Built to Last:
A Juried Exhibit Celebrating Baltimore’s Enduring Landmarks
Presented by The Peale, Baltimore’s Community Museum
Submission Deadline: September 15, 2025
About the Exhibition
The Peale invites local artists working in two-dimensional media to apply for Built to Last, a juried exhibition celebrating Baltimore’s architectural icons—buildings that have withstood time, change, and civic upheaval. This exhibit will honor the resilience of the built environment through newly created artworks that interpret ten historically and architecturally significant sites across the city.
Featured Landmarks:
- The Peale Museum
- Monument Square & Battle Monument
- Old St. Paul’s Episcopal Church
- Alex. Brown & Sons Building
- Mercantile Trust & Deposit Company Building
- Vickers Building
- Gayety Theatre
- Pennsylvania Railroad District Office
- B&O Railroad Headquarters
- Baltimore Trust Company Building
The project is inspired by the original Built To Last: Ten Enduring Landmarks of Baltimore’s Central Business District initiative, launched in 2002 by the U.S. National Park Service in collaboration with the Historic American Buildings Survey (HABS), the Maryland Historical Trust, the Commission for Historical and Architectural Preservation (CHAP), and Preservation Maryland.
Supported by
Who Should Apply
This call is open to all visual artists, with priority given to those based in Baltimore and surrounding counties. We welcome work in all 2D formats, including painting, photography, drawing, mixed media, and printmaking.
Selected artists will receive:
- An honorarium of up to $2,500.
- Free exhibition at The Peale (April–June 2026)
- Eligibility for auction proceeds
How to Submit
Submissions will be accepted exclusively through CaFÉ (CallForEntry.org).
- Entry Fee: $25 (fee waivers available—see FAQ below)
- Up to 3 works per artist
- Each work must respond to at least one of the featured buildings
Key Dates
| Milestone | Date |
|---|---|
| Call Opens | August 1, 2025 |
| Call Closes | September 15, 2025 |
| Artist Notifications | October 11, 2025 |
| Work Delivery Deadline | February 15, 2026 |
| Exhibit Opening | April 17, 2026 |
| Exhibit Closes | June 15, 2026 |
Eligibility
- Open to all artists aged 18+ residing in Baltimore and surrounding counties.
- Work must be original, created within the past 3 years, and not previously exhibited at The Peale.
- 2D media only: painting, photography, illustration, collage, printmaking, and mixed media.
- Submitted artwork must directly reference or be inspired by one or more of the following ten buildings:
Awards and Sales
- Top 5 works will receive cash prizes (amounts announced by October 1)
- All accepted works will be eligible for sale during the final public auction in June 2026
- Revenue split: 60% to artist / 40% to The Peale (unless otherwise negotiated)
- All accepted artists will be featured in a digital exhibition.
Jurors
Catherine Arthur, Chief Curator, Maryland Center for History and Culture
Jo Briggs, Jennie Walters Delano Curator, 18th- & 19th-Century Art, Walters Art Museum
Schroeder Cherry, Museum Curator at Morgan State University James E. Lewis Museum of Art
Imani Haynes, Curator, Reginald F. Lewis Museum of Maryland African American History and Culture
Joe Tropea, Curator, City of Baltimore (Mayor’s Office)
Jury Process
A panel of curators from Baltimore museums will review submissions. Selection criteria will include:
- Artistic quality and originality
- Conceptual alignment with the theme
- Technical skill and presentation
Jurors will not conduct studio visits.
All jurying will take place digitally through CaFÉ.
Submission Requirements:
You may submit up to 3 works for consideration. Each submission must include:
- JPEG image (1200 pixels minimum on the longest side, 5MB max)
- Artwork title, medium, dimensions, and year completed
- Artist statement (100–200 words) explaining your connection to the subject building or the themes of preservation, transformation, or legacy
- Short artist bio (PDF, 1 page max)
QUESTIONS
Email: built2last@thepeale.org
Website: www.thepeale.org
Follow @ThePealeBaltimore on Instagram and Facebook for updates.
Community Partners
Key Dates
Deadline to submit: September 15, 2025
Exhibition opens: April 17, 2026
Closing date: June 15, 2026
