BOARDWALK ART SHOW¬

2023 ARTIST APPLICATIONS ARE NOW OPEN!

Artists are the heart of Boardwalk Art Show—over 150 of them flock to Virginia Beach each year to showcase their talent along the boardwalk. Spanning 13 mediums and ranging from classic and contemporary to the unconventional and eccentric, it’s no surprise the Virginia MOCA Boardwalk Art Show has been ranked as a Top 15 Fine Art Show of the Decade by Sunshine Artist Magazine.

This is a juried show which means that each artist will be selected by our jurors from an average application pool of over 700.

KEY DATES

December 31, 2022 Early Bird application deadline
April 30, 2023 Application deadline
May 31, 2023 Late application deadline
July 1, 2023 Invitations sent to artists

APPLY NOW

The artist prize fund is a true representation of how our community embraces the arts. Annually, Virginia MOCA collects over $20,000, which is passed on directly to the artists after a rigorous judging process. In 2021, the generosity of over 50 donors allowed us to recognize 18 artists.

All prize fund donors are invited to join us at the Artists’ Awards Party, where artists, Virginia MOCA supporters, and art enthusiasts gather to recognize the show’s standouts!

We hope that you support the prize fund by making a tax-deductible donation. You can submit your contribution by completing this secured online Artist Prize Fund Donation Form.

If you have any questions, please contact us at 757-425-0000 or via email at development@virginiamoca.org.

ARTIST AWARDS & DONORS

BEST IN SHOW AWARD
Joan Brock

AWARD OF DISTINCTION IN FINE ART
Andrew and Barbara Fine | Valerie Neff

VIRGINIA FINEST AWARD
In Honor of Anne M. Virga, a Virginia artist, by her family

TOP ARTIST UNDER 40
In Honor of Alex Divaris, by Generation MOCA
James McCune | Colby Raymond | Elizabeth Napolitano | Megan Riggs | Kimberly Beachum | Amanda Logsdon

JUDGE'S CHOICE AWARDS
Nancy Arias | Warden Family Foundation

BEST GLASS ART SCULPTURE
Friend of Virginia MOCA

STANDARDS OF EXCELLENCE AWARD
Jim and Joan Spore | Betty Moritz | Bettie Cooper | Robert Stein | James Spruance | Thomas Hoffler | Lewis and Marsha Hirschler | Alma Henry | Evelyn Munden | Cheryl Dowell

AWARDS OF MERIT
Meg and Bill Campbell | David Jester, In Honor of Micky Jester | Jenn Richter, In Honor of Ann F. Richter

SAND DOLLAR AWARDS
Meredith and Brother Rutter | Katherine Reilly | Full Circle Solutions | Barbara Amdusky | Barbara Fleming | Sylvia Luck, In Honor of J. Carter Luck | David Jester, In Honor of Reitha and Norman Sedel

The VIP Beach Club is the premier location of the Art Show, sitting adjacent to the boardwalk in 31st Street Park. Beach Club ticket holders enjoy lunch provided by Mermaid Catering and the Hilton and custom cocktails by Tito’s Handmade Vodka and Tarnished Truth Bourbon Whiskey, as well as live music, and complimentary beer, wine, and bourbon tastings.

Bring the entire family to 24th Street Park for free activities on Saturday and Sunday including free pumpkin picking, art kits, face painting, balloon animals, and rotating performances from Twinkle Toes Performing Arts Company, Bach to Rock, and other local youth and performance groups.

The Boardwalk Art Show would not be possible without the commitment of our incredible volunteers. Each year, dedicated community members and supporters from the Virginia Beach area and beyond assist in bringing the event to life, providing essential logistical support throughout the weekend, offering service and information to festival-goers, and helping to generate the convivial atmosphere that makes the show so special. There are plenty of opportunities to get involved, with several different committees covering the various facets of the festival. We hope that you'll join us in making the 66th Annual Boardwalk Art Show a success!

LEARN MORE ABOUT VOLUNTEERING