Most events of the Harford Plein Air Festival are free, including the online blog and gallery, the opening reception and awards ceremony on September 15, the Student Quick Draw Competition on September 16, the three-day exhibition at the Bel Air Armory from September 15-17, and the exhibition at the Harford Artists Gallery from September 20-November 20.  This year's painters, most of whom live outside of the county and even out-of-state will be coming to paint and exhibit several times between July 1 and September 17.  Commissions and prizes only off-set a small portion of their expenses, and grants only provide a small portion of the cost of bringing fine art to our own backyard.  Please consider a sponsorship or donation of any amount to make the Harford Plein Air Festival an attractive event to artists.  Thank you!

OFFER SUPPORT

Harford County's premier Plein Air Festival is comprised of a juried competition and a community-based quick draw competition, which annually draw professional artists from across the U.S. to capture the county's charms.  The Festival's unique format allows painters to work at their own pace from July 1 to September 14, competing for thousands of dollars in cash prizes and sales commissions. 

PUBLIC SCHEDULE
May 15 - Deadline to apply for one of the 30 juried artist positions.
June 1 - Invitations sent to juried artists.
July 1 - Artists begin painting.
July 10 - Blog of "works-in-progress" begins HERE.
August 1 - Community artists and students can register to paint in the Quick Draw Competition.
September 12 - 9am-noon Harford Plein Air @Ladew Gardens Paint-Out in Monkton.
September 14 - 6:30pm Harford Plein Air @Havre de Grace Nocturne Paint-Out.
September 15 - 6:30-9pm - ​Arts Across Harford Kick-Off Reception at the Harford Plein Air Gallery Opening & Awards Ceremony, Bel Air Armory.
September 16 - 8:30-noon - Watch juried and community artists paint in downtown Bel Air. 
                        9am-4pm - Free Harford Plein Air Exhibition & Sales Gallery, Bel Air Armory.
September 17 - 10am-4pm - Free Harford Plein Air Exhibition & Sales Gallery, Bel Air Armory, in conjunction with the Bel Air Festival for the Arts.  Music by the Deer Creek Youth Choir.
September 20 - November 20 - Free Exhibition & Sale of select Festival paintings at the Harford Artists' Gallery, behind the Bel Air Armory.  All Festival paintings will be available for viewing and purchase online, HERE.

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SEPTEMBER 15-20
Click on "Visit Harford"
to see more events:

To showcase the county's vibrant arts scene, the Maryland Center for the Arts is a proud supporter of Arts Across Harford:  16 Days of Celebrating the Arts, September 15-30, with Visit Harford, the Harford County Cultural Arts Board, the Bel Air Arts & Entertainment District, the Harmer's Town Art Center, and the Havre de Grace Arts Collective.  Many other county arts organizations, will present exhibitions, performances, and creative opportunities for artists of all ages and genres.   

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