The National Park Service and St. Johns Cultural Council have teamed up to bring Find Your Park Plein Air to St. Johns County. The event debuts this year during the Park Service’s Centennial and National Park Week from April 16 to 24, 2016. The event provides artists with the opportunity to create art in plein air, or in the open air with the subject in view, at the national parks in St. Johns County – Castillo de San Marcos National Monument, 1 S. Castillo Dr., and Fort Matanzas National Monument, 8635 A1A South.

“The 2016 Find Your Park campaign to celebrate the Park Service’s Centennial promotes getting out and about to enjoy the St. Johns County national parks,” said Steven Roberts, chief of interpretation and education at the Castillo de San Marcos National Monument and Fort Matanzas National Monument. “It’s also a way for us to bring together history, art, culture and enjoyment of The Great Outdoors.”

Find Your Park Plein Air has two components. The first component is the actual creation of art in plein air at the national parks from April 16 to 24, 2016. The second component is a juried show featured as part of the America's Parks exhibition at the Lightner Museum from June 9 to Aug. 31, 2016. Artists can submit up to two pieces created during the Find Your Park Plein Air event to be juried for inclusion into the show.

“America’s Parks is a national traveling exhibition that features works of parks in North America,” said Andy Witt, executive director of the St. Johns Cultural Council. “We are thrilled to provide artists with the opportunity to be part of this well-known exhibition to showcase the incredible parks and artists we have in our county.”

All artists interested in participating are encouraged to register. Whether artists participate in just the Find Your Park Plein Air artwork creation event or want to submit artwork for the juried show, each artist is requested to register. The cost to participate in the artwork creation event at the parks is free. The cost to submit up to two pieces of artwork created during the Find Your Park Plein Air event to be considered as part of the juried show is $30.

The benefits of registering include a welcome bag and credentials, access to Hospitality Gallery Nights, a plein air demonstration by well-known artist/gallery owner, Mary Hubley and access to the opening reception of the America’s Parks exhibition on June 9, 2016. Registration is open until April 14, 2016, online at www.findyourparkpleinair.com.

The awards for the juried show include one $1,000 award for Best of Show, two $500 awards for best of media, and two $250 awards for honorable mention.

This event is made possible through funding by The Community Foundation for Northeast Florida and St. Johns County Tourist Development Council with planning support from the National Park Service, St. Johns Cultural Council and Art Galleries of St. Augustine.

For more information, call 904.808.7330 or visit www.findyourparkpleinair.com and www.facebook.com/findyourparkpleinair.

About the National Park Service

The National Park Service, www.nps.gov, cares for special places saved by the American people so that all may experience our heritage. It cares for more than 400 national parks and helps communities preserve their historic places and open spaces. The National Park Service is celebrating its 100th Anniversary in 2016.

About the St. Johns Cultural Council

The mission of the St. Johns Cultural Council, www.stjohnsculture.com, is to promote St. Johns County as a premiere arts destination where the lives of both residents and visitors are enriched through arts and culture. The St. Johns Cultural Council was established 15 years ago and proudly provides support for youth arts programs, artists and arts organizations, and professional development workshops.