Professional Art
(prǝ-fesh’ ǝn-‘l ärt): Artwork that has been created for pay rather than as a hobby, conforming to the standards of skill, competence, or character normally expected of a properly qualified and experienced artist.
All Artwork must be PRE-ENTERED prior to artwork receiving dates.
ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT
If you are a Ventura County professional artist, you have come to the right place. A gallery of the best and newest artwork in the county will be showcased at the fair in the Adah Callahan Art Center.
Drawings, Paintings, Sculptures, Ceramics, Wood Pieces, and more compete for cash prizes and awards including the coveted Adah Callahan Award, Director’s Award, and Best in Show.
The show is juried before the Fair begins, and if your work is selected it will hang in the Gallery throughout the 12 days of the Fair. The Ventura County Fair welcomes over 300,000 guests, many of whom will see your work in the Pro Arts Gallery.
To find out more about entering the juried show, just look in the Entry Guide on this website for more details.
We have beautiful artwork from around the county displayed each year. There is something for everyone to enjoy. Several artists volunteer to demonstrate their artistic talent on the lawn outside our building during fair-time. You can watch them create works of art and they always welcome your questions.
Each year we have new outdoor sculptures on the lawn, as well as some previously seen favorites. Make sure to check them out after you’ve visited Photography and Home Arts!
Many people have questions about the “People’s Choice Award”. Our “People’s Choice Award” is voted for by the fair guests. Visitors get to vote for their favorite piece of art and the winner is revealed the second Thursday of the fair.
Our “Entry Day” and “Pick-Up” day volunteers are invaluable! They really make the process easy and efficient. During fair-time, we have many volunteer “Hosts” and “Hostesses”. The building couldn’t be open without them watching and overseeing the artwork and answering our visitor's questions. We have artists who volunteer their time to help set up the building, Our volunteers are the core of our department.
How to Enter
Entries will be accepted online: June 5-July 19, 2023, only.
Entries must be submitted online at the Fair’s website www.venturacountyfair.org. Online entries close at 11:59 PM on July 18, 2023. No emailed entries accepted. Please do not bring artwork at this time.
Pro Art Entry drop off: NEW DROP-OFF DATES!! Wednesday, July 26 and Thursday, July 27 from 12:00 – 7:00PM
SUPERINTENDENT
Lisa Joe
Professional Arts Department was started by Adah Callahan in 1969 and for whom the gallery building is named. Adah had an absolute love of the Arts. The professional Arts department is happy to be a place to showcase familiar names and new Ventura County Artists as well.
Lisa has been on our staff for many years, first as chairman before becoming assistant. Prior to that Lisa volunteered for many years in the Floriculture and Photography departments before coming to Professional Arts. She is an incredible blessing to us!
The Professional Arts Department has a small staff, but a large number of dedicated volunteers from a fourth-generation family that has been with us from the beginning as well as several volunteers who if not from the beginning very close to it – it’s really special. We have artists who do daily demonstrations outside near our Sculpture Garden and they are happy to discuss their artwork and process with you.
We are thankful for each one of you who volunteers your time and talent to make our department come together each year and run smoothly. We look forward to seeing old friends and making new ones.
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