43rd Annual Smithsonian Craft Show: Call for Entries
SHOW:
The 2025 Smithsonian Craft Show will feature America’s finest artisans and celebrate their vision of what mightbe. It is a juried exhibition and sale of contemporary craft and design held annually in Washington DC. Three expert jurors, newly selected each year, choose 120 artists from a large pool of applicants.
Previous exhibitors must re-apply each year. No one is grandfathered into the show. There is no quota for any category of Craft Art. Artists are selected based on the originality, artistic conception, beauty, and quality of their work. The show is produced by the Smithsonian Women’s Committee. Proceeds from the show fund grants that benefit the Smithsonian’s education, outreach, conservation, and research programs.
The Smithsonian Craft Show is produced by the Smithsonian Women’s Committee (SWC) as a fund-raising event for the Smithsonian Institution. Since its inception, SWC has awarded more than 14 MILLION dollars in grants to Smithsonian organizations throughout the world.
The Craft Show does not charge sales commissions. However, accepted artists are encouraged to donate an item for the Show’s Online Auction or other fund-raising initiatives, the proceeds of which benefit the Smithsonian.
APPLICATION DEADLINES AND FEES:
Electronic applications are due by September 3, 2024.
The fee for applying is $50. NOTICE: The application fee is non-refundable and due at the time you fill out the online application and accept its terms and conditions.
LATE APPLICATIONS will be accepted until September 17, 2024 (midnight PT). The fee for late applications is $75. The late application fee includes the basic application fee of $50 and a late penalty of $25. The $75 fee must be included with all electronic applications submitted after September 3, 2024. Late electronic applications will not be accepted after September 17, 2024.
More information and application here.
Mesa Contemporary Arts Museum Call for Submissions
46th ANNUAL CONTEMPORARY CRAFTS
The Mesa Contemporary Arts Museum’s Annual Contemporary Crafts highlights the finest in contemporary crafts from around the country. The annual crafts exhibition has become a benchmark of innovation and quality produced within traditional craft forms such as ceramics, fibers, basketry, metals, wood, glass, jewelry, papermaking and book arts.
Submission Deadline: Fri, Oct 18, 2024 at 5:00 PM
Entry Fee: $25
More information here.
2024 Nest Heritage Craft Prize: Women of the West
Nest is inviting all women makers and artists located in Wyoming, Nevada, Idaho, New Mexico, Colorado, Oregon, Washington, California, Arizona, Utah, and Montana to enter a submission to demonstrate their technical mastery, as well as a thoughtful connection to cultural tradition through a singular, one-of-a-kind handcrafted piece.
The Nest Heritage Craft Prize aims to help advance the craft pursuits and/or craft-based business with the winner receiving a grant of $25,000 and four finalists receiving a cash prize of $2,500 each.
Submissions will be judged by a panel of experts who will evaluate excellence in technique and connection to heritage through storytelling and design.
Submissions are due by Monday, August 5, 2024. For eligibility and more information, visit https://buildanest.iad1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_eFIyWAVEbXAiXH0
Submissions Now Open for 2024 Minnesota Center for Book Arts Prize
The MCBA Prize, presented by Minnesota Center for Book Arts, honors excellence in new work from across the dynamic spectrum of book art. In 2022, they received 154 submissions from 17 different countries, from Chile to France. This year’s international competition will culminate in an exhibition in MCBA’s Main Gallery and a live virtual event revealing the winner.
Award benefits include:
1 WINNER
$2,000
4 FINALISTS
$500
20–30 SEMI-FINALISTS
Included in an exhibition in MCBA’s main gallery
ALL ENTRIES
Published on mcbaprize.org
Visit the MCBA Prize website to learn more about the submission and selection process. Since the prize’s inaugural year in 2009, hundreds of prize entries, finalists, and winners have been catalogued on their site, capturing the breadth and beauty of book arts at different snapshots in time.
MCBA Prize submissions are open from April 1 to May 31, 2024.
Fiberart International 2025 Open Call
The open call for the 2025 Fiberart International exhibition will be open through June 30, 2024.
The 25th edition of the Fiberart International will be organized and presented by Contemporary Craft in partnership with Brew House Arts and will be on view at Contemporary Craft, May 30 – August 30, 2025, and at Brew House Arts, June 20 – August 30, 2025.
This call is open to exceptionally talented artists at any stage of their career, who are located within the United States or abroad. All work must be either fiber in content or executed in a fiber technique.
The complete prospectus can be found here.
Wayne Art Center’s 2024 CraftForms Call for Entry
Wayne Art Center is seeking submissions for the 29th International Juried Exhibition of Contemporary Fine Craft, in the following mediums: basketry, ceramics, decorative fiber, furniture, glass, jewelry, metal, mixed media, paper, wearable art, and wood. Work created utilizing CAD/CAM technologies and 3D printing tools also is eligible.
Selected works will be on display in the Davenport Gallery of Wayne Art Center in Wayne, Pennsylvania from December 7, 2024 through January 25, 2025. This year’s juror Jo Lauria will present $10,000 in prize awards. For more information and to see last year’s artists, visit www.craftforms.org.
Here is the direct link for CaFe.
Featured image: Orange Artifact, 15″x3″ kiln-formed glass bowl by Karen Wallace
Project Threadways Symposium
The annual Project Threadways Symposium brings together scholars, activists, makers, and thinkers to present research, share stories, and encourage dialogue about history, community, and power—all through the lens of fashion and textiles. Presentations, dinners, exhibitions, and workshops create a multi-day experience in Florence, Alabama, centered on material culture and making.
