SEE ● TOUCH ● BUILD invites artists to submit works that transform observation into participation. We seek work that shifts meaning when someone engages with it; work that responds to touch, motion, sound, or interaction. Designed for kids, adults, and everyone in between, this exhibition transforms the gallery into a playground for the senses, where visitors are encouraged to create, explore, and rediscover the joy of making. From soft textiles to shifting lights, from puppets and dolls to puzzles, or immersive installations, we seek art that embraces play as a serious form of exploration.

EXHIBITION PERIOD:
April 17 – June 21, 2026

ELIGIBILITY 

• Open to all traditional and non-traditional genres and media
• No date restrictions
• Entry Fee: $40 for 1-3 works

Fibers of Appalachia showcases the rich legacy and evolving future of textile traditions in Appalachia, bringing together both traditional and contemporary works in weaving, quilting, basketry, broom-making, soft sculpture, lace making, paper, braids, ropes and cordage, embroidery, garments, mending practices, and hemp-based practices. This exhibition highlights the deep cultural roots of fiber artistry in the region: crafts born from necessity, resourcefulness, and community, and celebrates how today’s artists continue to innovate within and beyond those traditions. Fibers of Appalachia honors the enduring heritage of Appalachian makers while illuminating the new directions and possibilities that sustain and reinvent fiber practices for future generations.

EXHIBITION PERIOD:
July 3 – August 30, 2026

ELIGIBILITY 

• Open to artists, makers, collectors, and community members connected to Central, North Central and Northern Appalachia. In addition to submitting their own work, individuals may submit fiber works made by others. This includes inherited, gifted, or collected works that hold cultural, familial, or regional significance.
• No date restrictions
• Entry Fee: $40 for 1-3 works

Quilt National showcases the transformations taking place in the world of quilting by expanding the definition of quilting far beyond its traditional parameters and promotes quiltmaking as what it always has been — an art form.

JURORS
Shin-hee Chin
Brandy Maslowski
Beverly Y. Smith

EXHIBITION PERIOD:
May 28-September 7, 2026

ELIGIBILITY 

• Works completed after August 30, 2024
• Entry Fee: $50 for 1-3 works