversity, innovation, and technical mastery of contemporary water media artists from across the country