Join us in Orlando at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Downtown for our 2025 Annual Convention & Trade Show. Convention Registration includes all live Demos, the Paint-a-Round, Trade Show, and other events, and Replays of all demos available after Convention.
On Thursday, September 11th, the Trade Show will be OPEN from 4:00 - 7:00pm! It will reopen Friday & Saturday mornings at 9am.
On Thursday evening at 7:00pm, we kick off the Convention with a Demonstration by Matthew Bird, our judge & juror for the 54th Annual Exhibition.
Exhibition Reception at 6 pm on Friday, September 12th at the Orlando Museum of Art. It's close and there will be no buses this year. Carpooling is encouraged. Please let us know if you plan on attending.
Order your Live Convention tickets and options on this registration page. At the end of your order, you will be asked whether you have any guests. Add each guest(s) and order options for them. You will pay once for your completed order. Please be aware that the hotel does not allow food purchased elsewhere to be brought into the Convention venue. Please review your order prior to paying to make sure you have all the options you need.
Pre-Register no later than midnight September 1st.
(Walk-ins may register during the Convention)
Optional Items
(additional fees apply)
Exhibition Review by Matthew Bird will be held on Saturday, 2:30pm. Tickets are required to enter ($10 each). Seating is limited! Tickets will not be available at the door.
Gala Awards Dinner: Tickets are available for the Gala Awards Dinner on September 13th. Dinner options include Herbed Seared Chicken, Herb Seared Salmon, or TriColored Tortellini. No-host Cocktail Hour between 6:00 - 7:00pm; seating opens at 7:00pm. The costs are $75 per person. You can also add and pay for guests. Be sure to select their dinner menu options.
One-on-One Critique with Matthew Bird: Here's your chance to spend 30 minutes with the Annual Judge to get his input on up to ten images of your paintings. Your time slot will be set in the order in which you registered, after the Demo Schedule is complete. You will email your images to Kathy Durdin and she will be in touch to schedule you. First-come, first serve - up to 11 slots available. You must be registered for the Convention to participate.
Only want to attend the Gala Awards Dinner? You may alternatively purchase tickets ONLY for the Gala Awards Dinner on Saturday evening for yourself and/or your guest(s). Return to the Convention webpage and choose the "GALA ONLY" registration button for the Gala Awards Dinner tickets only. ($75 each)
Not Attending Convention in Person? You may return to the Convention page and choose the Replays ONLY option to order Convention Replays. Replays will be available a few weeks after Convention. (All Convention attendees will also receive access to the Replays included with their Registration.) Click here to register for Replays Only:
Video Replays Only
*Walk-ins: Registration opens Thursday afternoon at 4pm; however, if you wait to purchase your ticket at the Convention, you will pay an additional $10 more per ticket and need to wait in line. Pre-Registration is requested.
Hotel Information: You will need to make your own hotel reservations. DoubleTree by Hilton Orlando Downtown is offering a discounted room rate of $129/night plus tax for all FWS Convention attendees with a two-night stay. [Insert extended stay option] Please be aware these rooms will sell out quickly. You may not be able to get this rate for all nights you request. Hilton has set up a booking link for our group. To reserve your room, click the link below.
Doubletree by Hilton Reservation
