PALOUSE PLEIN AIR is an annual painting event that takes place every September, with experiences including painting workshops and a juried exhibition at the Third Street Gallery inside Moscow City Hall.    

Historic Moscow, Idaho and the beautiful Palouse are the perfect destination for plein air artists, and the annual Palouse Plein Air painting event connects artists with the region’s landscape and culture. French for “open air,” the phrase “plein air” (pronounced plen-air) describes the act of painting outdoors. The outdoor experience on the Palouse is particularly rich, as its rolling hills, rivers, mountains, fields, farms, and homes tell the long history of the landscape.   

Guided by the vision of the Moscow Arts Commission and University of Idaho art professor Aaron Cordell Johnson, Palouse Plein Air began in 2010, and the event continues to grow. A collaboration of community partners makes this growth possible; the City of Moscow Arts Department and the University of Idaho College of Art + Architecture work together to make a great event for artists and art lovers alike.      

Important Dates 

May 1 – September 3   |   Registration will be available online via Submittable. No emailed or paper registrations will be accepted.       

September 4 - 14   |   Painting Period in Latah, Nez Perce, Whitman, and Benewah Counties      

September 16 

9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Artwork Drop-off at the Third Street Gallery inside Moscow City Hall at 206 E Third St.   

7:00 p.m.  Juror Lecture on the UI Campus      

September 17 

10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Juror Demonstration at the UI Arboretum   

5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. Reception & Awards at the Third Street Gallery      

September 17 - October 30  

8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., Monday - Friday  Exhibition open at the Third Street Gallery     

November 2    

9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. Artwork Pick-up at the Third Street Gallery (No early pick-up of artworks will be allowed.)     

Eligibility  

Palouse Plein Air is a painting competition open to all artists 18 years-of-age or older. All painting media are eligible for competition, including gouache, watercolor, acrylic, oil, and pastel.      

Registration Fees   

$38.11 per participant or $32.45 per student participant (18 years-of-age and older.)    

Painting and Exhibition Guidelines 

• Following registration, participants paint out-of-doors at any location of their choosing within Latah, Nez Perce, Whitman, and Benewah counties. Participants have the option to paint on all days of the competition or any combination of the competition days. No use of electronic, pictorial, or other aids is allowed. All work must be done on location by the individual artist.
• Each artist will submit photos of their completed works along with inventory information and images of the painting on location. This submission will be completed using a Submittable form to be provided by City staff following the close of event registration. This procedure not only generates content for the publicly-viewable online gallery, but also authenticates that each piece was made on location during the Palouse Plein Air competition period. 
• Participants are invited to deliver finished entries to the Third Street Gallery inside Moscow City Hall on September 16 from 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. No early drop-off of artworks will be allowed. Artworks that arrive at any time other than the stated drop-off period will not be exhibited. 
• Up to 3 (three) paintings will be accepted. Painting sizes accepted will be up to 72” total unframed perimeter inches or smaller. (e.g. a 16” x 20” has a 72” perimeter: 20” x 2 + 16” x 2 = 72”)
• Artworks must be presented for exhibition in sturdy framing with a wire hanger (no sawtooth hangers). Please see the Third Street Gallery presentation requirements for an illustration of wire installation standards. Works submitted without proper framing and wire hangers will not be exhibited. 
• The Best Lil’ Paintings are the fun size candy bar of the Palouse Plein Air experience (mmm....caaandy...!) To participate, participants must select “Yes” to receive a welcome package. The welcome package will include a little canvas and a little watercolor board. Artists are invited to submit one little painting for this award category, and this submission will count toward the artist’s overall allowed total of up to 3 (three) paintings. The little paintings can be presented without frames or wires, but must be labeled as described below.
• Please label the back of each artwork with the following: artist name, artwork title, medium, and date.
• Event organizers reserve the right to determine suitability of all works shown in the Palouse Plein Air exhibition.
• Works may be offered for sale, and any sales will be handled by Third Street Gallery staff. Artwork sales will be subject to a 20% Gallery commission and Idaho State sales tax.
• Works will remain at Third Street Gallery for the entire length of the exhibition.
• Artists shall release the City of Moscow to use photographs and/or video of them and their exhibited art works, for future publicity and promotional purposes without copyright, use fees, or charges.

Juror and Awards  

Erin L. Cassetto of Clarkston, WA is the 2026 Palouse Plein Air juror. Cassetto earned a Bachelor of Arts in Art and Art History from Drury University and went on to earn Master of Fine Arts from Washington State University. Cassetto’s award-winning paintings have been recognized in The Art of Watercolour magazine, juried shows, and plein air competitions. Cassetto’s paintings are held in public and private collections, including the City of Moscow, Idaho. When she is not in her art studio in Clarkston, WA, Cassetto spends time with her family hiking and fly fishing. She'll often carry both her fishing equipment and painting supplies with her into remote areas. On days when the fishing is slow, having a paintbrush handy is so rewarding. On days when the fishing is red-hot, she'll remember the scenes and celebrate the day in her studio.     Awards will be announced during the artist reception at the Third Street Gallery. Winning participants need not be present to receive awards. Paintings will be available for sale and are eligible for the following cash and other recognition awards: 

• 1st Place ($500)
• 2nd Place ($250)
• 3rd Place ($125)
• Best Palouse
• Best Downtown
• Best Historical
• Best Lil’ Painting
• Student Awards (2)
• Honorable Mentions (2)
• City of Moscow Purchase Award (1)

Registration Support for Palouse Plein Air  

Megan Cherry, Arts Manager                

206 East Third Street                

Moscow, ID 83843                

208.883.7036                

mcherry@ci.moscow.id.us