America 250 — Photography Exhibition

Gallery One Visual Arts Center is a nonprofit gallery at 408 N Pearl Street in downtown Ellensburg, Washington. The annual America 250 exhibition is the gallery's ninth national juried photography show, the 2026 edition timed for the United States Semiquincentennial — the 250th anniversary of American independence. The brief invites work that engages with the country at this milestone moment.

Photography is defined strictly: work created using a digital or film camera, unaltered except for slight enhancements to lighting, coloration, or contrast. AI-generated work is not accepted. The 2026 jurors are Gail Gibson, gallery director and curator, alongside C. Meier, Exhibitions Director at Blue Sky, the Oregon Center for the Photographic Arts in Portland.

Awards total $800 across four categories: $300 for best at capturing the exhibit theme, $200 for best traditional approach to photography, $200 for best non-traditional approach, and $100 Award of Merit. Selected work is shown at Gallery One from June 19 through August 1, 2026, with the artist receiving 60% commission on sales.

Eligibility is restricted to artists 18+ residing in the United States. Submission is through CallForEntry.org (CaFE). Fees are $20 for the first entry and $10 for each additional, with a maximum of 6 entries. The deadline is May 17, 2026 at 11:59 PM PST; acceptance notifications are sent May 27, 2026.