Call Description

DEADLINE: Wednesday, September 2, 2026, 11:59pm MDT
Please note time zone - late entries will  not be accepted

If you encounter problems and require technical assistance, contact CaFÉ™ support staff at cafe@wearecreativewest.org   

If you have questions about eligibility or submission rules that are not answered in the listing description, contact tammy@nceca.net

HOSTED BY:

THE PEALE, BALTIMORE’S COMMUNITY MUSEUM, 225 Holliday Street, Baltimore, Maryland, USA 21202

(667) 222-1814  https://thepeale.org/

EXHIBITION DATES: March 8 - May 9, 2027

ABOUT THE NCECA JURIED STUDENT EXHIBITION
The 2027 NCECA Juried Student Exhibition (NJSE) will run concurrently with CHARM, the 61st annual conference of the National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts, Baltimore, Maryland, March 10-13, 2027. Elizabeth Williams, PhD and Yoshi Fujii will jury the Exhibition.

The NCECA Juried Student Exhibition is composed of selected works submitted by students working in undergraduate, post-baccalaureate, and graduate programs based in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The exhibition highlights the breadth of contemporary ceramic practice emerging from academic institutions across North America, presenting work that reflects a wide range of material approaches, conceptual concerns, and technical strategies.

Together, these works offer a snapshot of current directions in student practice, revealing how emerging artists are engaging with tradition, experimentation, and critical inquiry through clay. The exhibition serves both as a platform for visibility and professional development for student artists and as an opportunity for audiences to encounter new voices shaping the future of the field.

ABOUT THE JURORS

Elizabeth A. Williams, David and Peggy Rockefeller Curator of Decorative Arts and Design, joined the RISD Museum in 2013, following curatorial positions at LACMA and the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art. She holds a Ph.D. in Art History from the Kress Foundation Department of Art History at the University of Kansas. She recently curated a cross-cultural ceramics exhibition, entitled Trading Earth: Ceramics, Commodities, and Commerce; and A Shared Journey: The Barkan Contemporary Ceramic Collection at the RISD Museum. Williams is the President of the American Ceramic Circle. 

Yoshi Fujii is the Director of Exhibitions and Shop at Baltimore Clayworks. Yoshi earned his MFA from Southern Illinois University Carbondale and first came to Baltimore Clayworks in 2008 as the recipient of the Lormina Salter Fellowship. As a ceramic artist and educator, he is known for his delicately carved functional pottery and his thoughtful approach to sharing craft with others through teaching at colleges and community centers throughout the region and leading workshops nationally and internationally. His recent recognition with the American Craft Council Award of Excellence reflects his commitment to craftsmanship and his contributions to the field. 

ABOUT THE VENUE: 
The Peale is a dynamic center for Baltimore’s history, architecture, and community storytelling. Located in the first purpose-built museum building in the United States, The Peale serves as a platform for sharing and preserving Baltimore’s rich cultural narratives. Through exhibitions, performances, talks, and immersive experiences, the organization highlights the voices and stories that shape the city’s identity. Today, The Peale is committed to preserving Baltimore’s intangible cultural heritage by supporting creative work that reflects the city’s diverse communities and lived experiences.

ELIGIBILITY

The NCECA Juried Student Exhibition is open to undergraduate, graduate, and post-baccalaureate students currently enrolled in institutions in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

Recent graduates are eligible to apply, provided the submitted work was created within the past 12 months while they were still enrolled as students. All applicants must have been working toward a degree or post-baccalaureate program at the time the work was produced.

All submitted work must have been completed within 12 months of the application deadline.

Students enrolled at institutions where the jurors are currently serving as faculty must seek approval to apply.

ENTRY FEES:

NCECA membership is not required to apply; however, members receive complimentary entry to NCECA exhibition calls.

Member: $0.00; Non-member: $30.00  

Please note that NCECA is unable to issue refunds for incorrect fee submissions.

The entry fee supports the scope and quality of the exhibition. As a nonprofit organization with a limited budget, NCECA strives to keep fees as accessible as possible. For this reason, entry fees are fixed and cannot be reduced. Please do not contact NCECA to request fee waivers or discounts.

NCECA WILL VERIFY MEMBERSHIP. 

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

MEDIA & LIMITATIONS

This exhibition focuses on dynamic expressions of ceramic creation, media, process, history, and context. Mixed-media pieces are acceptable only when clay and ceramic expressions are predominant and essential to the work’s creation.

