Southeast Open Judged Art Exhibit returning after successful run in 2024
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The Southeast Open Judged Art Exhibit (SOJE) is returning after a successful year of showings in 2024 where the Steinbach Arts Council (SAC) recorded a 30 percent increase in submissions.
“(The reason for the increase was) just different audiences I guess were reached through the marketing campaign that we held and there’s just a lot more individuals that are going through visual arts and different classes within the arts council now, where the opportunity for them to enter into an exhibit becomes more (accessible),” said Cassandra Kornelsen, manager of community programs at SAC.
SOJE is a community-focused exhibit that invites artists of all ages and all skill levels from the Southeast to display their creative work at the Steinbach Cultural Arts Centre.
“It is a really great way for artists to basically express themselves through the exhibit if they’re not able to have their own exhibit themselves, or they’re an amateur artist, or a professional artist, to just have a few pieces that they would like to have judged within the exhibit. It’s just a good opportunity for people to get involved and see the different mediums the Southeast has to offer,” said Kornelsen.
SOJE accepts art entries in mediums such as acrylic, watercolor, charcoal, pencil, photography, or digital art for its competitive and non-competitive categories under the adult and juvenile streams. SAC is also opening applications to educators from Southeast school divisions to submit entries on behalf of their students.
Last year, the organization was so overwhelmed with submissions that they had to close the application process early. Kornelsen said 160 pieces of art were hung at the centre in 2024. This year, applicants are allowed to submit one piece of art in each of the competitive and non-competitive categories.
The submissions will be accepted from Nov. 17 to Jan. 23, 2026.The application fee for adults is $10 per piece (competitive and non-competitive), while there is no fee for applicants 17 years old and under in the categories.
The exhibit will open with a public ceremony on Feb. 27, 2026, with remarks beginning at 5:30 p.m. The exhibit will remain open to the public until March 26, 2026.
“The public is encouraged to attend the opening to support their family and friends who are exhibiting and celebrate the collective artistic output of Southeastern Manitoba,” stated the press release.
Applicants are reminded to open and read all information packets, tags, and art hanging guides for their respective categories upon application. For more information and to access the application forms, please visit SteinbachArts.ca/SOJE.