The MSWS has held the Grand National Watercolor Exhibition every year since the mid 1980's.  The past three years, the Grand National has been on display at the new Mississippi Museum of Art in Jackson.  The Exhibition hangs for three months beginning in October and ending December 31.  This is a juried show and is judged by a nationally recognized artist.  The next Grand National will be from October 2, 2011 through December 31, 2011.

The prospectus is mailed to members in the spring and entries are due in early July.  To enter the Grand National, an artist must be a member of the MSWS, although he or she may join when they submit their entry.  The Exhibition is limited to paintings in water-based media on paper only.  Artists may enter up to two images of their paintings for the juried show, but no more than one painting may be accepted from a participating artist.  The judge will evaluate the images and determine which paintings will be in the Exhibition, and then artists will be notified accordingly.  After the accepted paintings are received and hung by the curator of the Mississippi Museum of Art, the judge will come to Jackson to view the paintings and determine which ones will receive monetary awards.

Any artist who has had paintings displayed at three MSWS Grand National Exhibitions is eligible for Signature Member status.  Artists must maintain their current, dues-paying membership in MSWS to continue to be listed as a Signature Member.