All work samples and attachments (other than a resume) submitted must NOT include the applicant’s name.

• This enables the adjudication process without bias in knowing artists’ identities.
• Any reference to an applicant’s name or school will disqualify the participant from jurying.

Video in lieu of a physical work that engages ceramic materials, processes, or histories may be considered at the curator’s discretion. 

• Submit video as a link (YouTube, Vimeo, or similar).
• One video sample per artwork may be submitted, up to two minutes in length; an additional link to a full-length video may be included.
• Videos requiring login access will not be reviewed.
• Artworks requiring projection may be required to have the appropriate technology supplied, based on the venue’s discretion. 

Works involving photography that references ceramic materials or processes may be considered at the jurors’ discretion.

All works must be structurally sound and installable. Floor and pedestal works must be self-supporting. 

Wall-mounted works must include secure hanging hardware.

Individual components should weigh under 100 lbs and fit through a standard 36” x 80” doorway unless designed for modular assembly.

NCECA and the venue reserve the right to exclude work that cannot be safely installed or arrives in unstable condition. 

Final selections are contingent upon the venue’s ability to accommodate the work.

NUMBER OF WORKS

Artists may submit one (1) artwork per application.

Artists may submit a maximum of two applications.

Each artwork may include up to two (2) media files (i.e., a full image and a detail image)

EXCLUSIONS

NCECA reserves the right to exclude:

• Submissions with more than three artworks or more than two images per artwork
• Works in progress or representations of works in progress will not be considered.
• Works previously exhibited in NCECA Cornerstone exhibitions (Annual, NJSE, MCFE)
• Submissions with incomplete answers to questions
• The same work submitted to multiple NCECA calls in the same year

NOTE:

Submitted work must be available and match the original application. 

No substitutions or alterations will be permitted after submission or acceptance.

Selected works must remain on view for the full duration of the exhibition.

ENTRY PREPARATION & APPLICATION PROCESS

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

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

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

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

If you have a CaFÉ™ profile, log in and confirm your current contact information. This information will be used to contact you about a

Accounts that have not been used in the past two years are automatically deactivated by the CaFÉ™ system. If your account has been deactivated, allow ample time to contact CaFÉ™ and request reactivation.

Please note that if CaFÉ™ is experiencing high email volume, response times may be delayed by a few hours. Their hours of operation are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Mountain Daylight Time (MDT).

NCECA will not extend the submission deadline for applicants who experience technical issues with CaFÉ™ after 4:00 PM MDT on June 17, 2026. o avoid potential problems, we strongly recommend submitting your application well in advance of the deadline.

BEFORE BEGINNING YOUR SUBMISSION

Prepare all materials in advance, including images, artwork details, and written statements 

Ensure in advance that your statements adhere to NCECA’s proposed character limits. 

Artist names must not appear in any submitted images or file names. This is required to ensure a blind review process.

Save copies of all text for your records.

All submitted text should be carefully proofread and ready for publication. 

Proof carefully and submit text that is print-ready.

If selected, NCECA will edit all submitted statements for the Exhibition Catalog to ensure consistency with its publication style guide, as well as for spelling, grammar, length, and clarity.    

ARTIST STATEMENT   

Provide a print-ready artist’s statement in the first person that offers context for your work. You may include insights into your creative process, material choices, influences, and the ideas or themes you explore through clay.

This statement will be included in the Exhibition Catalog

Character Limit: 600–1000 characters, including spaces (approximately 100-155 words)

Do not include your name!

BRIEF BIOGRAPHICAL STATEMENT   

Provide a short biographical statement written in the third person. 

The Jurors will not see this statement but if selected it will be included in the Exhibition Catalog.

This is about you, not your artwork or your process. 

Character Limit: 300–700 characters, including spaces (approximately 50-100 words)

Important: You must stay within the 300–700 character limit even though CaFÉ allows a 1,000 Character Limit.

LEVEL OF STUDY: Undergraduate, Graduate, Post-baccalaureate, or Recent Graduate

SCHOOL NAME, PROFESSOR NAME, PROFESSOR PHONE, PROFESSOR E-MAIL

PRONOUNS (optional)

WEIGHT OF ARTWORK IN LBS.

IS THE WORK TO BE WALL MOUNTED?

HEADSHOT

Submit a good-quality portrait of the artist in JPG or PNG format.

