17th Annual Fran Achen
Juried Photography Exhibition
Submissions Open January 15, 2026
Submissions open January 15, 2026
Please stay tuned for the exhibition.
The Classic Returns IN its 17th edition
17th Annual Fran Achen Juried Photography Exhibition
We're excited to announce the 17th iteration of the Fran Achen Juried Photography Exhibition, a showcase of photographic prints and projected photographs in traditional yet innovative in-gallery and online experiences. WAA has been pioneering this multi-faceted exhibition approach in several of its recent exhibitions, including 2025’s Fran Achen and Paint Wisconsin Exhibitions.
The exhibition commemorates the life of Fran Achen and his positive impact on the Whitewater community as both photographer and high school teacher. It consists of two side-by-side exhibitions, one physical and one digital, both displayed in the Cultural Arts Center Gallery, 402 W. Main Street in Whitewater, Wisconsin.
Two Divisions (Salons)
Traditional Salon: Theme: Open. Displayed in both a traditional, physical gallery exhibit, and in an online web exhibit. Accepted pieces must be physically delivered to the gallery and be ready to hang with wire hangers.
Digital Salon: Themes: Creative, Human Interest, Built Environment, Open. Displayed electronically in-gallery and in an online web exhibit. Entries are submitted as digital files only and no physical delivery is required.
Awards
7 Cash Awards Totaling $1,000
Honorable Mention Awards
Public Choice Awards
Key Dates
Exhibition: Thursday, June 4, 2026 - Sunday, June 28, 2026
Awards Reception: Saturday, June 13, 2026, 1pm - 4pm
Submissions Open: January 15, 2026
Submissions Close/Entry Deadline: Sunday, April 26, 2026, 11:59pm
Notification of Acceptance: Monday, May 11, 2026
Drop-Off (Prints): Tuesday, June 2, 2026, 4pm-6pm; Wednesday, June 3, 2026, 12pm-2pm
Pick-Up (Prints): Monday, June 29, 2026, 4pm–6pm
Contacts
Jeff McDonald, Exhibit Chair - waa.franachen@gmail.com
Kim Adams, WAA Gallery Director - wwartsalliance@gmail.com
This is a juried acceptance exhibition with similar, but separate, submission procedures. The two salons are separate, have separate entry fees, and separate calls in the ArtCall system. Entrants complete an online registration form, pay the registration fees, and upload photographic images of their work which will be used by the jury panel to make its selections. The prospectus (link below under Resources and also available through the call on the ArtCall system), contains all exhibition information.
We look forward to seeing your incredible work and celebrating this exciting exhibition together.
Calls for Art will be open soon.
Traditional Salon
Digital Salon
About Fran Achen
The Whitewater Arts Alliance honors Fran Achen’s contribution to Whitewater by sponsoring the Annual Fran Achen Juried Photography Exhibition.
Fran Achen was a longtime Whitewater resident, teacher, and local photographer. He is most remembered for his photographic collection which chronicles the history of Whitewater.
Born in Kenosha in 1916, his interest in photography began after high school. He spent almost two years delivering cars for the Nash automobile factory. “It seemed like such fun to explore America, so that started my interest in photography and geography, which became my major in college,” he said.
In 1938, when Fran enrolled at Whitewater State Teachers College, it was the first year enrollment went over one thousand. Fran remembered being the last one to register, making the enrollment that year 1,008 students. While an undergraduate student at the college, he served as a photographer for both the Royal Purple and the former Minneiska yearbook, as well as working as a freelance photographer for the Janesville Gazette, making “a buck a picture” which helped to pay his way through school.
While attending college, Fran met his wife, Lydia. They were married for 55 years and had three children—Chap, Randi, and Jim.
After graduating from college, Achen taught social studies for a year before being called up for military service in World War II. Achen served almost four years as the commanding officer of an entirely African American medical unit whose primary duty was to recover wounded soldiers from the front lines. Achen recalled years later that the Rhineland and Central Europe campaign was very successful and remembered crossing the Rhine River just two days after its capture.
When the war was over, he pursued his interest in photography by working in a studio in Madison, and later by purchasing a photography studio in downtown Whitewater, where he worked for 11 years.
In 1956, after selling the studio, Achen continued to serve the community as a teacher at Whitewater High School where he taught his favorite subject, geography. He later became assistant audio-visual director for the Janesville school system.
Achen retired in 1979. However, he never retired his camera. He continued to photograph the life and events in and around the Whitewater area.
In the 1980s, Achen donated nearly 400 custom printed and mounted photographs to the Irvin L. Young Memorial Library. The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater also has an extensive collection of Fran’s photos.
Although his photo taking slowed down in his later years, Achen said he was never afraid to flip the shutter on what he believed could be a lasting memory or a special photograph.
Whitewater Arts Alliance, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) non-profit, charitable organization based in Whitewater, Wisconsin. For more information, please visit our membership page.
Resources:
Terms & Conditions: Download PDF
Call for Art Letter Size Poster: Download JPEG
Call for Art 11” x 17” Poster: Download JPEG
Call for Art Graphic: Download JPEG
Press Release: Download PDF