Call For Entries

True and Real
THE 2025 NCECA ANNUAL 

Curated by Judith S. Schwartz, Ph.D.

Deadline –  Thursday, June 20, 2024, 11:59 pm MDT
(Please note time zone - late entries will  not be accepted)

If you encounter problems and require technical assistance, contact CaFE™ support staff at cafe@westaf.org. NOTE: CaFE cannot assist after 4:30 pm MDT - please submit early.

Hosted by:

Utah Museum of Contemporary Art (UMOCA)
20 S W Temple St. Salt Lake City, UT 84101
801.328.4201
https://utahmoca.org

EXHIBITION DATES: March 7-May 31, 2025

ABOUT THE NCECA ANNUAL
The NCECA Annual Exhibition, True and Real, will run concurrently with FORMATION, the 59th annual conference of the National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts, Salt Lake City, Utah, March 26-29, 2025. The NCECA Annual blends impactful attributes of invitational and open juried models of exhibition development. Exhibition curator Judith S. Schwartz's organizing concept is brought to life through the work of five invited artists. The curator will select additional works and artists for the exhibition through an open call for submissions.  

Schwartz shares the following about her vision for the exhibition:

    Life in the twenty-first century has witnessed enormous social change. While each generation perceives increments of change, this century, propelled by advances in technology, is generally recognized as one of the most destabilizing and disorienting. Robotics, artificial intelligence, demographic shifts in population, population growth (negative and positive), environmental challenges, social media, self-driving cars, and medical advances, to name but a few, have all contributed to this emotional upheaval.

For millennia, the medium of clay has chronicled the human condition and has often borne witness to ethnic, national, gender, and cultural identities.  Seen in this light, ceramics’ place in contemporary art is becoming more and more valued as a transformative medium that is intimately human, unassuming, and distinctively expressive. 

As new technologies, including Artificial Intelligence, blur the distinction between artifice and reality, people of imagination are seeking - no - demanding that which is True and Real. This quest has never been more urgent.

True and Real seeks artists and artworks that highlight issues that resonate with the complexities of the current condition…the concerns, fears, and issues that create a common ground to which we can all relate. The art might reveal an empathic voice that responds to who I am, what I value, and how I can be seen, heard, and understood. It invites narrative content, representation, and figuration on ceramic form in all its variations.  The intent is to strengthen the power of art to convey personal values and the social condition - to appreciate broader-based understanding, appreciation, and tolerance for our cultural diversity, personal interests, values, and priorities.

ABOUT THE CURATOR:

Judith S. Schwartz, Ph.D., is a Professor Emeritus from New York University and president of The Museum of Ceramic Art - New York (MoCA/NY). During her tenure at NYU, she served as head of the Sculpture in Craft Media area for forty years. As a curator, Schwartz’s exhibitions have garnered national and international attention. Notable exhibitions include NYNY: Clay, All Fired Up, InCiteful Clay, and Confrontational Ceramics, for which she also authored an eponymously title book.  Learn more at www.judyschwartz.com.

ABOUT THE MUSEUM
The Utah Museum of Contemporary Art (UMOCA)  believes in the power of the art of our time. Through programming, advocacy, and collaboration, we work with artists and communities to build a better world.

Since 1931, UMOCA has been a gathering space for artists and creatives in our region. Today, UMOCA’s exhibitions, art education programs, community engagement, and one-of-a-kind artist residency support local artists and communities while showcasing art from across the nation and globe.

UMOCA is a seven-time recipient of funding from the Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts and a two-time recipient of the Art Works Grant from the National Endowment for the Art.

ELIGIBILITY
Submission of works for consideration is open to the broad field of ceramic art.

●        Artists must be over 18 years of age and not matriculating for a degree in higher education. Students will be automatically excluded and should submit to the NCECA Juried Student Exhibition call.

●        NCECA membership is not a requirement of eligibility; however, NCECA members receive complimentary entry to NCECA exhibition calls.

Entry Fees:
Member: $0.00 
Non-member: $50.00

NCECA will verify membership. Please check your NCECA Membership status and expiration date by logging into your NCECA Account at this LINK or contacting office@nceca.net. 

To renew or become a member of NCECA, go to https://nceca.net/members

MEDIA & LIMITATIONS

All works must be primarily ceramic. Mixed media works will be accepted only when clay is the dominant material.  Videos featuring clay or ceramics will also be accepted.

All work must fit through the venue’s entryways and be safely installed in the Museum. Floor and pedestal works must be self-supporting. NCECA and exhibition venue staff reserve the right to exclude from exhibition works that arrive at the venue in unstable conditions. The curator will make final determinations.

