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The Plein Air Festival and Competition at Central School Project 
Thursday Oct 9  - Sunday Oct 12, 2025

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ABOUT

The Bisbee Plein Air Festival returns Thursday, October 9 through Sunday October 12, 2025

 

Each year artists come to paint Old Bisbee and the surrounding area’s historic architecture, sprawling staircases, charming streets, industrial mining remnants, and colorful homes set amidst the scenic Mule Mountains to compete for $800 in prizes. You also have the opportunity to sell your Festival pieces to the public at the Wet Paint Exhibition and Sale.

We welcome artists at all levels of practice, from first timers to professionals. Our festival is relaxed, fun, and the artists are supportive of each other.

2025 YEAR INCLUDES:
An artist meet and greet on Friday night with a jurors show, the option of group nocturne painting with Sam Poe Gallery as headquarters, A fun quick-painting & drawing drop in at Grassy Park Saturday morning, judging and wet paint sale in the CSP gallery and informal critique session on Sunday morning in the gallery. Canvas stamping will be downtown at RedBone Shop on the corner of Subway St. 

More opportunities may be added!

BISBEE PLEIN AIR FESTIVAL 2025 at Central School Project

Thursday October 9 – Sunday Oct 12, 2025

Supported by the Bisbee Foundation and Community Foundation of Southern Arizona and Arizona Commission on the Arts

All Artists must pre-register through Eventbrite!

 

REGISTRATION FEE

Early Bird registration (until September 20th) $30

Registration after September 12th $35

Cochise College Students $15

Event registration through Eventbrite

If you cannot register online, email us: bisbeecsp@gmail.com

 

Painting Competition Rules and Regulations

We are limiting the number of painting entries to 2 this year. However, you may get as many canvases stamped as you would like.

If you use an alias or pen name as an artist, when you are registering your paintings for the competition you must put your real name on the back of the slips you fill out.

 

CANVAS STAMPING REQUIRED: Artists may stamp as many canvases as they wish, but can enter only up to two pieces of work to be judged in the competition and sales gallery.

All canvas stamping is done at RedBone, a vintage clothing store at the corner of Subway Street and Shearer Ave.

​Framing is suggested, but not required. Easels for display help too. but not required.

The 2025 Bisbee Plein Air Festival is open to any artist who paints using the plein air technique in oil, watercolor, acrylic, gouache, pastel, or other non-digital media.

All paintings entered in the competition/sale must be done “en plein air” (in the open air where the artist has no control of light or weather) during the event dates in Bisbee city limits. All canvas/paper/boards must be stamped PRIOR to painting. NO unstamped art will be accepted.

Artists must provide their own paint kits and sturdy easel(s) for display during judging and will be responsible for the safety of their paintings.

Framing is suggested, but not required. Easels for display help too, but are not required.

Wet Paint Gallery Show (after judging)

The sales commission is 35% to the Plein Air Fest and 65% to the artist for all sales made during the public receptions.

Artists may paint anywhere in Bisbee, which includes Warren, Lowell, San Jose, et cetera.

Central School Project and associated volunteers assume no responsibility for loss or damage to any work, display or person.

 

Painting Competition Prizes and Schedule

PRIZES:

$800 in Cash Prizes:

1st $300 | 2nd $200 | 3rd $100 | People’s Choice $100 | 2 Runner ups $50.00 each

All registered artists are entered into a door prize drawing this year

Jurors to be announced.

 

SCHEDULE:

All canvas stamping is done at RedBone, a vintage clothing store at the corner of Subway Street and Shearer Ave.

Thursday October 9th from 8 am to 6 pm 

Friday October 10th from 8 am to 6 pm

Saturday October 11th from 8 am to Noon


 

ARTISTS PAINTING: Thursday October 9th – Saturday October 10th 'til 1:30 pm

 

Friday 6:00 - 8:00 pm Artist Meet & Greet at Central School. Public welcome.

Friday 8:00 pm Nocturne painting. Meet at Sam Poe Gallery on Subway Street

Saturday 10:00 - 1:00pm Artists! Drop in at Grassy Park gathering and

relaxed art-making with Sam Woolcott

Saturday 1:00 - 2:00 pm Artists may start bringing their paintings to Central School to register them for the competition please get here by 2 at the latest

After your check in Artists leave the building as judging will start at about 2:30 

Saturday 4:00 pm The show opens to the public. Vote for people’s choice award

Saturday 5:00 pm Awards Ceremony at Central School

Gallery open until 6:30 pm Buy the paintings of Bisbee!

Sunday October 12, 11000- 1:00 pm  Art pick up, Casual artists Critique and another opportunity to buy the art at Central School Art pick up,

(If you have to leave town saturday night you can arrange with a CSP sales person to remove your entries at 6:30)

 

Plein Air Festival 2024 Winners

1st Place & Peoples Choice - Mary Baum

1st Place & Peoples Choice - Mary Baum

2nd Place Igor Kogan - Streets of Bisbee

2nd Place Igor Kogan - Streets of Bisbee

3rd Place - Greg Wallace - 1000 Stairs

3rd Place - Greg Wallace - 1000 Stairs

Honorable Mention - Carol Chandler

Honorable Mention - Carol Chandler

Honorable Mention - Ash Dahlke

Honorable Mention - Ash Dahlke

Bisbee Plein Air Festival

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Central School Project is a non-profit arts and cultural center with the three-fold mission of providing affordable studio space to working artists, preserving and adapting the historic Central School building , and fostering appreciation of the arts in the Bisbee community.

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Central School Project

l43 Howell Ave. Bisbee,AZ 85603

520.732-0064

bisbeecsp@gmail.com

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