Desert Art Center
Gallery Membership and Jury 2025/2026 Season
The Desert Art Center is the longest running art center in the Coachella Valley. We provide art education to adults and children in a range of mediums. Our refurbished gallery, on Palm Canyon Drive, is a historic building and was the city’s first school. In normal years we aim for five major shows each year which are open daily. Juried Gallery members can exhibit and sell their art to the public. We are a non-profit organization and use all our profits for the educational work of our organization.
Gallery membership is both a privilege and a commitment. As a gallery member you are allowed to exhibit in our main gallery shows and to sell your art. We also expect you to become involved in the co-operative nature of our volunteer organization. One aspect of this is the necessity to host the gallery on agreed days each month. When the jurors judge your work, they are looking for not just artistic excellence but assessing whether your work will add something new and different to our gallery, and will it sell. They will also discuss your willingness to become involved in our organization and what skills and experience you can bring.
Check out the GALLERY DISPLAY RULES on our website www.desertartcenter.org and choose your gallery category. This is a two-stage application process, initially digital and secondly personal presentation of art. The initial application process is handled by www.onlinejuriedshows.com. There is a non-refundable $25 jury application fee payable to onlinejuriedshows. There will be two juries this season this season.
Stage 1 Entry – For the first stage, applicants must submit their work digitally. Go to www.onlinejuriedshows.com, create a new account or login. Find the Desert Art Center under Current Shows and follow the instructions. You may submit in only one category. (Existing Gallery members may submit in a new section but please read the gallery display rules for requirements.) You will be asked to submit between 6-10 digital images of your artwork. The title of each photo should contain the Title of the work, the medium, and width x height (x depth if 3D). Applications are invited in any medium.
Stage 2 – Finalists Shows- From the initial digital applicants, the jurors will select a shortlist of artists, who will be asked to bring in two representative pieces of work on a date and at a time to be agreed. Your work will be hung in the Terry Masters Gallery and displayed as a show for member and public viewing. It will not be for sale. You will also be able to see the artwork of the other applicants. At some point during this week the Judges appointed by the DAC will view the entries and select those for full Gallery membership. You will be asked to collect your work at the end of this week.
http://www.desertartcenter.org
http://www.onlinejuriedshows.com
Do check the GALLERY DISPLAY RULES before presenting your work. Your work should be ready for display. It is essential that you live near enough to the Desert Art Center so that you can contribute to its co-operative nature. You will be asked to complete a short questionnaire regarding your future involvement.
Successful New Gallery Members will be notified by e-mail with the jury's decisions. If your work is accepted, you are required to become a Gallery Member. You must pay the $125 fee which covers Regular Membership and Hanging Fee. You will be expected to submit art for at least two shows each year. If you do not, your gallery membership may be invalidated. Those not accepted will also be informed and encouraged to take part in other DAC activities and themed shows.
Spring Jury 2026
Applications through Onlinejuriedshows.com – February 3 – March 3, 2026Intake of Artwork of shortlisted artists at DAC March 10
Finalists Show March 16 – March 21
Finalists Collect artwork March 21
First Show intake for new members March 30
Commitment – Once you are a Gallery Member and pay your annual Gallery Member's dues, you may show your work in our gallery. You are expected to submit work for the regular Gallery shows. In turn you are required to host the gallery six hours per month. You will be asked to attend an orientation, dates to be announced later and also invited to participate in other volunteer activities.
Help – For help with the digital application, please follow the link on the www.onlinejuriedshows.com website. Any other questions to info@desertartcenter.org
Liability – By submitting artwork, artists acknowledge insurance is the responsibility of each individual artist. The Desert Art Center will not be held responsible for lost, stolen, or damaged property owned by you.
