Bouquets to Art exhibitor with bouquet at the de Young

Bouquets to Art, 2024. Photograph by Gary Sexton

Bouquets to Art Exhibitors

Returning exhibitors
New exhibitors
Key dates
Returning exhibitors FAQ
Guidelines + materials
Exhibition preview

Bouquets to Art 2026 floral exhibitor online applications will open in September 2025.

Bouquets to Art returns to the de Young and the Legion of Honor March 3–8, 2026. Now in its 42nd year, Bouquets to Art is a beloved annual floral exhibition created in collaboration with the San Francisco Auxiliary of the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco. An important fundraiser for the Fine Arts Museums, Bouquets to Art raises critical funds for education programs, conservation efforts, and special exhibitions. During Bouquets to Art week, the museum welcomes over 50,000 visitors and raises over $750,000.

Each year, the museum welcomes approximately 100 floral exhibitors to create stunning floral interpretations of art from our permanent collection. These floral displays are on view for a week and our dedicated community of floral exhibitors return daily to keep them refreshed. We are grateful to participating floral exhibitors who donate their time, talent, and materials to make Bouquets to Art a successful event each year. A list of Bouquets to Art exhibitors will be available in November.

If you are interested in participating as a returning or new floral exhibitor, please follow the instructions below.

Returning exhibitors

We are implementing a lottery system to select returning exhibitors for Bouquets to Art 2026. If you are a returning exhibitor and would like to enter the lottery for Bouquets to Art 2026, please complete the application that was emailed to you in September 2025.

New exhibitors

If you qualify, please complete the online application by October 17, 2025.

Criteria for new exhibitors

There are many paths to becoming a Bouquets to Art exhibitor. If you share these qualifications and are interested in participating as an exhibitor, we would like to hear from you.

Bouquets to Art exhibitors must skillfully demonstrate all of the following elements in floral design:

Interpretation
Mixed materials
Color
Scale
Composition

Bouquets to Art exhibitors must also be able to:

Use colors, shapes, and textures creatively and effectively in a balanced composition
Use mechanics to complement and/or support a floral design
Manage a week-long floral exhibit in an organized, timely, and professional manner, including set up, daily maintenance, and tear down
Adhere to the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco’s rules regarding allowed materials and size/scale of the floral exhibit
Participate in all Bouquets to Art planning events and be flexible about the art that is assigned
Cover the cost of all materials. Bouquets to Art exhibitors generously pay for their own exhibits.

Bouquets to Art exhibitors have one or more of the following training and credentials:

Community college floristry degree
Ikebana
AIFD, EMC, and CFD accreditation
Industry recognition
Work experience

Bouquets to Art exhibitors have the following professional or volunteer experience:

Creating floral designs for garden clubs, religious groups, or other communities
Designing for weddings, events, or other festive occasions
Exhibiting floral designs in large spaces or public areas
Floral design business or studio
Instructor/presenter

If you qualify, please complete the online application by October 17, 2025.

A review committee made up of San Francisco Auxiliary members and Fine Arts Museums staff will review all applications and decisions will be announced at the end of January 2026.

We hope you will consider applying to Bouquets to Art 2026!

People installing bouquets during Bouquets to Art at the Legion of Honor

Bouquets to Art 2025. Photograph by Randy Dodson

Key dates

Mid-Sep 2025: Returning exhibitors invited to reapply.
Mid-Sep 2025: Application opens for new exhibitors (9 am PST).
Mid-Oct 2025: Application closes for new and returning exhibitors (5 pm PST).
Early Nov 2025: All applicants notified of results.
Dec 1, 2025: Selection day at the de Young (exhibitors may also request general admission tickets to look at spots at the Legion of Honor).
Jan 12, 2026: Exhibitor preference sheet due. If sheets are not returned, exhibitors will be randomly assigned.
Feb 2, 2026: Exhibitor assignments are sent out.
Mar 2, 2026: Set-up day at the de Young and Legion of Honor (9 am–1 pm PST).

