2025 Dates and Deadlines 

Exhibition Description

Western Carolina University’s Annual Juried Undergraduate Exhibition is one of the longest-running Catamount art traditions. This exhibition is an extraordinary opportunity for WCU undergraduate students to share their artwork with a larger public and to enhance their skills in presenting artwork in a professional gallery setting. Entries are reviewed by an outside art professional who selects the works for exhibition at the WCU Fine Art Museum. Selected works will be on view at the Museum from February 18 through March 21, 2025. An awards ceremony will be held at the WCU Fine Art Museum on Thursday, March 20, 2025 from 5:00-7:00 PM. This year, the exhibition juror is Marie Cochran, visual artist and founding curator of the Affrilachian Artist Project.

About the WCU Fine Art Museum 

The WCU Fine Art Museum at Bardo Arts Center promotes and facilitates meaningful engagement with contemporary works of art and artists. The purpose of the Museum is to build and preserve exemplary art collections, produce thought-provoking exhibitions, and provide diverse experiences with contemporary art both inside and outside the Museum’s galleries. As an integral part of Western Carolina University, the Museum serves as a catalyst for interdisciplinary teaching and learning by WCU students, faculty, and audiences across Western North Carolina. 

About the Juror

Marie T. Cochran received degrees from the University of Georgia (BFA) and the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (MFA). She is a self-described cultural pollinator. As an artist, curator, educator, curator and artist, Cochran creates projects and artwork that address a sense of place and community. Her work is often grounded in interdisciplinary dialogues focused on social justice and cultural equity. She has exhibited extensively throughout the Southeast and nationally. Throughout her 30 year career, she has taught at colleges in Georgia, New Jersey, Maryland, and North Carolina. Cochran is a former WCU School of Art faculty member. Most recently she was a 2020-2022 Lehman Brady Visiting Professor at the Duke University’s Center for Documentary Studies and the UNC’s American Studies Program. Cochran is the founding curator of the Affrilachian Artist Project, which celebrates the intersection of cultures in Appalachia and nurtures a network of individuals and organizations committed to the sustainability of a diverse region. 

Eligibility

Undergraduate students enrolled at Western Carolina University are eligible to submit artwork for consideration. “Undergraduate” is defined as any student enrolled in a 400 level course or below during the current academic year. Artwork must have been created during the students’ time at Western. Art majors and non-art majors are welcome to apply. Artwork previously exhibited in a Juried Undergraduate Exhibition at the WCU Fine Art Museum is not eligible for consideration. Artwork previously exhibited in a BFA Portfolio Exhibition may be submitted for the juror to review.

Awards

This exhibition includes awards in several media categories, including two awards in 2-D Media, two awards in 3-D Media, one award in Design, and one award in Time-Based Media, as well as an overall Best in Show. Recipients of awards will receive their award payment via gift card, check, or direct deposit to the bank account set up through the University. The method of the award payment will depend on the award received.

Artwork Requirements

Artwork submitted for consideration must meet the Museum's requirements for display and safety. Artwork must not contain any highly flammable materials, dense organic matter, or strong-smelling materials. The Museum reserves the right to refuse entry to any artwork that may compromise the safety and preservation of its permanent collection or any artwork in its custody. The Museum also reserves the right to refuse entry to any artwork that does not meet accessibility requirements or that exceeds a size that can be accommodated in the gallery.

Display of Artwork

Artwork must arrive ready to display (except where noted below). Alternative display methods will be considered but require permission in advance from Museum staff. If your artwork has special installation needs, please contact the Museum's curator to discuss these details using the email listed at the top of this page, and please include instructions for installation with your application.

• 2-D Media: All 2-D, or wall mounted, works must be equipped with D-Rings, cleats, or other hardware suitable for display. Please avoid sawtooth hardware and hanging wire, as these are not suitable for museum display. All students with 2-D work that will fit within a 24x30 inch frame or smaller are required to make an appointment with the Museum's Exhibition Designer during the “Delivery of Accepted Work” period (Feb 5-7) for a 45-minute session on matting and framing. The Exhibition Designer will work with each student to cut a mat for their artwork, or multiple mats for a series of accepted works, and Museum frames will be used. All 2-D work that will not fit within a 24x30 inch frame must be submitted framed and ready for display.
   
