Artists are invited to submit work for a special art showcase during Trudy Fest 2026, a Highlands celebration honoring hometown legend, Gertrude Ederle.
The festival commemorates the 100th anniversary of her historic swim across the English Channel—a groundbreaking achievement that made her the first woman to complete the crossing. Taking place August 15, 2026 in Highlands, the Highlands Borough Arts Council (HBAC) will select artworks to be displayed in the HBAC booth as part of the celebration. Fest-goers will be able to vote on their favorite piece. The winner will receive a prize of $200 and second place will be $50 to be paid in the week following TrudyFest.
All types of art are welcome — painting, photography, sculpture, mixed media, fiber, digital art, and more. Artists are encouraged to submit work inspired by Trudy’s determination, the spirit of achievement, the power of water, perseverance, and/or local pride.
Please submit your work for consideration by Sunday, July 19th. The submission fee is $5; the fee is waived for HBAC members. This is a flat fee meaning you may submit multiple pieces of work for only $5. Please pay here or wait until you have submitted - another link will be available once you have submitted this form.
Applicants will hear back on whether their work was chosen for display by July 31st. From there, the HBAC will work with the artists to collect the art ahead of time before TrudyFest. The art will be stored in a safe location before and after Trudy Fest.