Tiny Art Show
Sign up for our 4th Annual Tiny Art Contest & Show!
This year, we have partnered with the Town of Bethany Beach, offering a theme, more prizes and greater recognition!
In recognition of the Town of Bethany Beach’s upcoming 125th anniversary, all artwork will portray special Bethany Beach moments—past, present and future!
Registered participants will receive a free art kit and entry form.
Registration & Kit Pickup ENDS @ 4:45 pm on Fri. Jan. 2, 2026
Completed artwork and entry form must be returned to the library before 3 pm on Sat. Jan. 3, 2026.
Details:
Who: We invite all members of the public to compete in our Fourth Annual Tiny Art Contest (while supplies last)
There are four age categories:
- Ages 6- 8
- Ages 9-12
- Ages 13-17
- Ages 18+
Professional Artists may not register for this contest, but are highly encouraged to participate as judges–call Bernadette at (302)858-5518 for details!
How:
- Participants must register online (see below), by phone at 302-858-5518, or in person via the South Coastal Library.
- Registered artists may pick up their art kits at the library DURING OPEN HOURS BEFORE 4:45 PM ON JAN. 2, 2026. PLEASE NOTE: THE LIBRARY WILL BE CLOSING @ 5 PM ON DEC. 31 AND WILL REOPEN @ 10 AM ON JAN. 2, 2026
- Art kits include: a 4″ x 4″ white canvas, instructions & guidelines, and either acrylic paints and brushes or acrylic paint pens (all non-toxic) You may use your own materials if you wish, but must adhere to contest rules.
Contest Rules:
- Art must be your original work, and you cannot be a professional artist.
- Artwork & completed Entry Form must be submitted to the library BEFORE 3 pm on January 3, 2026
- Artwork must reflect a special Bethany Beach moment—past, present or future.Artwork may be any medium except photography or computer-generated art and must fit onto the canvas provided. (Canvas will be displayed vertically on an easel as shown above–plan accordingly.)
- Artwork will be on display in the library Jan. 6 – Mar. 12, 2026 and in the Bethany Town Hall in April 2026, and may NOT contain any obscene or offensive language or imagery.
- Artwork that does not adhere to rules # 1 – 5 will be disqualified.
When:
- Registration and art kit pick up at the library are available now through 4:45 pm on Jan. 2, 2026 (or until all divisions are full,) and occur during library open hours. Online registration is available 24 hrs./day, 7 days/week.
- All artwork must be submitted to the library with a completed entry form BEFORE 3:00 pm on Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026.
- PLEASE NOTE: THE LIBRARY WILL BE CLOSING @ 5 PM ON DEC. 31 AND WILL REOPEN @ 10 AM ON JAN. 2, 2026.
- Jan. 6 @ 3 pm – Jan. 21 @ 6 pm: Local professional artists will judge the show and the public can cast paper People’s Choice ballots within the library. (People’s Choice winners get a ribbon only.)
- Winning and honorable mention artworks will also be displayed on www.townofbethanybeach.com from January 22 – 28, 2026 where the public will vote for a Grand Prize Winner.
- Tiny Art Show Awards: Prizes will be awarded in each age division @ 5:30 pm on Thursday, January 22, 2026 at the South Coastal Library!
Why:
This is your chance to showcase your creativity and artistic skill while celebrating special Bethany Beach moments. Artwork will be divided into four age groups and judged by local professional artists and a Bethany Beach Town Official. Prizes will be awarded courtesy of the Friends of the South Coastal Library (FOSCL) in each age division for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place. First place is a $50 gift card for Michaels craft store! Additionally, all winning and honorable mention artworks will be included in the 2026/2027 Bethany Beach Town Calendar (approx. 3200 copies printed,) and each artist whose artwork appears in the calendar will receive a complimentary copy!
Winning and honorable mention artworks will also be displayed on www.townofbethanybeach.com from January 22 – 28, 2026 where the public will vote for a Grand Prize Winner. Grand Prize artwork will be featured on the cover of the 2026/2027 Calendar, and the artist will receive a $400 voucher for a brand-new bicycle, courtesy of the Town of Bethany Beach!
Please note: Original artwork will be returned to artists, but Bethany Beach will own the reproduction rights of all artwork published in their Calendar.
Where:
- Artwork will be displayed in the library on January 6 @ 3:00 pm through March 12 @ 7 pm (will include a nametag with artist’s first name and age beginning Jan. 22.)
- Winning and honorable mention artworks will also be displayed on www.townofbethanybeach.com from January 22 – 28, 2026 where the public will vote for a Grand Prize Winner.
- All original artwork will also be displayed in an exhibit in Town Hall in April of 2026.
Registration:
Please select the age group based upon the artist’s age on Jan. 3, 2026.
- Registration for Ages 6 – 8
- Registration for Ages 9 – 12
- Registration for Ages 13 – 17
- Registration for Ages 18+