• 3D Media: Work must be stand-alone, have its own pedestal, or fit the Museum's standard pedestals. Please contact the Museum's curator for more information (see email listed at the top of this page).
   
• Site Specific Work: Work that requires assembly in the Museum’s galleries should be discussed prior to application with the Museum's curator (see email listed at the top of this page). If a site-specific work is located offsite, the work must contain a reference within the exhibition such as a photograph, maquette, or other symbol. 
   
• Web Sites: For the application, please upload a screenshot of the website and include a URL where the webpage can be viewed in the "description" field for that image. If the webpage is accepted for the exhibition, the applicant will be required to submit all files needed to view the interactive work offline.
   
• Time-Based Work: Time-based work includes motion graphics, animation, video, film, sonic art, performance art, and any other durational artwork. Motion graphics and video must be formatted as MP4 files.

Delivery of Accepted Artwork

Accepted entries must be delivered to the WCU Fine Art Museum no later than February 7, 2025 at 4:00 PM. Please note that works selected for exhibition will be covered by the Museum’s insurance once the artwork is received and a receipt is issued. The Museum’s insurance does not cover works in transit for this exhibition. Remote students needing to ship artwork should contact the Museum's curator (see email listed at the top of this page). All costs related to artwork transit are the responsibility of the artist.

Sales and Reproduction

The Museum reserves the right to reproduce accepted entries for publicity purposes. The Museum is not responsible for the sale of artwork. The Museum will put the artist in touch with interested buyers to negotiate their own sales. The Museum does not retain any portion of artwork sales.

Liability/ Insurance

All reasonable care will be given to artwork in the custody of the WCU Fine Art Museum. The Museum carries insurance on artwork while on display. The Museum’s insurance does not cover works in transit for this exhibition. Works indicated as not for sale (NFS) must still be assigned an insurance value.

Return of Work

Accepted entries must be picked up between 10:00 AM and 4:00 PM on March 25-27, 2025. The Museum reserves the right to dispose of artwork that is not picked up during this time period.

Application Requirements

Application Requirements:

• Media
  • Quantity: Submit up to 4 works for consideration, and 1-3 views of each entry. 
     
  • Image Titles: Please title your images in the following format:
    • LastName_ArtworkTitle_Entry#_View.jpg
    • Example: Grosch_Pumpkin_1_Front.jpg
    • Example: Grosch_Pumpkin_1_Detail.jpg
       
  • 2-D and 3-D Media: Please upload images. You may include 1-3 views of each entry.
     
  • Graphic Design: Please upload images or video. If your work is in PDF, PNG, or TIF format, you will need to convert this to a JPG before submitting. 
     
  • Web Sites: Please upload a screenshot of the website and include a link to the interactive website that the juror can access online in the "description" field for that image. If the webpage is accepted for the exhibition, the applicant will be required to submit all files needed to view the interactive work offline.
     
  • Site-specific work: Site-specific work that cannot be displayed in the gallery must have a reference within the exhibition such as a photograph, maquette, or other symbol. Please include an image of this reference in your application. 
     
  • Time-based work: Please upload a video of your work. Time-based work includes motion graphics, animation, video, sonic art, film, performance art, and any other durational work. 
     
• Artist Statement
  • Please submit a one-paragraph artist statement (50-150 words). You are required to submit at least one artist statement. If you prefer, you may submit separate artist statements for each of your artwork entries. Submitting a separate artist statement for each entry is encouraged.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility
Undergraduate students enrolled at Western Carolina University are eligible to submit artwork for consideration. “Undergraduate” is defined as any student enrolled in a 400 level course or below during the current academic year. Artwork must have been created during the students’ time at Western. Art majors and non-art majors are welcome to apply. Artwork previously exhibited in a Juried Undergraduate Exhibition at the WCU Fine Art Museum is not eligible for consideration. Artwork previously exhibited in a BFA Portfolio Exhibition may be submitted for the juror to review.