Call Description

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, the schwa symbol is our logo. This year, Emerge Gallery & Art Center and The Schwa Show turn 25! 

Juror Holly Garriott 
Holly Garriott is the Executive Director of Emerge Gallery & Art Center, Home of the Pitt County Arts Council and an Associate Teaching Professor at the School of Art and Design at East Carolina University. Holly founded Emerge Gallery in Greenville, NC in 2000, when she was a graduate student in ceramics at ECU. In 2009, Emerge became the designated partner to the North Carolina Arts Council as the Local Arts Agency. For 25 years, Holly has helped build the arts community in Pitt County and has assisted with the revitalization of the Downtown Greenville District.

Holly received a B.S. in Art from James Madison University focusing on printmaking and ceramics, where she was also on the 1994 Division 1 National Championship Field Hockey team. She then received a B.F.A. and M.F.A. in ceramics from East Carolina University.

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://artist-help.callforentry.org/, 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, on August 31, 2026. 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 and must be completed by 11:59PM MDT on August 15, 2026. Notifications of acceptance will be emailed by August 31, 2026. 

Delivery and Return of Artwork 

Accepted work sent via shipping must be received by Wednesday, September 23. Hand delivered work must be received between September 22 – 25, 2026 between 10:00am – 8:00pm, unless other arrangements have been made.

Exhibited work must be picked up on either Sunday, November 1 between 1:00pm - 3:00pm or Tuesday, November 3 between 10:00am – 8:00pm. Shipped artwork must have a prepaid mailing label for return shipping. Prepaid labels are required. Work left after the pick-up date (November 3) will become property of Emerge Gallery unless other arrangements are made.

Exhibition Dates 
October 2 – 31, 2026

The opening reception will be held on Friday, October 2, 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 by the 15th of the following month.

Insurance and Liability
Emerge Gallery will provide insurance for accepted work during the exhibition dates only. Work will not be insured after Tuesday, November 3, 2026. 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 
Emerge Gallery & Art Center, Home of the Pitt County Arts Council, is a non-profit arts organization 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.

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 15, 2026 and must be completed by 11:59PM MDT on August 15, 2026.

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.