Purchase Award Patrons

In August, each year members of the museum at the Society of Associates level may choose to become a Purchase Award Patron for the upcoming EJR. There are three levels of Purchase Award Patron: $500, $700 or $900. The Purchase Award level selected allows the Purchase Award Patron to select a work from the EJR exhibition regardless of the retail price of that work. For example, a work the artist values at $3,000 may be marked available a $900 purchase award. The artist determines at the time they submit their artwork for consideration to the EJR whether they are willing to accept a $500, $700 or $900 purchase award. 90% of the artwork accepted into the EJR is available for a $900 purchase award. The percentage of works available decreases for the $500 and $700 purchase awards but there are a substantial number of works available at these levels.

100% of all purchase award monies go directly to the artists. No money is retained by the museum from the purchase award.

Purchase Award Patrons select a work of art as their purchase award at a Preview Party which is held a few days before the Elkhart Juried Regional opening reception. This year the Preview Party is on Wednesday, October 7, 2026, beginning at 6 p.m.

$900 purchase award patrons select their work beginning at 6 p.m. $500 and $700 purchase award patrons can select their work beginning at 6:30 p.m. that evening. Museum staff are available that evening to help guide purchase award patrons through the process and answer any questions about the artists.

No, all Purchase Award Patrons are limited to one purchase award each year. However, once the purchase award selection process is completed, unless noted otherwise, all artwork that is part of the Elkhart Juried Regional is for sale. Usually 90% of the works in the EJR are for sale.

The work you select remains on view throughout the course of the EJR (thru December 31) and can be picked up in January 2027.