Introduction
The Schwa Show is a national juried competition recognizing excellence in fine arts and crafts.

In the English language, schwa is the most common vowel sound. For Emerge Gallery & Art Center, it is our logo.

Juror Austin Sheppard 
Austin Sheppard’s mixed media sculptures and drawings are self-reflective and phenomenological in the sense that he begins from his personal experiences as an individual. Through the vehicle of the human figure, he also explores the shared human condition by expressing emotional experiences like anxiety, anguish, endurance and resilience. Austin earned his BA in Studio Art from University of North Carolina, Pembroke in 2007 and his MFA in Sculpture from East Carolina University in 2010. Previously, he’s been an Artist-in-Residence at the Scottish Sculpture Workshop, Franconia Sculpture Park, Salem Art Works, and has participated in International Sculpture Symposia in the UK, Germany, Finland, Costa Rica and Latvia.

As an educator, tinkerer, and artistic investigator across a wide variety of media, Austin is keen to provide platforms for a diverse array of under-represented voices and stylistic approaches. In 2023 he worked in conjunction with Coker University, where he serves as an Assistant Professor of Art, to pilot a program that brought artist Michaela Pilar Brown to campus for a month-long residency. Austin is currently producing new work for a solo exhibition at Emerge gallery in the Fall of 2024.

Eligibility 
This exhibition is open to artists in any media and subject matter. Artists must be age 18 and up. All work must have been completed in the past 3 years and never previously exhibited at Emerge Gallery. All pieces must fit through our exterior door (36” x 80”). Work must be available for entire exhibition. Video entries are accepted, but special equipment must be provided. Work must be ready to hang or will not be eligible.

Entries and Fees 

All entries are to be submitted digitally through www.callforentry.org (CaFÉ). Please retain a copy of the information you provide on the entry form. 

If you have not registered previously with CaFÉ, setting up your portfolio is free. CaFÉ requires that all images conform to a specific format. Before you begin the entry process, review CaFÉ’s instructions and tutorials. For technical assistance with your entry, please see https://www.callforentry.org/cafehelp.phtml, or contact cafe@westaf.org.

Each artist may submit up to 5 entries. Artists are required to submit 3 entries for a fee of $20, with the option to submit 2 additional entries at $5 each. There is a limit of 5 entries per artist. Ideally, this would be 3 to 5 individual artworks. Each entry allows for only 1 photo, so if the same artwork is submitted multiple times, please note that if the artwork is chosen, only 1 submission will be notified of acceptance.

Each entry will receive the jury’s decision in a separate email, via CaFÉ, no later than August 31, 2024. It is the artist’s responsibility to monitor his/her CaFÉ account where all submissions will be listed and marked either invited or not under “My CaFÉ Entries.”

It is the sole responsibility of the applicant to note each artwork's application number, as this identifier will be used to announce the accepted works. Please retain a copy of the information you provide on the entry form. 

Entries will be active on the CaFÉ website beginning May 1, 2024 and must be completed by 11:59PM MST on August 15, 2024.

Delivery of Artwork 

Accepted work sent via shipping must be received by Wednesday, September 25 between 10:00am - 8:00pm. Hand delivered work must be received between Thursday, September 26 and Friday, September 27 between 10:00am – 8:00pm or Saturday, September 28 between 10:00am – 3:00pm, unless other arrangements have been made.

Accepted work must be picked up on either Friday, October 25 between 10:00am – 8:00pm or Saturday, October 26 between 10:00am - 3:00pm or must have a prepaid mailing label for return shipping. Prepaid labels are required. Work left after the pick-up date will become property of Emerge Gallery unless other arrangements are made.

Exhibition Dates 
October 4-24, 2024

The opening reception will be held on Friday, October 4, from 5:00pm-8:00pm.

Awards
There will be the following cash awards: Best of Show: $1000, Best of 2D: $500, Best of 3D: $500, Honorable Mention: $100 (3)

Questions
E-mail sarah@emergegallery.com or call (252) 551-6947

Current Hours of Operation: Monday: Closed, Tuesday - Friday: 10:00am – 9:00pm, Saturday: 10:00am – 4:00pm, Sunday: 1:00pm – 4:00pm.

Summer Hours of Operation (June – August): Monday and Friday: 9:00am – 4:00pm, Tuesday – Thursday: 9:00am – 9:00p, Saturday: 10:00am – 4:00pm, Sunday: Closed

Commission
It is assumed that all work is for sale unless noted with an insurance value. Emerge will retain a 30% commission if work is sold. If work is not for sale, an insurance value must be given and NFS stated, or work will not be insured. Payment will be mailed within 45 days of the end of the exhibition.

Insurance and Liability
Emerge Gallery will provide insurance for accepted work during the exhibition dates only. Work will not be insured after Saturday, October 26, 2024. Work will be insured only for the artist’s portion of the sales price, 70 percent of the sales price and a maximum of $5,000. Insurance value must be a realistic value and may be questioned. Proof of similar sales will be requested, if necessary.

Consent to reproduce for publicity, catalog, or entry constitutes agreement to all conditions. 

About Emerge Gallery & Art Center 
A non-profit arts organization, Home of the Pitt County Arts Council, dedicated to enhancing the quality of life in Pitt County by promoting artists and arts organizations, educating through the arts, and making the arts accessible to the entire community. Emerge Gallery & Art Center also offers a variety of workshops and classes for youth and adults in pottery, metal design/jewelry, painting, drawing, and much more. The facility has two galleries with rotating exhibitions and a sales gallery featuring local art. Two Outreach Programs are offered, one of which is the Youth Public Arts Project benefitting youth and one of which is Art is Good Medicine benefiting individuals living with a health disability or disease, their family, and/or caregivers.

Application Requirements

All entries are to be submitted digitally through www.callforentry.org (CaFÉ). Please retain a copy of the information you provide on the entry form. 

Entries will be active on the CaFÉ website beginning May 1, 2024 and must be completed by 11:59PM MST on August 15, 2024.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility
This exhibition is open to artists in any media and subject matter. Artists must be age 18 and up. All work must have been completed in the past 3 years and never previously exhibited at Emerge Gallery. All pieces must fit through our exterior door (36” x 80”). Work must be available for entire exhibition. Video entries are accepted, but special equipment must be provided. Work must be ready to hang or will not be eligible.