GAVA Schedules 2026 Fall Art Exhibition at Santa Fe Depot Museum

Gainesville Area Visual Arts has scheduled its 2026 Fall Art Exhibition for Sept. 6 through Sept. 13 at the Santa Fe Depot Museum, 605 E. California St., according to the organization's posted exhibition information. The judged competition carries the theme "Extraordinary Perspective," and the entered work will be on view at the museum through the posted week.

An opening reception and awards presentation comes first, set for Sept. 5 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the depot. GAVA, as the group is known locally, lists Alan Burris as the judge for the 2026 show. During the public run, the organization's posted hours are 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on weekdays and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekends.

Entries will compete for cash awards in four categories, according to the group's materials: Traditional, Contemporary/Mixed Media, Photography/Digital, and Three Dimensional. The posted award list also includes first-, second- and third-place cash prizes, honorable mentions, a People's Choice award decided by visitor votes, the Breaking the Mold Deaver Award, and the Gwen Novak One of A Kind Award. The same four core categories appeared at GAVA's 2025 fall exhibition, when People's Choice voting drew 216 ballots.

The exhibition is one part of a year-round schedule for the group, which raises money for student art scholarships. For 2026, GAVA's published scholarship requirements advertised a $1,000 award for a Cooke County graduating senior who plans to study visual arts. The fundraiser that supports the program, For the Love of Art, was scheduled for its 13th year on Feb. 6, 2026, from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Santa Fe Depot.

GAVA traces its founding to 1992, when it began with 16 members, according to the organization. It now reports more than 100 members and says it serves artists across North Texas and Southern Oklahoma while funding scholarships each year. The group lists Joe Conner as its president and as the point of contact for questions about the organization.

The Santa Fe Depot Museum occupies a restored 1902 Gulf, Colorado and Santa Fe Railway station that now houses a museum, offices and an Amtrak waiting area. The City of Gainesville describes the building as a former working train station, now used as a museum and rental facility with accessible entry, restrooms and rentable tables and chairs.