In 2024, the theme is The Future. On April 19-20, 2024, participants will gather at The Factory and virtually to imagine a better way for textile manufacturing. Presenters will consider the balance between art and business, connect heritage and healing, preserve craft and community, and look to the past to chart a more sustainable future. Presenters include:
Carla Fernández, fashion designer
Cassidy Zachary and April Calahan, Dressed: The History of Fashion podcast
Kim Kelly and Joeann Pettway West, Freedom Quilting Bee Legacy
Rebecca Burgess, Fibershed
Sherhonda Allen, Project Threadways oral historian
…and more to be announced.
Natalie Chanin of Project Threadways will also hold a Zero Waste workshop for in-person attendees.
This event offers in-person and virtual experiences. There will also be a special dinner event, with a guest chef and more details to be announced soon. If you would like to be added to the waiting list for dinner tickets, please contact think@projectthreadways.org.
More information and registration here.
Emergency Artist Relief Resources
CERF+ has an emergency relief fund for craft artists (woodworkers, ceramicists, fiber arts, glass artists, etc.). If you hear of any craft artists that have been affected by these storms, please encourage them to apply here.
For other artists, below are a few resources that we hope you find useful.
· CERF+’s Get Help page has links to relief from agencies, arts organizations, and other resources.
· Entertainment Community Fund’s Social Services and Emergency Financial Assistance – provides temporary financial assistance to those with documented financial need due to unforeseen circumstances.
· Entertainment Community Fund’s Artists Health Insurance Resource Center – Useful healthcare resources including information about how to negotiate with hospitals to lower your medical bills.
· NYFA Emergency Resources is a centralized source of information for artists in the United States and its territories.
· MusiCares – financial and addiction recovery assistance for music industry professionals
· Sweet Relief Musicians Fund – provides financial assistance to all types of career musicians and music industry workers who are struggling to make ends meet while facing physical or mental health issues, disability, or age-related problems.
· Heritage Emergency National Task Force
- Cultural institutions and arts organizations affected by the flooding can call the National Heritage Responders hotline: 202.661.8068. The National Heritage Responders, a team of trained conservators and collections care professionals administered by the Foundation for Advancement in Conservation, are available 24/7 to provide advice and guidance.
- Members of the public who have questions about saving family heirlooms can email the National Heritage Responders at NHRpublichelpline@culturalheritage.org.
- HENTF’s Save Your Family Treasures guidance is available at Save Your Family Treasures | FEMA.gov. Here you can find the downloadable FEMA fact sheets “After the Flood: Advice for Salvaging Damaged Family Treasures” and “Salvaging Water-Damaged Family Valuables and Heirlooms,” available in multiple languages.
Emerging Artists Cohort Applications due Mar 15
Emerging Artists Cohort
Applications for the 2024 Emerging Artists Cohort Open February 1!
American Craft Council’s Emerging Artists Cohort is a three-month program that cultivates the next steps for independent craft artists to advance their professional practices. The program will support 11 innovative artists early in their careers who expand craft boundaries and challenge us to new perspectives.
Through facilitated workshops, presentations, coaching, and conversations, participating artists will gain a deeper understanding of the professional skills and opportunities that will help them thrive in their chosen craft careers. Participating artists will connect with established industry leaders from various craft sectors including gallerists, curators, marketplace artists, exhibiting artists, social practice artists, designers, and more. After the three-month program is complete, all participating artists will receive an accelerator grant to help propel them to the next level of their profession, as well as receive ongoing support and peer connections through monthly meetings and an online communication platform via Slack.
APPLICATIONS OPEN FEBRUARY 1, 2024
For more information, visit https://www.craftcouncil.org/emerging-artists-program/2024
Craft Library Update: Special Collections + Back to School with Craft in America
Despite these last couple weeks of lingering heat, things are feeling very autumnal and back-to-school at the Craft Center. Our Craft in Schools team led by (me) Sam Sermeño and LAUSD school partnerships have kicked into full force as we host teaching-artist workshops, art tours, and field trips.
Lately, during field trips curious students have been asking me about our significant craft-art library, so we figure now is a good time to share some library announcements.
Special Collections
All are welcome to visit and browse our newly added Special Collections materials. Over the summer, thanks to generous art and literary patrons, we’ve integrated and catalogued four cubic feet of notable library donations. These recently added materials include books now blended into our general Dewey-Decimal organized shelves; along with a variety of niche art catalogs and unique artist paper ephemera found in our “Special Collections” labeled magazine boxes.
As always, we invite all craft enthusiasts and the wider public to enjoy our current art exhibitions and to browse our in-house library. We’re happy to collaborate with artists, curators, and fellow art nerds in general craft research and information resourcing as well. Currently, our gallery/library space (previewed below) features an interactive/browsable display of magazines, books, and manuals around fiber arts connected to the work of our Fall 2023 Influences-Influencers: California Fibers Exhibition.
The library is open to the public: Tuesday – Saturday, from noon to 6pm.
The Craft in America Center Library includes over 3000 books, exhibition catalogs, and more than 2000 periodicals dedicated to the art of craft and related topics.
For further library or Craft in Schools inquiry, please visit our Library page or contact Education Programs and Library lead sam@craftinamerica.org
![A glimpse of newly acquired "Special Collections" materials, featuring artist books, catalogues, and paper ephemera.](https://www.craftinamerica.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/IMG_6770-1.jpg)