Announcing the Featured Artist for 2026 Fall Festival of the Arts - DeLand

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

July 23, 2026

Fall Festival of the Arts – DeLand Announces Featured Artist for 2026 Festival

DELAND, Fla. - The board of directors of the Fall Festival of the Arts - DeLand announced today that Robert Ross has been chosen as Featured Artist for this year’s festival, taking place on Nov. 21-22. He will create an original piece of art to be used as the image on the official festival poster and T-shirt. The work will be unveiled at a public event at the Athens Theatre in DeLand on Aug. 27. 

Ross, of Winter Park, is originally from Michigan, where he first studied English, receiving both a BA and MA. After a career in public relations, he began formal training in 2004 at the Crealde School of Art in Winter Park, where he studied drawing, painting and printmaking. He also took master classes from well-known Philadelphia landscape painter Stuart Shils. His initial focus was on plein-air paintings of rural scenes, but over time shifted more to urban landscapes and interiors. Since 2013 he has taught painting at Crealde School.

Ross was awarded Best in Show at the DeLand festival in 2023, as well as numerous awards at other shows throughout Florida. His work has been shown at group and individual shows at museums and galleries across the southeast, and he has been the featured artist for IMAGES and the Winter Park Autumn Art Festival. He is represented by Arts on Douglas in New Smyrna Beach and ARTicles Gallery in St. Petersburg.

Fans of Ross’s art will have an additional opportunity to view his work when he shows at the Museum of Art – DeLand beginning in August. Robert Ross: The Architecture of Light opens with a reception on Friday, Aug. 28 and will run through Oct. 18.

Catalina Hoffman, this year’s festival president, said, “We are excited to have an artist of Robert’s reputation and appeal representing the festival as Featured Artist. His art is extraordinary and always popular with the public. His show at the museum preceding the festival is sure to attract even more attention from festival patrons.” His work will be on display in booth #47 during the festival weekend.

The unveiling event, to be held at the Athens Theatre on Aug. 27 at 5:00 pm, is free and open to the public. Light refreshments will be served and a video presentation featuring Ross speaking about his art and career will take place prior to this year’s poster image being officially revealed.

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For more information, press only:

Catalina Hoffman, President FFOA
(954) 561-7617
ffoainfo@gmail.com

Announcing The David Fithian Emerging Artists Program

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

July 2, 2026

Fall Festival of the Arts DeLand
Announces The David Fithian Emerging Artists Program

DELAND, Fla. — If you are an accomplished artist but have never sold your work in an art gallery or at a juried art festival, the coordinators of the 33rd Annual Fall Festival of the Arts - DeLand would like to hear from you.  

The David Fithian Emerging Artists Program honors the late artist and educator's lifelong dedication to mentoring young creatives. Fithian formerly served as curator of the Museum of Art DeLand and was a foundational figure in the local arts community and a fixture at the annual Fall Festival for many years.

As part of its new David Fithian Emerging Artists Program, the festival board, in cooperation with the Museum of Art - DeLand and ArtWorks DeLand, is seeking outstanding new artists. The program is in honor of the late David Fithian, a longtime artist, educator and former curator of the Museum of Art - DeLand. A foundational figure in the local arts community, Fithian dedicated his career to mentoring young creatives and teaching fine art classes in the region.

The goal of the program is to mentor and encourage emerging artists. Selection for the program prioritizes fresh perspectives, creating intentional space to welcome and develop an inclusive future art community.  

Artists who are selected will have their festival application and booth space fees waived. They will also receive free use of a 5’ x 10’ tent with side panels, one six-foot table, two chairs, and access to display panels. Each emerging artist will keep 100 percent of their sales at the festival.  

Participants must attend mandatory skills clinics at ArtWorks DeLand, a cooperative gallery consisting of professional artists that will provide individualized mentorship. These clinics include sessions on framing and presentation, customer service and sales, and display set up. Following the mentorship, artists will attend and exhibit their work on both days of the Fall Festival, Nov. 21 and 22, in the historic preservation district of downtown.  

Artists ages 18 and above who have never exhibited or sold their work in an art gallery or juried art festival are welcome to apply. The application must include three high resolution images of artwork produced in the last three years.  

"Entering the professional art world can be daunting, especially when faced with the costs of a first festival," said Catalina Hoffman, the 2026-27 festival president. "This program is all about removing those financial and logistical barriers. We are so excited to discover fresh, diverse voices and provide them with the mentorship and opportunity they need to confidently launch their careers."

Artists interested in participating should visit the festival website at fallfestivaloftheartsdeland.com/emergingartistsprogram to apply. The application deadline is Aug. 7.

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For more information, press only:

Lance Johnson
ffoainfo@gmail.com