Mercer County Artists Exhibition:  

From the beginning, the Commission has been committed to recognizing and supporting the gifted artists who live in this region. One if its earliest initiatives was an annual Mercer County Artists Exhibition. In 1972, the Mercer County Cultural & Heritage Commission created the Mercer County Artists Exhibition – an annual, juried exhibition showcasing the work of artists 18 years or older that are living, working, or studying full time in Mercer County. This was the first County-sponsored program of its type to be held in New Jersey. The Commission partners with public art galleries to present these exhibits. Early shows were held at Trenton State College (now The College of New Jersey). However, since the 1990s, the Commission’s partner for the Mercer County Artists exhibit has been The Gallery at Mercer County Community College in West Windsor. 

Both Merit Awards and "Mercer County Purchase Awards" are given out each year. Works chosen for Purchase Awards become a part of the County's extensive Permanent Art Collection, displayed and maintained at the McDade Administration Building in Trenton. In the 1980s the program expanded to include a biennial Mercer County Photography exhibition, also open to all residents of the County. 

For information about Mercer County Artists exhibit, email your name, full street address (with city and ZIP code), and a telephone number to Chelsey Johnstone cjohnstone@mercercounty.org. Please use "MCArtist" as the subject line of your email. 

The 2025 Mercer County Artists Exhibition date is to be announced.  

 

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Mercer County Biennial Photography Show: 

By the late 1970s, the volume of excellent photographs being entered in the Mercer County Artists exhibit inspired the Mercer County Cultural & Heritage Commission to host a separate Mercer County Photography show. This biennial exhibition is open to anyone 18 years or older who lives, works or attends school in Mercer County, NJ. A variety of county arts venues have partnered with the Commission in presenting this exhibit. The latest exhibition was held at the Trenton City Museum at Ellarslie.  

Photographic processes of any sort may be entered, including black and white, and color photography, non-silver processes including tin-type and cyanotype and direct exposure processes such as solar prints. Artwork based substantively on photos, including book art, computer-derived or hand-made photography collages, and similar media will be considered. 

Photographers accepted into the show have the opportunity to win some of the more that $1,000 in prizes, including both Merit and Purchase Awards. Like the Mercer County Artists Exhibition, works purchased by the Mercer County Cultural & Heritage Commission will become a part of the Mercer County’s Perminant Art Collection.  
 
Photographers interested in receiving a prospectus for upcoming Mercer County Photography Shows can email their name, full street address (with city and ZIP code), and a telephone number to cjohnstone@mercercounty.org. Please put "MCPhoto" in the subject line of your email. 


The 2026 Mercer County Biennial Photography show date is to be announced.