S/W HISTORICAL SOCIETY SEEKS ARTISTS FOR AMERICA 250 EXHIBITION

SWEDESBORO – The Swedesboro-Woolwich Historical Society is calling on regional artists to participate in a juried art exhibition commemorating the 248th anniversary of a Revolutionary War skirmish that took place right here in Swedesboro on April 4, 1778.

The exhibition is part of America 250 and RevolutionNJ, the nationwide and statewide commemorations of the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. The one-day event will be held on April 11, 2026, at Trinity Parish Hall, 1202 Kings Highway, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

“This is an opportunity for local artists to connect with our community’s Revolutionary War history through their creative work,” said Jon Steward, contact for the historical society. “Very few people know that Swedesboro experienced an actual military encounter during the Revolution, and we want to bring this important piece of our history to light through art.”

THE SWEDESBORO SKIRMISH

On April 4-5, 1778, approximately 300 British and Loyalist troops marched from Fort Billings (near present-day Paulsboro) to Swedesboro, hoping to capture local Patriot militiamen. Finding the militia had left, the troops pillaged homes and burned a log schoolhouse that had been used to hold Tory prisoners. When Patriot forces returned and took position on a wooded hill overlooking the town, gunfire erupted, endangering soldiers and civilians alike before both sides withdrew.

These dramatic events were witnessed and documented by Reverend Nicholas Collin, the Swedish-born pastor of Trinity Church in Swedesboro, who kept a detailed journal of his Revolutionary War experiences that was later published in 1936.

COMPETITION DETAILS

Artists aged 18 and older from Southern New Jersey, Southeastern Pennsylvania, and Delaware are invited to submit original wall-hung artwork in any medium. Work must be no larger than 16″ x 20″ (including frame) and completed within the last three years.

The Historical Society is offering $525 in prize money, including a $300 grand prize, second and third place awards, and a special $75 Historical Interpretation Award for the work that best captures the April 4, 1778 Swedesboro skirmish or other Revolutionary War events in Southern New Jersey.

Entry fees are $20 for the first artwork submitted and $15 for a second entry. The deadline for digital submissions is March 1, 2026, with artists notified of acceptance by March 15. Selected artists must be able to deliver their original artwork to the venue on the morning of April 11 and pick it up that afternoon.

“Artists are encouraged to interpret the theme broadly,” Steward explained. “Submissions can be historical, allegorical, abstract, or conceptual – anything that reflects on the American Revolution in Southern New Jersey, from the actual skirmish to themes of courage, sacrifice, and the ongoing meaning of liberty.”

A panel of three jurors consisting of a professional artist, an art educator or curator, and a Historical Society representative will review digital submissions and select approximately 25-30 works for the exhibition.

THE APRIL 11 CELEBRATION

The day’s events will include the art exhibition from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., followed by a historical program featuring interpretations of the skirmish, dramatic readings from Nicholas Collin’s journal, and the awards ceremony from 2 to 3 p.m.

At 3 p.m. the Historical Society will lead a tour of the Old Swedes Cemetery across from Trinity Parish Hall, weather permitting.

The Swedesboro-Woolwich Historical Society is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization dedicated to preserving and sharing the history of Swedesboro and surrounding Woolwich Township through cultural and educational events, artifact collection, and historical archives.

For more information, contest rules, and submission details, visit the Historical Society’s Facebook page or contact Jon Steward at (856)425-8970 

This exhibition is made possible by the generous support of the Historical Society’s members and sponsors as part of the America 250 and RevolutionNJ commemorations.