Call Description

Excellence In Fibers XI, August 1 through September 8, 2025 

Artists are invited to push the boundaries of fiber and fiber techniques with artwork that includes installations, sculpture, vessels, wall/floor works, and wearable art. Artwork must be of original design and completed after January 1, 2020. Both international subscribers and nonsubscribers of Fiber Art Now are eligible to enter Excellence In Fibers XI.

Juried selections will be featured in the winter/January 2026 issue of Fiber Art Now and will be considered for an on-site exhibition at Contemporary Craft in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on view March 19 2026 through June 27, 2026. contemporarycraft.org

Tips for Preparing Your Entry

To present your work to its best advantage, keep these guidelines in mind:

Photographs: 

• Submit only full images, no detail views.
• Use a clean, neutral background and show only the artwork.
• Be sure to shoot your photo straight on. Poor photography may negatively impact juror scores.
• Images must be 5MB or less.

NOTE: There are no dimension restrictions for the print exhibition, but Contemporary Craft may have dimension restrictions. 

Work Sample Requirements

•  Images: Minimum 1
• Total Works: Maximum 3

Artwork:
List the information for each piece separately starting with the title, then list materials, techniques, dimensions, year completed, insurance value, retail value if the work is available for sale (otherwise list NFS), photo credit per piece, and artist statement per piece. List dimensions as Height x Width x Depth in inches.

NOTE: The information entered into the application form is the information that will be used in all print and digital mentions and on social media. Be succinct.

Artist Statement:

Keep statements to 100 words or less for each artwork. Please speak to the specific work you are entering, rather than in general terms.

Take the time to ensure your photographs and artist statement reflect the care and craftsmanship of your work.

Eligibility: 

Only artwork created in 2020 or later will be considered. Both international subscribers and nonsubscribers of Fiber Art Now are eligible to enter Excellence In Fibers XI.

Entry fee: 
$40 for up to three entries. Fiber Art Now subscribers: $28 with the discount code EIFXI.  
To use the discount code, first click on the $40 entry fee at check out and then you will see the space to add the coupon code. Entries close at midnight Mountain Time Zone, USA. 
 

NOTE: CaFÉ does not let you go back into your application to make changes or corrections. Review your entry before checking out.

Entries will not be accepted after midnight mountain standard time (MST) September 8, 2025. The CAFÉ Call for Entry will close at that time.

 ** The Fiber Art Now print exhibition includes cash awards for First ($500), Second ($400), and Third Prize ($300), and Honorable Mention ($100). 

Excellence In Fibers XI will be juried by the Fiber Art Now creative team. We are fortunate that our Fiber Art Now creative team all have university degrees in the visual and cultural arts. These accomplished artists are the jurors:

• Lori Butanis: Fiber Art Now creative director, graphic artist, art director
• Barbara Delaney: Fiber Art Now editor, writer, and former managing editor of Cloth Paper Scissors magazine
• Beth Smith: Fiber Art Now managing editor and exhibitions director
• Cami Smith: Fiber Art Now media manager and community engagement coordinator.

INVITED or NOT INVITED 
Notification of INVITED or NOT INVITED will appear in your CaFÉ account after the jurying has been completed, which will be on or before September 30, 2025. You will receive a notification from CaFÉ with acceptance or regrets. Multiple submissions may receive different email notifications. Email notifications will list each artwork as Invited or Not Invited. Please be sure to check your SPAM. Notifications will also appear in your CaFÉ account on the day they are emailed. 

Application Requirements

Entry fee: 
$40 for up to three entries. Fiber Art Now subscribers: $28 with the discount code EIFXI.  
To use the discount code, first click on the $40 entry fee at check out and then you will see the space to add the coupon code. Entries close at midnight Mountain Time Zone, USA. 
 

NOTE: CaFÉ does not let you go back into your application to make changes or corrections. Review your entry before checking out.

Eligibility Criteria

Both international subscribers and nonsubscribers of Fiber Art Now are eligible to enter Excellence In Fibers XI. Artwork must be of original design and completed after January 1, 2020.