All work should be responsive to the theme of the exhibition.

Works shown in previous NCECA exhibitions are not eligible. Please do not enter the same work in more than one NCECA exhibition call.

The Curator will make final selections following the venue's confirmation about the ability to install all works safely and professionally.

Please consider the size/weight of your work, as these factors will impact your shipping decisions and costs!

NUMBER OF WORKS

Three (3) Artworks Only. Artists may submit up to three (3) individual works with two (2) additional supporting media files (such as video or audio) per work, not to exceed six total media files.

EXCLUSIONS

NCECA reserves the right to eliminate submissions with more than three works and more than two media files per work.

Additionally, NCECA reserves the right to exclude any submissions with incorrect fees from the review/selection process.

The artist is responsible for verifying and updating member status before submitting his/her work and paying the entry fee. NCECA will not process refunds to those who submit incorrect fees. 

Unfinished or representation of finished work will not be accepted

Please do not submit the same pieces to multiple NCECA calls in the same year.

ENTRY PREPARATION & APPLICATION PROCESS

Jurying will be conducted from images of the actual work available for the exhibition. No substitutions will be permitted for the artwork submitted in this call.

Applicants must first create a CaFE profile at https://artist.callforentry.org/login.php  

     - For complete specifications, tutorials, and resources, please visit the CaFE website at  https://www.callforentry.org/artist-help-cafe/

     - Uploaded media files will be stored in your CaFE Portfolio as a repository of images to be accessed while completing the submission.

     - Media file submissions must comply with specifications found at CaFE https://www.callforentry.org/artist-help-cafe/uploading-media/

If you have a CaFE™ profile, log in and confirm your current contact information. This information will be used to contact you about acceptance or decline, loan agreements, and location in the catalog and exhibition labels.

PLEASE NOTE THE FOLLOWING!

CaFE™ accounts unused within two years are automatically deactivated in the CaFE™ system.  Please give yourself plenty of time to contact them and have them reactivate your account. 

If CaFE™ is experiencing a high email volume, they may not reply for a few hours. CaFE’s hours of operation are M-F from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Mountain Daylight Time (MDT)

NCECA will not extend the deadline for applicants who attempt to submit after 4pm MDT on June 20, 2024, and encounter technical difficulties with CaFE. Please do not wait until the last minute to submit in case you encounter technical difficulties. 

BEFORE beginning submission, applicants must be prepared to provide the following, as well as images and image details. You should save all text to your local computer for future reference. Please proof carefully and submit it as print-ready.

1) Artist statement (limit 1000 characters with spaces = approximately 165 words) 

●        This is a statement about your work in general.

●        This statement might describe research, creation, and artistic goals rather than a biographical statement, as we ask for below.

2) Artwork Statements - (TOTAL for all three pieces- limit 2000 characters with spaces) Provide a short, Individual statement about EACH piece being submitted.

●        Discuss how the piece relates to the exhibition concept/call title.  If the work involves multimedia elements, please explain in detail the process used to create the work.

Solitude relates to the exhibition concept because it relates to containment and the vessel in relation to the architectural unit of a brick. Made of six slotting parts, it references the module by its construction and shape. The post-and-lintel construction also references sacred architecture in temples and the well-known holy site, Mecca.
 

3) A brief biographical statement (Ideal length 300-440 characters with spaces; limit 950 characters with spaces)

●        Providing biographical text written in the third person is recommended

●        If selected, the short bio may be printed in the catalog.

●        Please proof carefully and submit print-ready. 

4) A two-page CV - max 2 MB…to be uploaded as a PDF or Word doc.

5) Pronouns (Optional)

6) Headshot: Please submit a hi-res image (300 dpi), focusing on your head and shoulders on a clean, neutral background. (.JPG only) formats are accepted. If selected, it may be used for a catalog.

7) Social media handles: Website, Instagram, or other social media handles; limit two items total, (if applicable, otherwise indicate NONE.)

IMAGES

Three (3) Artworks Only. Artists may submit up to three (3) individual works with two (2) additional supporting media files (such as video or audio) per work, not to exceed six total media files.

High-resolution photographs are required:
Please submit a full view and an optional detailed view of each individual artwork marked as such.

