The Community Arts Challenge is a juried competition to encourage creativity within the Cortland County community and enhance the profile of the Center for the Arts and Cortland Arts Connect as venues for local artists, writers and performers. The Challenge is an opportunity to use one’s artistic talents to communicate a common theme. The artistic theme for the 17th Annual Arts Challenge is “WONDER” The exhibits and performances that result from this competition will be open to the public to celebrate the many ways our area artists interpret the topic of WONDER. Prizes will be awarded in each entry category. There will also be a “People's Choice” visual-art award for the artwork that gets the most votes from visitors to the Arts Challenge exhibit.

Small Works 2026

Cortland Arts Connect is seeking works for our Annual December Small Works Show.

Work, including the frame, should be smaller than 24x24 inches. Open to all artists and mediums. However, work must be able to hang on the wall. Please make sure the work that’s submitted can hang!

First Friday December 4th Opening Reception and Sale.

Work dropped off:

Nov 20:   10 to 2:30pm at The Picture House (85 Homer Ave)

Nov 21:   12:30 to 2pm at The Picture House (85 Homer Ave)

Nov 23:   1 to 5pm at The Picture House (85 Homer Ave)

Nov 30:   9 to 10am at McNeil Building (17-29 Main Street)

The show will be installed on Monday Nov 30 at 10am. All work needs to be with CAC by then.

Contact me if you need a drop off time outside these hours.

Pick up work the week of Jan 4th. Works that have sold can be picked up from the gallery before Christmas. We will arrange with collectors for pick up. All artists will be contacted once a painting of theirs has sold. Checks will be sent the week of January 4th.

All work must be for sale. 20% of sales will go towards CAC. CAC will handle all sales and send checks to artists at the end of the show. Suggested minimum sale price of $50.

Can submit 1 or 2 pieces. Deadline for entry form Nov 13th. No entry fee

CAC is highlighting the breadth of arts and culture in our area by developing a county-wide Cortland Arts Trail features artists, studios (visual, dance, music) art instillations (murals, statues, etc) art venues, music venues, galleries and businesses that support the arts.

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List your self or your business on our directory and or digital arts trail!

We coordinate First Fridays on the First Friday of each month. We use our digital Arts Trail to highlight the venues that are open!

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All venues must be on the arts trail and fill out the First Friday form with their event details!