2026 CWA National Open Juried Exhibit
EXHIBITION Wednesday, August 26 - Friday, October 16, 2026, noon - 4 pm; Akus Gallery, Room 112, Fine Arts Instructional Center, Eastern Connecticut State University, 83 Windham St, Willimantic, CT 06226
Akus Gallery Hours:
Monday, Tuesday, Friday: Noon - 4 pm; Sat: 11-4 pm Wed, Thursday: noon-7 pm, Closed on Sunday
ABOUT THE EXHIBITION
As one of the country’s oldest women’s art organizations, CWA presents the National Open Juried Exhibition in the fall each year, showcasing selected works in a broad range of styles and media submitted by women artists from the United States.
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JUROR
Jeanne Ciravolo, University of Connecticut Assistant Professor in Residence Director, Alexey von Schlippe Gallery, Groton, Connecticut
Jeanne Ciravolo is a mixed media artist whose figurative paintings and textiles explore family narratives. Her work has been exhibited nationally in galleries and museums including The Butler Institute of American Art, OH; the Yellowstone Art Museum, Billings, MT; Coral Springs Museum, Coral Springs, FL and AREA Code Art Fair, Boston, MA. She has been awarded residencies at the Hambidge Center, Kimmel Harding Nelson, and the Anderson Center for interdisciplinary Studies. Publications of her work include Manifest International Drawing Annual 15, Manifest International Painting Annual 10, and Rejoinder, a publication of the Institute for Research on Women at Rutgers University, in partnership with the Feminist Art Project. In 2020 she received the Walter Feldman Fellowship, juried by Ellen Tani, Assistant Curator at the Institute of Contemporary Art Boston. Her commissioned portraits can be found in the collections of the State of Connecticut Appellate and Superior Courts.
IMPORTANT DATES AWARDS $2,100 will be awarded
Submissions Open February 12
Deadline Submissions deadline is Tuesday, July 7 at midnight
Notification Notification on Tuesday, July 21. Artists will be notified once the results are ready to view in your artist profile.
Drop Off Drop Off accepted work, Fri, August 14 & Saturday, August 15, 12 - 3 pm
Shipping FedEx only must be received by Tues-Thurs, August 11-13, see more info next page
Exhibit Opens Exhibit opens to the public Wednesday, August 26 from 12 - 4 pm, Akus Gallery
Opening Reception Friday, September 11, from 4 - 9 pm, Akus Gallery
Awards Reception Reception and Awards Ceremony, Saturday, September 19, 1 - 3 pm, Akus Gallery
Exhibit Closes Exhibition closes Friday, October 16 from 1-4 pm
Pick Up Work Pick-up works, Saturday, October 17 & Monday, October 19, both days from 12-3 pm
Shipping Returns ECSU ships shown art work via FedEx, Mon-Thurs, October 19 -22, 2026
CONTACTS
• For more information please visit https://www.ctwomenartists.org/ or text Nancy Whitcher (860) 965-7518
• For questions about show visit www.ctwomenartists.org/national-juried-exhibition
• For membership, go to www.ctwomenartists.org/membership-benefits
• For image help, please refer to www.onlinejuriedshows.com/help
IMPORTANT - PLEASE READ THIS ENTIRE PROSPECTUS CAREFULLY & KEEP A COPY !
ELIGIBILITY: This exhibition is open to all US women artists aged 18 and older, original works created in past 3 years and not previously exhibited in any CWA show. Accepted work will be painting, mixed media, ceramics, drawing, collage, printmaking, fiber and textile art, sculpture, photography. Not eligible: Installation/performance art, photo reproductions, digital and AI generated art, giclee unless part of mixed media/collages and no art requiring hanging from the ceiling.
SUBMISSIONS & FEE:
All entries must be made using OnlineJuriedShows which is an online jury management system for calls for entry. Each artist may submit up to 3 works. Log in and click Enter This Show above to begin your submissions. Entry payments are made by credit card or PayPal. No checks will be accepted. Entry fees are non-refundable.
CWA Members: (dues must be current): First entry is $35, second/third entry $12 each
Non-Members: First entry: $45, second/third entry: $15 each.
SUBMISSION DEADLINE: Submission deadline is midnight Tuesday, July 7 - no late entries. Enter up to three (3) images on OnlineJuriedShows (log in and click Enter This Show above)
Be sure to make a copy of this prospectus for your records. PLEASE NOTE: work will only be accepted through OnlineJuriedShows.
GUIDELINES FOR ARTWORK: For best results, and before submitting entry, refer to the Image Help page at https://onlinejuriedshows.com/Help.aspx for image sizing and file size. Images should be in JPEG format and less than 4 mb in file size. For best results, images should be 1920 pixels @ 72 dpi. Should you need support, remember that Online Juried Shows is closed for support on weekends onlinejuriedshows@gmail.com or (888) 666-1351
• Up to 3 works can be submitted.
• Two-dimensional work must not exceed 36” wide x 40” high.
• Two-dimensional work must be framed and/or ready to install with hanging hardware, wire, or d rings already installed on work. No clip frames, saw-tooth hangers, tacks or pins are allowed. Inadequately prepped work will not be hung.
• Three-dimensional work cannot exceed 40 lbs. for sculpture and should include a pedestal or be ready for display as freestanding.
• Label your work on the back or printed for sculpture
• Text only questions Nancy Whitcher (860) 965-7518
SELECTED WORK:
• Entering this show does not guarantee acceptance. The show committee reserves the right to reject work not accurately represented by the submitted images. No substitutions allowed. Artist’s entry confirms agreement to all conditions herein stated.
• Parking is available for visitors in the parking garages or Fine Arts parking lot or metered parking in Library parking lot.
• Selected work must be delivered ready to hang/display. Artwork considered unsuitable for hanging or presentation will be refused. Staff reserves the right to refuse an artwork that is misrepresented through documentation or is not the work selected by the juror.
• CWA does not allow decayed material, glitter, wet or damp paint, flames, balloons, spray, dangerous chemicals, weapons, or anything deemed harmful.
• Copyrights: By entering this exhibit, you attest that your work does not infringe on another person’s copyrights and that you are the creator of the original work. CWA may refuse a work that is questionable.
LIABILITY: CWA and ECSU will not be responsible for loss or any damage whatsoever, before, during, or after the exhibition. No works will be released without proper identification (or prepaid shipping label). NOTE: a CWA and a ECSU form will be provided and must be signed and provided at drop off or included in shipment of work. Both forms must be submitted or work will be ineligible to be shown. CWA reserves the right to photograph, or use submitted images for publicity.
SHIPPED ARTWORK: Deadline for arrival of artwork at the gallery is Tues-Thurs, August 11-13 and should be shipped to: ATTN: Eastern Art Gallery, Fine Arts Instructional Center, 83 Windham St, Willimantic, CT 06226. Gallery located in Room 112 of Fine Arts Center. Parking: available for visitors in the parking garages or Fine Arts parking lot or metered parking in Library parking lot.
If work is not received at ECSU by this date, we reserve the right to not include it in the exhibition. Any artwork being shipped must include a pre-paid return shipping label. Work with inadequate or nonexistent return postage will be considered abandoned property and disposed of as ECSU sees fit. All artwork must be packaged with materials that can be re-used for return shipping. PLEASE: NO PACKING PEANUTS.
SALES: CWA and ECSU take NO commission. Work can be for sale, but does not have to be for sale to be selected. Gallery sitters will provide interested buyers with CWA contact information.