File Type: Uncompressed or high-quality files are ideal, (.JPEG or .JPG only) at 300 dpi resolution
File Dimensions: Sized 8" x 10" (2400 x 3000 pixels) 
File Size: Under 5 MB

REVIEW (Uploading Media to CAFE): - https://www.callforentry.org/artist-help-cafe/uploading-media

WATCH: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tPddZVJzTAE&t=3s

Each work image submitted must include the following details:

1. Title
2. Medium (60-character limit with spaces)
3. Height/Width/Depth (in inches only; not feet or metric)
4. Artwork for Sale? (Yes/No)
5. Retail Value - Retail value must be reported regardless of whether the work is for sale. The insurance value will be calculated as 50% of the retail value.
6. Year completed
7. Primary Discipline (ceramics)
8. Description - any additional information you would like the jurors to know about this work. (e.g., “This work explores the nature of communication in interpersonal relationships. It seems that we communicate with each other so poorly that it is hopeless we can improve and unite again.”)

All submissions must include a declaration of monetary value for insurance purposes!

NO CHANGES will be allowed once an entry has been submitted. 

Once data is entered into the CaFE system, it cannot be altered. 

Please PROOFREAD your data carefully, as this information may be used to generate the insurance value, publicity information, exhibition labels, and catalog.

NCECA reserves the right to edit according to its publication style guide, spelling, grammar, and clarity.

No substitutions or changes to the artwork will be permitted for the artwork/images submitted in this call.

SELECTION PROCESS
Curator Judith S. Schwartz will make selections from digital images and work statements to develop the exhibition. Artists will be notified the week of August 5, 2024, and selected artists may be asked to provide additional high-resolution images of their work.

SHIPPING AND  DELIVERY OF ARTWORK 

Works must arrive at UMOCA February 10-14, 2025

Please research your work's shipping costs before submitting it for the curator’s consideration. Be sure you can cover shipping costs to and from Salt Lake City and insurance upfront.

It is the responsibility of artists to securely pack their works for the exhibition, arrange and pay for shipping TO/FROM the exhibition venue, and insure their artworks while in transit.

When paying to ship your work to the venue, the artist must also purchase RETURN-SHIPPING. 

The pre-paid return shipping label must be included in your box to ensure your work's timely and safe return a

A copy of the return label must be emailed to tammy@nceca.net before the exhibition opens.

NCECA will reimburse shipping/transport not to exceed $400.00. Reimbursement is eligible only on ground shipping except where unavoidable due to shipments to/from overseas.

Rush delivery surcharges will also be ineligible for reimbursement.

 If the curator selects multiple works by an artist, the artist will be required to obtain a shipping quote and seek approval for NCECA to multiply the number of works shipped by the maximum reimbursement of up to $400. 

 This applies only to works submitted as distinct entries and does not apply to any single entry that includes multiple parts or elements. 

 Do not contact the NCECA office to increase your shipping reimbursement unless you have more than one work accepted into the exhibition.

Some works selected for the exhibition may require artists to travel to the venue to participate in the installation. NCECA will reimburse for mileage to and from the venue, at most $400. Artists will be responsible for financing any other travel-related expenses

Please retain all hard copy and/or digital receipts to be submitted for reimbursement after the exhibition closes. 

Shipping fees for purchased works will be the collectors' responsibility, and shipping should be arranged with the artist and the venue.

For self-delivery or installation, an appointment must be made in advance

Again, it is the artist’s responsibility to consider the size and weight of their work before submitting it for consideration. These factors will impact shipping decisions and costs.

NOTE: NCECA, its agents, and representatives shall have no responsibility or liability whatsoever if work is lost, stolen, or damaged. This, however, shall not bar artists from filing claims with the insured venue or transit company with respect to any such loss, theft, or damage.

DOCUMENTING PACKING PROCESS

Artists are responsible for securely packing their works for the exhibition and arranging and paying for shipping and insurance to the exhibition venue. 

NCECA recommends that all artists document their packaging process using digital images and text descriptions before closing all crates and /or boxes for shipment. This documentation may provide critical information to support claims against carriers for damage in transit.

INSURANCE
UMOCA shall maintain insurance coverage for all works included in the exhibition only while on its premises.

●        The artists are responsible for providing insurance coverage for their work while in transit to Salt Lake City.

●        The gallery insurance will cover up to 50% of the works' reported retail value.

●        The retail value must be reported even for works included in the exhibition that are not for sale

●        If damages occur to works in the exhibition, artists may be required to demonstrate that the value(s) declared are established fair market values.

RETURN OF UNSOLD WORK

●        Return Shipping must have been paid in advance by participating artists, who must be the shipper of record.

●        Immediately after the exhibition closes, UMOCA will pack the work for return shipping. 

