Jury Day 2026

Registration for Jury Day 2026 has closed.
Scroll down the page for general information about future Jury Days.

To get back to this page easily from the League home page:

Save the link sonoranartsleague.org/jury-day in your browser; OR
On a Computer: Click the Search icon on the right in the top menu bar, type “Jury Day,” and click the Jury Day link in the drop-down selection box.
On a Mobile Phone: Open the Menu, select Resources, and scroll to the bottom of the Resources page for the Jury Day Page link.

FOR 2026 DAY PARTICIPANTS ONLY

Jury Day: Saturday, February 21, 2026
Location: Christ the Lord Lutheran Church, 9205 E Cave Creek Rd, Carefree, AZ

Art Check-In: 9-10 am – Bring your Artwork, Jury Day Contract, Art Statement card, and optional Title cards during your assigned check-in time slot, which was emailed to you on 10/30 or 10/31/2025. Doors close at 10:05 am.

Art Pick-Up: 3-4 pm – Pick up your work on time. Artwork left after 4 pm will be placed outside the church doors.

Jurying Criteria Definitions are available at the bottom of this page now. That and three additional files will be posted in this section by January 9:

Instructions for 2026 Jury Day Participants (updated details about requirements, prep, art check-in/pick-up, results, and a map)
2026 Jury Day Contract (different from other League art contracts)
2026 Jury Day Checklist (tips to be ready for Jury Day)

GENERAL INFO ABOUT JURY DAY

Jury Day is the day once a year when Artist members of the League who register for this event submit a body of work for evaluation against criteria established by the Sonoran Arts League in hopes of becoming a “Juried Member” of the League. The Juried Member designation is awarded to Jury Day event participants whose body of work is deemed by a panel of independent art professionals to meet an elevated standard of excellence, based on the League’s criteria.

NOTE: The League’s annual Jury Day is NOT the same as getting juried into a specific show at the League Gallery. Juried Member status is not a requirement to submit work to a Gallery show or to participate in the Hidden in the Hills Studio Tour. All you need for those is League membership.

Why Become a Juried Member?
Participants in Jury Day get the benefit of professional feedback about their work and the chance to become a Juried Member of the League.

The “Juried Member” designation is recognized…

In the artist’s profile on the Sonoran Arts League website;
Next to the artist’s name in various League publications, including the “Hidden in The Hills” (HITH) Directory;
On title cards when that artist shows work in Sonoran Arts League Gallery exhibitions.

Newly Juried Members will have the opportunity to…

Submit work to the Gallery shows limited to Juried Members only;
Opt-in for special social media promotion (when offered);
Purchase a special “Juried Member” League badge.
List this accomplishment on their own websites and resumes.

Types of Media and Artwork

On Jury Day, participating artists submit five pieces of their work. Submit work in one medium only, to show mastery of that medium. Artists who become “Juried Members” retain that status no matter what media they may choose to work in afterwards. They will be free to submit work in any medium for Gallery Calls for Art, the Hidden in the Hills Studio Tour, etc.

Submitted artwork must be original work.
We do NOT allow:

Work that is copied, in part or whole, from any published or locally shown work that is not your original work;
Pieces done in a workshop or class, student work, or work completed under the guidance of a mentor;
Giclée’s or photographs of original paintings printed on canvas.

Criteria for Evaluation

Jurors, who are accomplished art professionals NOT associated with the League, evaluate whether the five submitted pieces rise to the level of a consistent and professional body of work, based on criteria defined by the League (see below).

Keep in mind that:

Jurors evaluate against set criteria but their decisions are, to an extent, subjective;
Artwork submitted for jurying should be in “gallery-ready” state. Click the short video link below to find out what that means;
Jurors can consider a specific criterion “N/A” if it does not apply to the work being evaluated.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Short Videos and Files to Download:

If you have questions about Jury Day after reviewing these materials, send an email to jurycommittee@sonoranartsleague.org or contact the Sonoran Arts League office at 480-575-6624.