Call for Art: OPEN CALL 2026
OPEN CALL 2026: The Dayton Society of Artists(DSA) is pleased to present Open Call 2026, a juried exhibition open to all artists working in all media. This exhibition brings together a wide range of contemporary practices, offering a broad view of work being created across our community and beyond. Artists are invited to submit their strongest work.
$500 in prizes will be awarded; the juror is Alexandra Franz of Manifest.
ABOUT THE JUROR
Alexandra Franz is a representational painter of figures, portraits, and still lives. She has served as an Open Figure Moderator at Manifest Drawing Center in Cincinnati, Ohio, since 2023, including serving as Lead Moderator for the past six months. She has exhibited multiple works in nationally competitive professional-level exhibitions, and recently showed work in her first international exhibition in London in 2025. In 2023 she was invited to attend an 18-day artist residency in southern Italy. Franz is a Cincinnati MacDowell Society Artist Award 2025 Grantee, and is an Elizabeth Greenshields Foundation 2024 Grantee. She received her BA in Art History from the University of Cincinnati, where she also studied Fine Arts and received a certificate in Museum Studies. Franz’s works are held in private collections around the U.S., and she is exhibiting over twenty recent works in a solo exhibition at Buckham Gallery in May/June of 2026.
SUBMITTING ARTWORK
Please submit your work via website submission by Sunday June 14, 2026. Direct question to: director@daytondsa.org.
CALENDAR
Art Drop-Off: Friday, July 3 6-8PM or Sunday July 5, 10AM-2PM(or by appointment)
Entries due by: June 14, 2026 by 11pm(EST)
Emailed Juried Results By: June 22, 2026
Exhibition Runs: July 10-Aug 7, 2026
Opening Reception: Friday, July 10, 6–8 PM
Closing Reception: Friday, August 7, 6–8 PM
Art Pick-Up: Friday, August 7(after closing reception) or Saturday, August 8 12-5PM.
ENTRY FEES
-Non-members - $15 each piece for up to three pieces.
-Members - $12 each piece for up to three pieces.
-Pay online by card when you submit your work.
Become a member at daytondsa.org/becomeamember
PLEASE BUY A TICKET FOR EACH ENTRY(3 MAXIMUM)
REQUIREMENTS
Image(s) submitted must be clear, focused on the work, and as professionally taken as possible. Acceptable images can be taken by a smartphone.
For tips on how to edit your photos using the Snapseed App, visit:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S0g4a1Ge-Ds&t=321s
-2D Artwork must be no larger than 48”(width)x 48”(height)
(including all framing, etc). 3D artwork must fit on a pedestal that has a footprint of 24” x 24” (or smaller) or sit on the floor. Artwork must be professionally presented. 2D work must be ready to hang with wiring on back. No Sawtooth hangers. DSA is open to other installation methods, but they must be pre-approved.
-Artwork must have been created in the past 5 years.
-Artwork must be labelled with name, title, medium, price, and e-mail.
-Artwork must not have been exhibited before at the DSA or virtually through the DSA.
-Artwork may not be picked up before the close of the show.
-Accepted work that differs significantly from submitted image or suffers from poor presentation will be disqualified.
ART DELIVERY:
-Artists maintain responsibility for insuring fine artwork during shipment and/or travel (including U.S. mail delivery) to the DSA. The DSA will acknowledge receipt of work when physically received by appropriate DSA personnel.
-All work selected for the exhibition must arrive ready to install. Works not gallery-ready, or not exhibiting good craftsmanship, may be omitted from the exhibit. Accepted work that differs significantly from the submitted images, or suffers from poor presentation, will be disqualified.
-Works must be hand delivered or shipped. Exhibited work will remain on display for the duration of the exhibition. Works not claimed within 30 days of the end of the exhibit will become the property of the DSA.
-Shipped Works: Shipped works must be sent in reusable packaging. Artists are responsible for return shipping costs and should include a return label with the shipped artwork or emailed to the director by the close of the show. Works will be returned in the same manner as received by FEDEX/UPS/USPS. Artwork must be received on or before Saturday July 4 and will be shipped out the week of August 10.
-Shipping Address: The Dayton Society of Artists, 48 High Street, Dayton, Ohio. 45403.
-In-Person Delivery: Works will be returned in the same manner as received.
LIABILITY & SALES
Artists are solely responsible for insuring their work during delivery, installation, the exhibition period, and pickup. The DSA is not liable for loss or damage due to circumstances beyond its control. Please note that the gallery does not have constant climate control. The DSA will take a 10% commission(members) and 30%(non-members) on all artwork sales; artists should price work accordingly or designate work as Not for Sale. Donations in addition to sales are always appreciated and help support future programming.
AGREEMENT TO PARTICIPATE
Submitting indicates that you agree with the conditions of entry and exhibit as outlined in these guidelines, and that you agree to make your work available and will ship/deliver it to the gallery should it be selected for exhibit. The DSA may use submitted images and artwork in print and/or digital marketing materials.
