International Open Exhibition Awards Fund 

Your donation to any of the following award categories helps pay for the awards given to artists for their outstanding achievements in water media. Donating to this fund encourages more artists to enter our International Open Exhibition and adds to the prestige of acceptance into the exhibition.  

We ask you to consider donating to one of the following categories. NWS is a Section 501(c)3 nonprofit. Your gift may qualify as a charitable donation for federal income tax purposes. You should consult with your tax advisor or the IRS to determine whether a contribution is deductible for your particular situation.  

Use the Donation Form at the bottom of this page to donate online.

Named Cash Awards – International Open Exhibition  

Your donation of $500 or more will give you the opportunity to name an award in memory or in honor of someone special, or to create an award in your name. Donor names are listed in the beautiful exhibition catalog. This donation category is for corporations and individuals. 

Cash Awards– International Open Exhibition  

Donations of $499 or less are grouped together as Combined Cash Awards. Many cash awards are given in honor or in memoriam. Donor names are listed in the beautiful exhibition catalog. This category is for individuals and corporations. 

Past President Award – International Open Exhibition 

We owe a debt of gratitude to our past presidents of NWS for their gifts of time and talent. This category is for the past presidents of NWS only.  Donor names are listed in the exhibition catalog. 

Masters Cash Award – International Open Exhibition 

This category of donation is for NWS Signature Members only. The Masters Award can be awarded to any painting in the International Open Exhibition.  If you are a signature member of NWS, you know what an honor it is to have earned the right to sign NWS after your name on your paintings, whether you do so or not.  Please show your support and donate to the Masters Cash Award if you are a Signature Member. Donor names are listed in the beautiful exhibition catalog. 

Associate Member Cash Award – International Open Exhibition 

This category of donation was initiated in 2022 and is for Associate Members only. Donations to this fund will be awarded to an Associate Member only, not a Signature Member or a non-member. We are excited to recognize our Associate Members with this award!  Donor names are listed in the beautiful exhibition catalog. 

Purchase Awards – International Open Exhibition 

Purchase Awards can be donated by corporations or individuals. The Juror of Awards determines which artwork receives a Purchase Award.  

NWS has Purchase Award levels of $1500, $2500, and $5000 for its donors. Please contact the NWS Awards Director, if you are interested in making a donation for a Purchase Award. Donor names are listed in the beautiful exhibition catalog. 

Regional Society Named Award – International Open Exhibition 

This award category was initiated in 2022. All art societies who would like to be included in the beautiful NWS catalog and recognized in our exhibition are invited to donate to this award category. The donor society will have an award made in their name and may define the parameters of the selection if they wish. The minimum donation is $300 for this award category.  

Please contact the NWS Awards Director, awards@nationalwatercolorsociety.org if you have any questions about International Open Exhibition donations. 

If you are mailing a donation, please make your check payable to the National Watercolor Society and send it to:  

Carrie Waller, NWS Awards Director, 107 Alabama Dr., Jacksonville, AR  72076. (Don’t forget to indicate which category you are donating to.)