Minimum dimensions 900x900 pixels — equivalent to 3x3 inches at 300ppi resolution; 6" @ 150ppi; 12.5" @ 72ppi.

Images larger than 900 pixels are OK, but smaller than 900 pixels cannot be used.

Headshot File Naming Instructions:
First Name Last Name_2027NJSE_Photo credit_Name of Photographer.jpg

Example: Tammy Lynn_2027NJSE_Photo credit_Robert Couto.jpg

SOCIAL MEDIA

Share no more than two links (e.g., Instagram, website). If not applicable, please write “NONE.

IMAGES

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

ONE  (1) ARTWORK ONLY PER APPLICATION.  

Two (2) Media Files per Artwork (e.g., an image and a detail image)

ARTISTS MAY SUBMIT A MAXIMUM OF TWO APPLICATIONS. 

The artwork submitted must be available for the entirety of the exhibition. No substitutions will be accepted.

HIGH-RESOLUTION IMAGES ARE REQUIRED

Detail Images: Detail/alternative images must be clearly labeled as such.

File Type: Uncompressed or high-quality files are ideal (.JPEG or .JPG only) at 300 dpi resolution
File Dimensions: 1,200 pixels or greater on the longest side.
File Size: Under 5 MB

Color Profile: sRGB

NOTE: If selected, you will be required to upload images with minimum dimensions 2700x3600 pixels — equivalent to 9x12 inches at 300ppi resolution; 18x24" @ 150ppi; 37.5x50" @ 72ppi. JPG or PNG format to a Dropbox Folder

REVIEW (Uploading Media to CaFÉ™™): - https://www.callforentry.org/artist-help-CaFÉ™™/uploading-media
WATCH: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tPddZVJzTAE&t=3s

IMAGE REQUIREMENTS

Each work submitted must include the following information:

• Title
  Listed exactly as it should appear on the artwork label.
• Medium (60-character limit, including spaces)
  This will appear on the artwork label and in the exhibition catalog.
• Dimensions
  Height × Width × Depth (in inches). Do not use feet or metric measurements.
• Artwork for Sale?
  Yes or No
• Price / Retail Value
  A retail value must be provided, even if the work is not for sale.
  This value cannot be changed after submission.
• Year Completed
• Primary Discipline
  Ceramics
• Description
  Include any additional information you would like the jurors to know about the work.

Important:
All submissions must include a declared monetary value for insurance purposes.

Please proofread carefully. This information may be used for insurance documentation, publicity materials, exhibition labels, and the catalog.

REVIEW and SELECTION PROCESS

Jurying will be conducted from the images of the actual work available for the exhibition.

The artwork submitted must be available for the entirety of the exhibition. No substitutions or changes to the artwork will be accepted.

The jurors will make final selections after the venue confirms that the work can be installed safely and professionally.

Selected artists will be notified via the CaFÉ™ System by October 23, 2026. Please check your spam folder before reaching out to NCECA.

SHIPPING, DELIVERY, AND RETURN OF ARTWORK

Artwork must arrive at the venue between February 15–20, 2027.

Shipping can be extremely expensive. Please research costs in advance to ensure you can cover round-trip shipping and insurance.

 All shipping must be prepaid, and a prepaid return shipping label must be included with your shipment. 

NCECA cannot provide additional funding beyond the stated shipping reimbursement; please do not contact NCECA to request additional funding.

Artists are responsible for securely packing their work, arranging and paying for shipping to and from the exhibition venue, and providing insurance while the work is in transit.

Appointments are required for self-delivery or installation. Artists must provide proof of return shipping to tammy@nceca.net before the exhibition opens.

Please do not apply to this call if you cannot meet these requirements.

PLEASE 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.

 If the work is damaged in shipping, replacement work will not be considered.

SHIPPING REIMBURSEMENT

NCECA will reimburse up to $400 per artist for shipping or transport.

• Ground shipping only (unless international shipping requires otherwise)
• Mileage reimbursement for hand delivery: $0.505 per mile
• Return shipping for sold work is the responsibility of the purchaser
• Rush fees are not reimbursable unless pre-approved
• Artists must retain and submit receipts for reimbursement

If multiple works by an artist are selected, the artist must:

• Obtain a combined shipping quote
• Request NCECA approval to increase the reimbursement cap based on the number of accepted works before signing an agreement

Note: This does not apply to a single entry consisting of multiple components.