●        The works will be re-packed in the crating/boxing shipped to Salt Lake City. The artist will be responsible for packing costs if appropriate reusable crating/boxing is not supplied.

ORIGINAL hard copy receipt/s, electronic receipt/s, or mileage verification for shipping/transport along with the 2025 NJSE Reimbursement form (sent with the agreement) must be submitted to NCECA by June 26, 2025, to be eligible for reimbursement. 

NCECA will not reimburse shipping for sold work; the purchaser is responsible for pickup or shipping charges

INSURANCE:
UMOCA shall maintain insurance coverage for all works included in the exhibition only while on its premises.

●        The artists are responsible for providing insurance coverage for their work while in transit to Salt Lake City.

●        Museum insurance will cover up to 50% of the works' reported retail value.

●        The retail value must be reported even for works included in the exhibition that are not for sale

●        If damages occur to works in the exhibition, artists may be required to demonstrate that the value(s) declared are established fair market values.

SALES

Works are to be offered for purchase at the discretion of artists included in the exhibition. 

Artists will receive 50% of the purchase value of works sold, and 50% will be retained as a commission by NCECA and the exhibition venue. 

Shipping fees for purchased works will be the collectors' responsibility, and shipping should be arranged with the artist and the venue.

PHOTOGRAPHY
Participating artists must agree to allow NCECA, the exhibition venue, and gallery visitors to photograph work while on display for educational and publicity purposes. NCECA will retain images of accepted works, and may use them for promotional and reporting purposes. Promotional images may appear on the NCECA website, social media feeds, print publications, electronic ads, etc. Images may also be shared with news and arts and culture media outlets.

CATALOG
NCECA reserves the right to produce a color print, print on demand, and/or web-based catalog for the exhibition featuring an essay by the curator, along with statements and images of artwork by all participating artists. Should a print or print-on-demand catalog be produced, each participating artist will receive one complimentary copy. Additional copies may be available for purchase online.

CONFERENCE PASS AND MEMBERSHIP

Selected artists will receive membership and a complimentary conference pass for the 2025 conference.

●        If the artist is a current member, they will receive an extension to their current membership expiration date for up to one calendar year.

●        The 2025 conference pass and the membership are not transferable to others.  

The complimentary conference pass is limited to the 2025 conference and cannot be used at future conferences.
 

CALENDAR
Deadline – Wednesday, June 20, 2024, 11:59 pm MDT
(Please note time zone - late entries will  not be accepted) 

Note: Submission assistance will not be available after 4:30 pm.  Please do not wait until later in the evening to submit your entry!
 
Artist notification: Week of August 5, 2024
Signed loan agreements due: Friday, August 23, 2024

Location: UMOCA Main Gallery
Shipped and hand-delivered works to arrive:  February 10-14, 2025

Installation: Feb 26 - Mar 6
Exhibition Dates: March 7- May 31, 2025

FORMATION, 59th Annual NCECA Conference in Salt Lake City, Utah, March 26-29, 2025
Reception: Friday, March 28, 2025 6-9 pm

De-Installation and packing: June 2-6, 2025

Return Shipping: June 9-13
Damage Claim: Upon return, please immediately open the box/crate and inspect the work.

Please allow enough time (two to three hours) for CaFÉ™to get back to you if they have high email volumes.  NCECA staff cannot provide technical assistance with CaFE™ above what is stated in this prospectus.  

When in doubt,

• Clear your Cache
• Close and reopen CaFE™
• Files should be .jpg or .jpeg
• Switch to a different browser.  Some people have switched to a different browser to upload their headshots.

Contact CaFE™cafe@westaf.org

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●        Firefox: current version
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Thank you!

Application Requirements

All works must be primarily ceramic. Mixed media works will be accepted only when clay is the dominant material.  Video featuring clay or ceramics will also be accepted.

Three (3) Artworks Only. Artists may submit up to three (3) individual works with two (2) additional supporting media files (such as video or audio) per work, not to exceed six total media files.

High-resolution photographs are required.

Eligibility Criteria

Submission of works for consideration is open to the broad field of ceramic art.

●        Artists must be over 18 years of age and not matriculating for a degree in higher education. NCECA provides a platform for student artists in the NCECA Juried Student Exhibition.

●        NCECA membership is not a requirement of eligibility; however, NCECA members receive complimentary entry to NCECA exhibition calls.
Entry Fees:
Member: $0.00 
Non-member: $50.00

NCECA will verify membership. Please check your NCECA Membership status and expiration date by logging into your NCECA Account at this LINK or contacting office@nceca.net . To renew or become a member of NCECA, go to https://nceca.net/members