Join Us

Juried, Signature and Honorary Members are eligible to submit work for the annual Waterworks members exhibit, to hold office, serve on the Board of Directors, and to participate in any and all programs offered by PWS.

Juried & Associate Members:  New Juried and Associate member screenings are held in the spring and fall of each year. To become a member, one must register online and submit three works for screening.  Acceptance is by two-thirds vote of the Board of Directors.  All applicants will receive a notification email and/or letter regarding their screening result, approximately one week after the screening.  New members will be invited to the next general meeting and will receive more information on PWS membership with their acceptance letter.

Juried, Signature Member Dues are $40 per year.

Spring 2024 New Member Screening is scheduled for Saturday, March 16, 2024 at Wilkins School Community Center. Potential new members must register for the event to be considered for membership. Drop off works to be considered between 1:30 -2:00 PM and return for pickup at 3:30 to 4:00 PM. Applicants will be notified of acceptance or rejection via mail or email.

For the screening, artists must bring 3 water-based media paintings, matted and framed "exhibit-ready". For the screening, please bring three paintings, created primarily with water-based media on a paper surface (YUPO and Tyvek are permitted) and unvarnished. No canvas. Mediums include: watercolor, acrylic, casein, gouache, egg tempura. No pastels, class work, digital images, any form of print or reproductions, 10% collage only.  Works must be framed "exhibit-ready". No size limit, other than they must fit in the door and one must to be able to carry them. Generally, PWS exhibits limit work to no more than 48 inches in any one dimension. The screening panel is looking for a consistent level of professional quality painting, so it is advisable to bring 3 pieces representative of your technique, style and subject in your usual work.

All applicants will receive a notification via email regarding their screening result within one week after the screening. New members will be invited to exhibit in our Online New Members Exhibit, our upcoming Aqueous Open 2023 and to the general members’ meeting in May at the Wilkins School Community Center. New members will receive more information on PWS membership with their acceptance letter. There is no fee for screening.

An applicant that shows good potential be granted a level of Screened membership, Associate Member, and be encouraged to re-screen for full Juried Membership at a later date

Associate Members:
Associate Members are screened members, 2nd tier just below Juried. Associate Members will receive notifications of all upcoming PWS sponsored exhibitions (except those for Juried members only, i.e. Waterworks), as well as classes, events, and workshops and may participate at a reduced fee.

Associate Members are encouraged to participate in all PWS workshops and special programs. Associate Members are encouraged to volunteer and support PWS committees
Associate Members may participate in PWS Associate Members (only) online exhibit once every 2 years. Associate Members do not have voting privileges at general meetings. Associate Members are not invited to enter “Juried member only” exhibits.
Associate Member Dues are $30 per year.

For new member screening information, please contact the screening chair at screening@pittsburghwatercolorsociety.com 

To register for the next screening, click here: https://www.pittsburghwatercolorsociety.com/event-5624703

Additionally, you can become a Juried Member of PWS by being accepted in to two (2) PWS Aqueous Open International Exhibitions within a three (3) year period.

Signature Members: Signature members are entitled to use “PWSA” after their signature or name. Juried or Honorary members become Signature members after having been selected into three Aqueous Open International (Aqueous) exhibits within a five-year period, provided their membership is continuous from the first Aqueous acceptance through the third. The first Aqueous exhibit acceptance must be with or after the 2018 Aqueous exhibit.

Honorary Members: Honorary membership is conferred on a Juried or Signature member who has been a member continuously for thirty (30) years.  Honorary Member Dues are $20 per year.

Patron Members: Patron membership is open to all friends and supporters of PWS who wish to support the organization. Patron members receive notifications of all upcoming PWS sponsored exhibitions, classes, and events, but cannot participate in PWS members-only exhibits or receive PWS member discounts to exhibits or other events. If interested in becoming a Patron Member, please complete the Patron Member registration below. Patron Dues begin at $25 per year.