17th Annual Palouse Plein Air Registration Opens in Moscow, Idaho
Moscow Arts Commission Invites Artists to Register for September Outdoor Painting Event
MOSCOW, Idaho — The City of Moscow Arts Department and the Moscow Arts Commission have announced that online registration is now open for the 17th Annual Palouse Plein Air, a juried outdoor painting event scheduled to take place across a four-county region of northern Idaho and eastern Washington this September. The registration deadline is 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, September 3, 2026.
Palouse Plein Air is one of the Palouse region’s most enduring annual arts traditions, bringing together painters of varying skill levels and media to capture the landscapes, small towns, and agricultural character of the region on canvas — entirely outdoors and entirely by hand. The event has grown into a celebrated showcase of the visual richness of the Palouse, an area defined by its rolling wheat fields, historic communities, and deep-rooted ties to Idaho’s agricultural heritage.
Participating artists may paint at any location of their choosing within Latah, Nez Perce, Whitman, and Benewah counties during the official painting period, which runs from September 4 through September 14, 2026. Artists may paint any combination of days within that window, giving participants flexibility while maintaining the integrity of the plein air format.
Rules, Eligibility, and Exhibition Details
The event maintains strict standards to preserve the authenticity of plein air work. No use of electronic, pictorial, or other aids is permitted, and all paintings must be completed on location by the individual artist. Artists must be 18 years of age or older to participate. All painting media are eligible for competition, including oil, acrylic, watercolor, gouache, and pastel.
The juried exhibition will be adjudicated by Erin L. Cassetto of Clarkston, Washington. Cassetto holds a Bachelor of Arts in Art and Art History from Drury University and a Master of Fine Arts from Washington State University. Her award-winning paintings have been recognized in The Art of Watercolour magazine and featured in juried shows and plein air competitions across the region. Her work is held in both public and private collections, including a piece in the City of Moscow, Idaho’s collection.
When not working in her Clarkston studio, Cassetto is known to spend time with her family hiking and fly fishing — pursuits that reflect the same connection to the natural landscape that defines plein air painting itself.
The juried exhibition will be displayed at the Third Street Gallery inside Moscow City Hall. The exhibition is scheduled to open on Thursday, September 17, 2026, with an artist reception and awards ceremony running from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. The public is expected to be welcome at the opening reception, making it an accessible community event for Moscow residents and visitors alike.
A Community Event Rooted in Regional Character
Palouse Plein Air is more than an art competition — it is an annual celebration of the landscapes and communities that define this corner of Idaho and the broader Palouse region. The event draws artists who appreciate the area’s open skies, historic downtowns, and the sweeping farmland that has fed families across the Northwest for generations. By requiring all work to be completed outdoors on location, the event honors a tradition of artistic observation rooted in direct engagement with the natural and built environment.
Moscow’s arts community has long served as a cultural anchor for Latah County, offering residents and visitors programming that complements the city’s identity as a university town with deep agricultural roots. Events like Palouse Plein Air help sustain that identity by drawing regional talent and community participation each year. Moscow is also home to a variety of faith and civic communities active year-round — including a Moscow man recently preparing for ordination as a Catholic deacon following a personal faith journey that reshaped his family.
For more information on Palouse Plein Air registration guidelines, eligibility requirements, and event details, artists and interested community members are encouraged to visit the official Palouse Plein Air webpage through the City of Moscow’s Arts Department.
What Comes Next
Registration for the 17th Annual Palouse Plein Air closes at 5:00 p.m. on September 3, 2026. The painting period runs from September 4 through September 14, followed by the juried exhibition opening at the Third Street Gallery in Moscow City Hall on September 17, 2026. The artist reception and awards ceremony will take place that evening from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Artists interested in participating should register through the City of Moscow Arts Department’s official website. For broader coverage of community events across Idaho, visit Idaho News and the Idaho News Network.