Artist Application

The Southport Plein Air Festival, hosted by Up Your Arts and the City of Southport, is set to bring a vibrant celebration of creativity to downtown Southport from May 1st to May 3rd, 2025. Over 70 artists have already registered to paint en plein air, capturing the town’s scenic beauty on canvas.

Beginning Thursday, May 1st, visitors can watch artists set up their easels throughout Southport, transforming the city into an open-air gallery. The festival culminates in an exciting day of activities on Saturday, May 3rd, featuring live entertainment, art demonstrations, children’s activities, and the much-anticipated Wet Paint Sale.

Artist Registration

$50 for Two Days of Painting or $75 for Three Days

Up Your Arts and the City of Southport are looking forward to hosting the 2025 Southport
Plein Air Festival again in beautiful downtown Southport, May 1-3. We leave it up to you to
decide: two days of painting or three?

The 2025 Southport Plein Air Festival is open to all paint artists. It is a non-juried event, with
merit and People’s Choice awards conferred by local judges. Winners will be registered in the
2026 Southport Plein Air Festival free of charge. There is no limit on medium, quantity or size.
Painters retain all proceeds from the sale of their work during the Wet Paint Sale.

Register online or mail the registration form with a check for $50 or $75, depending on the number of painting days, to: Up Your Arts, P.O. Box 11326, Southport, NC 28461

All canvases to be entered in the Wet Paint Sale must be stamped at check-in/registration time.
Welcome packets will include a map of Southport, with suggested painting spots and other
points of interest. Commemorative T-shirts will be available for sale throughout the festival.

Thursday, May 1 – Painting can begin any time after check-in/registration

• Check in/registration from 8am-11am Franklin Square Park
• The first artist reception will be held from 4-6pm at The Haven, 307 N.
  Howe Street, Southport. If you missed the morning registration, check-in will
  be available during the reception at The Haven.
• Your registration includes one beverage ticket and your first opportunity to meet with fellow artists.
• Sunset on the water at 7:56 pm Thursday, May 1

Friday, May 2 – Painting can begin any time after check-in/registration

• Check in/registration from 8am-11am Franklin Square Park
• Reception for artists and guests from 4-6pm, at the Frying Pan, 319 W. Bay Street, Southport. Includes one beverage ticket, happy hour fare, and the opportunity to meet and mingle with fellow artists.
• Check-in registration is also available here from 4-6pm.

Saturday, May 3 - Activity base from 8am-6pm:

• Kids’ Plein Air and multiple art/craft demonstrations from 10am-2pm
• Festival entertainment for the whole family from 10am-2pm, food trucks all day
• Wet Paint Sale from 4-6pm (artist setup starts at 3pm, closed to the public)
• Merit and People’s Choice awards announced