In Recognition of BookFest, Bristol Art Museum and Rogers Free Library Announce Open Call for Art: A Day in a Life

The Bristol Art Museum, in partnership with Rogers Free Library and Bristol BookFest, is pleased to announce an open call for art for its upcoming exhibition, A Day in a Life, inspired by the themes of the 2026 BookFest selection, Mrs. Dalloway by Virginia Woolf. The exhibit will be on view in the Rogers Free Library Herreshoff Room from Feb. 18 through Apr. 15, 2026.

All entries are due by Mon., Jan. 26 at 11:59 p.m. An entry form is available on the Museum’s website.

Woolf’s groundbreaking novel, written in stream-of-consciousness form, explores the depth of the human experience through memory, perception, and emotion over the course of a single day. Artists are invited to interpret these themes and create works that reflect what a day in their lives means to them.
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“Virginia Woolf reminds us that even the most ordinary day can reveal extraordinary inner worlds,” said Trish Sylvester, BAM@RFL Committee Member. “We look forward to seeing how artists translate the beauty, complexity, and rhythm of daily life into visual form. This collaboration with BookFest and Rogers Free Library is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate literature and art together in Bristol.”

Submission Requirements
All artists must be at least 18 years old, and work must be original, installation-ready, and fall within 18" x 24" maximum dimensions. Eligible media include drawing, painting, printmaking, collage, fiber arts, and photography. (No 3-D works.) Artwork may be offered for sale. Sales are negotiated directly between artist and buyer; no commissions are taken by the Museum. Submission fees for Bristol Art Museum members are $20 for one submission or $30 for two; non-members, $25 for one submission or $40 for two. 

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