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Frequently asked questions for returning exhibitors

Bouquets to Art has become so popular with the Bay Area floral design community that we now have more returning exhibitors than spots available. In addition, there is a long waitlist of potential exhibitors who are eager for the opportunity to showcase their talent. We feel that the fairest way to select from our talented pool of returning exhibitors is through a lottery system. Our goal is to have no less than 75% returning exhibitors each year. We are aware that a successful Bouquets to Art requires a solid base of experienced exhibitors and we continue to be grateful for your support.
All returning exhibitors who have completed an application by the due date will be entered into the lottery. Each exhibitor will be assigned a number and we will run a computer algorithm that will generate a random list of numbers in priority order.
If you are selected, you will have one week to confirm your spot. We understand that plans change, which is why we are asking exhibitors to confirm. Any spots that have not been confirmed will be offered to the next returning exhibitor on the list. Spots awarded through the lottery system are not transferable.
If you enter the lottery and are not selected, you may still participate in Bouquet to Art in the future.
We are deeply grateful to the entire floral design community who has given their time, talent, and support to Bouquets to Art over the last 40 years. There are so many returning exhibitors who have participated for 20 years or more that they alone could fill the majority of spots. If we prioritized them, then beloved exhibitors who have participated for less time would be left out. We want to be as fair as possible to all returning exhibitors and a lottery system allows us to do that.
Word is getting out to the greater Bay Area about the splendors of Bouquets to Art and this beloved annual fundraiser continues to grow in popularity. As returning exhibitors can appreciate, it is an honor to participate in Bouquets to Art and potential new exhibitors are eager to showcase their talents. In addition, thanks to active social media use by the Bay Area floral design community, Bouquets to Art has attracted the attention of many potential exhibitors.
It is a priority for us to maintain the high floral design standards that exhibitors and visitors have come to expect from Bouquets to Art. All potential new exhibitors must submit an application that is reviewed by a panel of San Francisco Auxiliary members and Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco staff. The application review process is thorough, rigorous, and thoughtful. We encourage returning exhibitors to invite new exhibitors to apply. More information on the application process can be found here.

Guidelines + materials

The following restrictions are to reduce the risk of infestation and damage to our collections:

No seeds, berries, flowering grasses, or plants with fleshy detachable parts. These may fall away and attract insects, and dirty the floor.
Why? Seed and pollen from flowering grasses and fleshy berries can be shaken loose, which can cause a mess and or hazard in the galleries.
No reeds, bamboo, basketry, or seed pods, or other plant parts, such as pine cones, with small spaces that make excellent hiding places for pests.
Why? Reeds such as bamboo, basketry, and seed pods can harbor insects undetected, which can cause damage to the collection.
No dried plants or preserved wood, these may have pests deep inside them that can then crawl out into the museum environment.
Why? Dried plants and preserved wood can harbor insects that can cause damage to other wooden or wood components in the collection.
No wool, silk, hair, feathers, nests, or skins. These items attract and often harbor insects and their larvae.
Why? Our collection has several sensitive works that are made of similar materials. We prohibit these materials as they can harbor adult and larval states that eat these materials and our collections.

A full materials list will be shared with those who are invited to participate.

Exhibition preview

de Young

Legion of Honor

de Young

Legion of Honor

Jump to

Criteria for new exhibitors

Why is there a lottery system for returning Bouquets to Art exhibitors?

Who is considered a returning exhibitor?

How do I enter the lottery?

When will the lottery results be announced?

How will the lottery system work?

I am not available to participate in Bouquets to Art 2026 but would still like to enter the lottery to participate in Bouquet to Art in the future. What should I do?

Do I need to enter the lottery for Bouquets to Art every year?

Why aren’t longtime exhibitors getting an automatic entry or preference?

How do I become a legacy exhibitor?

What happens if I do not submit the lottery form by the due date?

Who runs the lottery?

Why are so many floral designers interested in participating in Bouquets to Art?

How will Bouquets to Art maintain the high quality of floral designs that museum visitors expect?

How can I be sure that you received my lottery form?