Call-for-Art
A Spring Celebration of Art, Photography and Fountains
This spring, The City of Fountains Foundation debuts as a celebration of Kansas City’s cherished fountains, blending art, culture, and community. With two opportunities, this event invites artists and photographers to connect with the city’s iconic landmarks and create unforgettable works of art.
Open Capture is a two-month-long challenge running from April 19th to June 15th, giving artists and photographers the chance to capture the magic of three selected fountains.
Join us in celebrating the artistry and timeless charm of Kansas City’s fountains.
Mark Your Calendar for Creative Opportunities
Capture the grandeur of Kansas City’s fountains through photography or bring them to life on canvas—this event provides a platform to share your artistry, gain exposure, and connect with the community.
Artists & Photographers Open Capture
Take part in a two-month art and photography challenge designed to spotlight the beauty of three selected fountains.
EVENT DATES: April 19th – June 15th, 2025
LOCATIONS:
• Meyer Circle Seahorse Fountain
• Henry Wollman Bloch Fountain
• Loose Park Lake Fountain
Choose from Three Spring Creative Events
Artists Open Capture
This flexible option allows you to create at your own pace, painting en plein air or in your studio.
- Open to amateur and professional artists of all ages.
- Use any medium and style; artwork must be 16×20 or smaller.
- Depict a fountain from the provided list.
- Work must be new and created between April 19th and June 15th, 2025.
- Studio or plein air pieces are accepted.
- To verify authenticity either submit the photograph used for studio work, or get your substrates stamped at the COFF booth during Fountain Fest.
Photographers Open Capture
Showcase your skills by capturing the fountains’ charm and elegance through your lens.
- Open to amateur and professional photographers of all ages.
- Photographs must be taken with a camera (no cell phone photos).
- Photograph a fountain from the provided list.
- Images must be printable at 16×20 and taken between April 19th and June 15th, 2025..
- Both color and black & white photography are allowed.
- The photograph must be taken by the submitting photographer and feature one of the listed fountains.
Important Dates
Make sure to mark your calendar—these deadlines are final, and late registrations or submissions will not be accepted.
Registration Dates
- March 1st – April 18th, 2025
Event Dates
- Saturday, April 19th, 2025 – Sunday, June15th, 2025
Submission Deadline
- Sunday, June 22nd, 2025 by 11:59 p.m.
Award Email Announcements
- Monday, June 30th, 2025 by 7:00 p.m.
Register and Take Part in the Call-for-Art
Follow These Guidelines to Participate in Call-for-Art Creative Events
Artists Open Capture
How to Participate
- Preregistration Required: Register and pay on the COFF website by 11:59 p.m. on April 18th, 2025.
- Stamps: Substrates can be stamped at Fountain Fest on Saturday April 19th between 11:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m.
- Participation: Open only to paid, registered artists.
- Artwork: Must be 2D and depict a fountain from the provided list.
Entry Fee & Payment Methods
- Open Capture: $35
- Payment: Must be made by debit or credit card on the COFF website during registration.
Submission Requirements
- Submission Date: All completed artwork for the Spring Open Capture must be submitted by Sunday, June 22nd, 2025 by 11:59 p.m.
- Submission Link: Submit your work at the designated link provided on the COFF website.
- Art Submission: Artists may submit 1 painting of each fountain (3 total).
- Include: Full name, email, medium, size, price, created en plein air or in a studio
- Image Specifications:
- Minimum size: 10″
- Maximum size: 30″
- File format and Size: JPEG at 72 dpi (no larger than 3 MB).
Jury Process
- Juror: Jeff Osborne, with over 30 years in the art community and 4 years curating at the Jones Gallery in the Crossroads Arts District.
- One winning piece will be selected from each fountain location.
- Submissions will be judged on quality and originality, with all styles welcomed equally.
Awards & Prizes
- Winners will be notified by email on Monday, June 30th, 2025, by 7:00 p.m.
- One winner per fountain location will receive $500.
- COFF will own reproduction rights to the winning pieces, including rights to sell prints and merchandise.
- Winning artwork will be featured on a dedicated page on the COFF website with links to purchase requests.
- Winners will be credited in promotions and merchandise sales.
Participation Rewards
- Non-winning pieces will also be displayed on the COFF website with purchase request links.
- Artists will contribute 25% of the sale price to COFF if their artwork is sold.
- COFF will coordinate purchase approvals and email donation receipts to artists.
- Artists will be credited in all promotions.
Photographers Open Capture
How to Participate
- Preregistration Required: Register and pay on the COFF website by 11:59 p.m. on April 18th, 2025.
- Participation: Open only to paid, registered photographers.
Entry Fee & Payment Methods
- Open Capture: $35
- Payment: Must be made by debit or credit card on the COFF website during registration.
Submission Requirements
- Submission Date: Final photo submissions for the Spring Open Capture Photography Challenge are due Sunday, June 22nd, 2025 by 11:59 p.m.
- Submission Link: Submit your work at the designated link provided on the COFF website.
- Photo Submission: Photographers may submit 1 photograph of each fountain (3 total).
- Include: Full name, email, camera used, photograph settings.
- Image Specifications:
- Minimum Size: 10″
- Maximum Size: 30″
- File Format: JPEG at 72 dpi (no larger than 3 MB).
Jury Process
- Juror: Jeff Osborne, leveraging decades of experience in the arts.
- One winning photograph will be selected from each fountain location.
- Only original photographs are eligible, judged on their ability to captivate and showcase the fountains’ charm.
Awards & Prizes
- Winners will be notified by email on Monday, June 30th, 2025, by 7:00 p.m.
- One winner per fountain location will receive $500.
- COFF will own reproduction rights to the winning photographs, including rights to sell prints and merchandise.
- Winning photographs will be featured on a dedicated page on the COFF website.
- Winners will be credited in promotions and merchandise sales.
Participation Rewards
- All non-winning photographs will be displayed on a dedicated page with links to the photographers’ websites.
- Photographers will be acknowledged in all related promotions.
Questions & Answers
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Fountain Partners
Agenda:USA
KC Bier Co.
Helen S. Boylan Foundation
Mason L. Dean Testamentary Foundation
Estelle S. and Robert A. Long Ellis Foundation
Alex Hamil
Roy Inman
Kansas City, Missouri Parks and Recreation
The Kansas City Royals
Made in Kansas City
Rally House
Seen Merch
Irma Starr
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Contact Us
ADDRESS:
P.O. Box 8912
Kansas City, MO
64114
PHONE:
816-842-2299