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

DOCUMENTING PACKING PROCESS

NCECA strongly recommends that artists document their packing process with photographs and brief written descriptions prior to sealing crates or boxes for shipment. This documentation may be necessary to support claims for damage incurred during transit.

RETURN OF UNSOLD WORK

Return shipping must be prepaid by the artist, who must be listed as the shipper of record.

At the close of the exhibition, the venue will repack works using the original crate or box. Artists are responsible for providing suitable, reusable packing materials; inadequate materials may result in additional repacking charges.

The venue cannot hold work after the exhibition closes. Artists must be available to receive the shipment or arrange an alternative in advance.

INSURANCE

The venue will insure works only while they are on its premises. Artists are responsible for insuring their work during transit to and from the venue.

All works must include a declared retail value, including those not offered for sale.

In the event of loss or damage, artists may be required to provide documentation supporting the declared value, such as evidence of comparable prior sales.

SALES

Artists may choose whether or not to offer their work for sale. A retail value must be provided for all works for insurance purposes, regardless of sale status.

For works sold, artists will receive 50% of the sale price; the remaining 50% will be retained as commission by NCECA and the exhibition venue.

Shipping costs for purchased work are the responsibility of the collector and should be coordinated with the artist and the venue.

PHOTOGRAPHY

Participating artists agree to allow NCECA, the exhibition venue, and gallery visitors to photograph work while on display for educational and promotional purposes.

NCECA may retain images of accepted works and use them for promotional and reporting purposes, including on the NCECA website, social media, print publications, and electronic communications. Images may also be shared with news, 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. The catalog may include an essay by the curator, along with statements and images of artwork by participating artists.

If a print or print-on-demand catalog is produced, each participating artist will receive one complimentary copy. Additional copies may be available for purchase.

CONFERENCE PASS AND MEMBERSHIP

Selected artists will receive a complimentary conference pass and NCECA membership for the 2027 conference.

If the artist is a current member, their membership will be extended for up to one calendar year.

The conference pass and membership are non-transferable and valid only for the 2027 conference.

CALENDAR

Deadline:
September 2, 2026, 11:59 PM MDT (no late entries will be accepted for any reason)

Notification:
By late October, 2026

Loan Agreements Due:
One week after receiving via Adobesign.

Delivery Window (Shipped & Hand-Delivered):  February 15-20, 2027

Installation: February 22 - March 5, 2027
Exhibition: March 8 - May 9, 2027

CHARM, 61st Annual NCECA Conference in Baltimore, Maryland: March 10-13, 2027
Reception: Thu, Mar 11, 6–9 PM

Deinstallation: May 10-14, 2027
Return Shipping: May 15-24, 2027 

Damage Claims:
Upon return, please open your shipment immediately to confirm the work has arrived safely.

Reimbursement Deadline:
June 15, 2027 (form provided at exhibition close)

If you experience technical issues, contact CaFÉ™ support at cafe@wearecreativewest.org

Please allow 2–3 hours for a response, especially during times of high email volume.

NCECA staff cannot provide technical assistance within the CaFÉ™ platform

When in doubt,

• Clear your Cache
• Close and reopen CaFÉ™
• Files should be .jpg
• Switch to a different browser.  Some people have switched to a different browser to upload their headshots.
• Contact cafe@westaf.org

The CaFÉ™ website is best viewed with the following desktop browsers:

Firefox: current version
Safari: current version
Chrome: current version

Application Requirements

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

Artists may submit no more than one (1) artwork with two (2) media files per artwork.

High-resolution images are required.

NCECA reserves the right to exclude any submissions with incomplete answers to questions.

Height × Width × Depth (in inches). Do not use feet or metric measurements.

A retail value must be provided, even if the work is not for sale.  This value cannot be changed after submission.

Eligibility Criteria

The 2027 NCECA Juried Student Exhibition is open to undergraduate, graduate, and post-baccalaureate students enrolled in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

Recent graduates’ work is eligible if created in the last 12 months and when they were still students.

Applicants must have been working toward a degree or post-baccalaureate in when the work was created.

Students enrolled at institutions where the jurors are currently serving as faculty must seek approval from NCECA to apply.

NCECA membership is not a requirement of eligibility; however, NCECA members receive a complimentary entry fee to NCECA exhibitions.

By submitting an entry to this call, artists confirm that they have researched the costs and will be prepared to to pay for round-trip shipping and include a return shipping label when they ship their work.