Betty and Art Robins Group Gallery

Our group gallery is named for two of the founders of the Columbia Art League, who understood how important it is to foster and teach an appreciation for visual art for all ages.

Juried Shows (open to all artists)

• We have four to five juried shows per year. An outside juror decides which artwork will be admitted to the show and selects ribbon winners.

• You do NOT need to be a member to submit your work.

• For juried shows, you may enter up to two artworks per entry fee.

• If your work is not selected for the show, we will contact you by Monday following drop off, and you will need to pick up your artwork.

• Any artwork left at CAL for more than 30 days will become CAL’s property.

Members' Shows (open to current CAL members)

• We have two Members’ shows per year (Summer and Winter).

• Only current members may enter their artwork into a members’ show.

• Members’ shows are not juried; they are judged. This means that every artwork entered will be accepted into the show until we meet capacity. An unaffiliated judge will decide ribbon winners.

• Members may only submit one artwork per Member’s show.

To read more about each group gallery show and fill out an entry form, click here > Current and Upcoming Exhibitions

South Gallery

The South Gallery at CAL was created to highlight artists who have built a cohesive body of work over time through study & application.

This space is open to exhibit both 2D & 3D work as well as video and installations. Each show is about 3-4 weeks in duration, depending on how it falls on the calendar. The application for South Gallery exhibitions opens annually in July. After the application closes in August, artists are notified of their acceptance in early September. From there, the gallery schedule is built for the next calendar year.

To read more, check out our South Gallery page by clicking here.

Patrons’ Party

This fundraiser is the only time CAL will ask artists to donate work, because we strongly believe that artists’ work is real work, that it has value, and that they should be paid for it like anyone else. We recognize that we are asking for your gracious generosity in the spirit of giving back to an organization that has been and hopes to continue to be a resource and a support for all artists in our community and their creative endeavors. Read more details and sign up to donate your work by clickinghere.

Artists who exhibit with the Columbia Art League agree to abide by the following policies. The Columbia Art League provides insurance on all pieces up to 50% of the fair market value placed on the work by the artist. The Columbia Art League provides security on the building premises through an alarmed security system. The Columbia Art League reserves the right to use images of artists’ artwork in a fair and reasonable way for the promotion of the Art League and its events.

Exhibition Guidelines

The Columbia Art League’s Community Exhibits Program began in 1959 to provide artwork to other non-profit organizations in the community. Over the years, the program expanded to include all types of public and private business locations, which invite artists to exhibit their artworks. Each quarter, artists 'rotate' their work to a different venue, so that a new audience of people can enjoy their work.

As long as you are a current member of the Columbia Art League and have exhibited in a show at CAL, we are happy to consider your work for the Community Exhibit Program. If you’re interested in applying to be an exhibiting artist with this program, click here. You can also email CEP@columbiaartleague.orgif you have any questions or concerns.

Our Online Artists’ Village is an online resource for visitors to view our Artist Plus Members’ artwork from the comfort of their home! Artists at this level of membership can have a page of their own, a place where you can provide contact info for potential buyers and showcase your work!

If you are an artist interested in having a page of your own, make sure you are signed up for an Artist Plus Membership. Once you’ve signed up for that level of membership, email our Executive Director to get your next steps!

Memberships are the key to our continued operation and success! Our yearly memberships allow our vibrant art community at CAL to thrive!

We have three membership tracks with different levels in each area. Artists (for those who create), Appreciator (for individuals who participate + support the cultural value of our art community), and Corporate (for businesses interested in supporting the Arts in Columbia). You can read more about each area and sign up for membership today by clicking here!

A membership perk at CAL is entry into our two annual Members’ only gallery exhibits. These shows have no theme and there is no jury process, which means there will be a cutoff point for entries, so it’s first come, first serve! What you enter is what will hang on the walls. It is for these Members’ shows that artists may only submit one piece to the show. CAL will hire an awards judge to select winners and honorable mentions for this show.

We open up the opportunity to sell artwork in our Gift Gallery to any artist who is a current member of the Columbia Art League. If you are interested in potentially selling your artwork in the Gift Gallery, the first step is to schedule an appointment with our Executive Director. This will be a designated time for you to bring in your artwork and discuss what would be best to add to our inventory, pricing, etc. Also, make sure you read our Members’ Gift Gallery Guidelines.