NESBA Member Exhibition ‘World of Flowers’

September 8 – October 6, 2025

Massachusetts Horticultural Society Garden at Elm Bank

Massachusetts Horticultural Society is holding its 139th New England Flower Show on September 20th and 21st. NESBA artists are invited to participate by exhibiting your bright and beautiful floral paintings!  This is a return to NESBA roots as our first exhibits were at the original spring flower show held in Boston.

The theme for our art show is “World of Flowers,” which will be on display before and after the Flower Show in the Education Center at Elm Bank.  Your artwork can be any flower from any season and any country. In keeping with the exhibit theme, you are asked to include the country or region where your chosen subject originated on your Intent to Exhibit form.  It doesn’t have to be an American native plant; it can come from anywhere in the world. In addition, we ask that you include the country or state where you found the plant(s). As an example, if you paint a common lilac you found in the Arnold Arboretum (Boston, MA, USA), it is native to the Balkan Peninsula in Europe.

WHAT’S NEW:

  • Artists may offer cards and prints for sale.

  • Volunteers are needed to assist with hanging the exhibit and hosting a NESBA table during the Flower Show on Sept 20-21.

ELIGIBILITY:

  • This exhibit is open to all current NESBA members.

  • Each artist may enter two paintings.  Submissions are on a first come, first serve basis due to limited display space.

  • The entry fee is $15.00 payable on-line

IMPORTANT DATES:

  • July 1, 2025:  Deadline to submit Intent to Exhibit & pay entry fee

  • September 5, 2025: Artwork must be in the hands of your delivery person

  • September 8, 2025: Volunteers will be needed to assist with hanging the show.

  • September 8, 2025: Exhibition Start Date

  • September 20-21, 2025:  Fall flower show. Volunteers are needed to host a NESBA table.  Flower show entry fee will be waived for volunteers.

  • October 6, 2025: Exhibit End Date

ARTWORK REQUIREMENTS:

  • We accept original, 2D artworks conforming to NESBA Botanical Art Guidelines

  • Artwork may not be removed prior to the end of the exhibit.

SALES AND INSURANCE:

  • Artwork does not need to be for sale.

  • MassHort retains a commission of 30% on the sale of artworks, cards and prints.

  • Artists will receive payment from MassHort after the close of the exhibit.

  • Artists exhibit at their own risk and the artist is responsible for secure framing and suspension.  Works will be handled with all possible care. NESBA or it’s member volunteers shall not be liable for any loss or damage to artwork while in their possession.

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES:

  • Submission of your entry constitutes your agreement with all terms found in this Call for Entries.

  • NESBA reserves the right to decline any submission, or to remove a selected work, if it does not conform to the exhibition theme or fails to meet any of the guidelines in this Call.

  • Please follow the instructions and guidelines carefully, particularly framing guidelines, on the ‘Instructions and Intent’ page.

TRANSPORTATION:

Schedule drop-off and pick-up with the Transport Person in your geographic area listed below.

QUESTIONS?

Please contact our Exhibition Chair, Gail Pearlstein, with any questions.

ABOUT THE NEW ENGLAND FALL FLOWER SHOW 
The show will feature judged exhibits, displays, vendors, and demonstrations to be viewed and appreciated by thousands of guests on the weekend of September 20-21 at the Garden at Elm Bank. All elements of the show draw inspiration from global plants, styles, themes, and designs. "World in Bloom" celebrates the importance of plants around the world and the impact that cultivating and exhibiting plants can have on wellbeing, health, and community.