A photo of South Branch Greenway, which is one of the park areas featured in the program.

(SOMERSET, NJ) -- In celebration of Somerset County's Open Air, Open Space Project, the County is seeking New Jersey based Plein Air artists to capture the beauty of the public parks system. 

The special art project highlights Somerset County’s Open Space Preservation Program, which aims to preserve open space for conservation, active recreation and passive use.

“We are proud of the open space initiatives that exist in Somerset County,” said Commissioner Melonie Marano, liaison to the Cultural and Heritage Commission and to the Open Space Advisory Committee. “These public parks directly benefit communities throughout the County and I’m excited to see how these talented artists capture these amazing spaces.”

Open Air, Open Space is sponsored by the Somerset County Board of County Commissioners, Somerset County Park Commission, Somerset County Open Space Preservation Program and the Somerset County Cultural & Heritage Commission.

Calling All New Jersey Artists! - Open Air, Open Space invites both amateur and professional Plein Air artists to showcase the unique, natural and recreational features of 14 public parks throughout Somerset County. New Jersey residents, aged 18 or older, are eligible to participate.

Each participating artist will be assigned a Somerset County park to inspire them. Artists will indicate their park preferences in their Artist Interest Form. Final park assignments, and other park-specific information, will be released by late September 2024.

The Artist Interest Form is available here and must be submitted by September 1, 2024. Interested artists must also review the Prospectus and submit the attached forms, as well as a $25.00 non-refundable entry fee, by September 10, 2024.

The art exhibit will be professionally juried, and the collected entry fees will go exclusively towards the prize pool for this program.

An opening reception is planned for October 2025. The exhibition will be on display in the Cultural & Heritage Gallery located in the Somerset County Administration Building at 20 Grove Street, Somerville, NJ 08876, from October to November 2025. A traveling component may follow, bringing the artwork to select locations throughout the County.

The Open Air, Open Space Project is made possible with funds from the Somerset County Cultural & Heritage Commission, a partner of the New Jersey State Council on the Arts.