39th Annual McNeese National Works on Paper Exhibition

The 39th Annual McNeese National Works on Paper Exhibition will be juried by Nicole Donnelly, Executive Director of The Morgan Art of Papermaking Conservatory

$3,000 is available for purchase awards. The awards will become part of the McNeese’s Works on Paper Permanent Collection.

Eligible for entry are works in any medium that is on or of paper. The artwork, including frame, should not exceed 40 inches in any dimension. 

A non-refundable entry fee of $35 is charged each entrant. This fee entitles the artist a maximum of three entries. The deadline for entry is February 14, 2026. Entries are submitted using the CaFÉ™ website https://www.callforentry.org/

The exhibition will be on view from March 26 through May 15, 2026 in the Grand Gallery, Shearman Fine Arts Annex, McNeese State University, Lake Charles, Louisiana.

*image credit: Andrew Rice, Wave, Collage

39th Annual McNeese National Works on Paper Exhibition

JUROR

Nicole Donnelly, Executive Director, Morgan Art of Papermaking Conservatory 

Nicole Donnelly is a hand papermaker and visual artist serving as Executive Director at the Morgan Art of Papermaking Conservatory in Cleveland, OH. She founded community accessible studio paperTHINKtank in 2013 and ushered its growth for over ten10 years in the Philadelphia arts community. She has taught papermaking for over 15 years, both as a traditional craft and artistic medium, to students of all ages. She has served as Collaborative Papermaker for artists published by Brandywine Workshop & Archives, the Brodsky Center at PAFA, and now at the Morgan Conservatory. Her creative and academic research has been published by The Legacy Press and Hand Papermaking magazine, and she served as president of IAPMA (International Association of Hand Papermakers and Paper Artists) for seven years. Donnelly’s mission is to establish handmade paper as a recognized art medium and preserve its value as a craft. 

CALENDAR 2025

February 14…Deadline for receiving all entry submissions

March 4....Notification of acceptance

March 18.......Deadline for receipt of accepted works

March 26.......Exhibition Opens

March 26 .......Opening reception (6 to 8 p.m.)

May 15...........Exhibition concludes

AWARDS

$3,000 will be available for the purchase of works for the McNeese State University Works on Paper Permanent Collection.

MEDIA SPECIFICATIONS

Work in any medium using paper as a component part is eligible. Artwork, including frame, should not exceed 40” in any dimension.

ELIGIBILITY

Open to all artists living in the United States. All artwork should be original and completed in the last two years.

PRESENTATION

Accepted artwork must be suitable for formal gallery presentation as well as the rigors of packaged shipping.

ENTRIES

Artists may submit no more than three entries. Entries are submitted using the CaFÉ™ website https://www.callforentry.org/

You may prep your materials in advance by following these specifications below:

File format - JPEG or JPG

File dimension - minimum 1,200 pixels on the longest side

File size - under 5 MB

ENTRY FEE

A non-refundable entry fee of $35 is charged each entrant. This fee entitles the artist to a maximum of three entries. Credit card payments are accepted using the CaFÉ™ website. Entries will be marked complete upon receipt of payment. 

EXHIBITION

March 26 - May 15, 2026

Awards will be announced at the opening reception March 26. Accepted artworks required to remain in the Grand Gallery for the duration of the exhibition.

DELIVERY OF ACCEPTED WORK

Please ship work to:

39th Annual McNeese National Works on Paper Exhibition

McNeese State University/Dept. of Visual Arts

4205 Ryan St.

Lake Charles, LA 70605

• Shipped works must be received by March 18.

• C.O.D. deliveries will not be accepted.

• All accepted works must include prepaid return shipping label.

• Late or damaged shipments will be returned collect.

• Works must be shipped in reusable packing cartons.

• NO PACKING POPCORN

• Hand deliveries accepted March 16 - 18 (9 a.m. to 4 p.m.)

RETURN OF ACCEPTED WORKS

Return of artwork begins ...May 15 - May 30

Hand delivery pick up ..........May 19 (9 a.m. to 4 p.m.)

LIABILITY

All reasonable care will be given to objects in the custody of the Department of Visual Arts. Works are insured while on exhibition in the Grand Gallery.  The Department of Visual Arts cannot assume responsibility for the damage or deterioration incurred before or after exhibition, or for possible loss in transit.

SALES AND REPRODUCTION

While no commission will be charged on purchase prize awards, a 40 percent commission will be charged on all other artists’ sales by the Grand Gallery. The exhibition committee reserves the right to reproduce accepted entries in press releases, catalog and on the website.

CONTACT INFORMATION

McNeese State University Department of Visual Arts

Exhibition Coordinator, Meghan Fleming (mfleming@mcneese.edu)

Administrative Assistant, Angela Guillory (aguillory17@mcneese.edu)

Phone: (337) 475-5060

Mailing address:

39th Annual McNeese National Works on Paper Exhibition

McNeese State University/Dept. of Visual Arts

4205 Ryan St.

Lake Charles, LA 70605

CATALOG

Each entrant will receive a copy of the exhibition catalog. Additional catalogs may be obtained at the cost of $2.50.

OPENING RECEPTION

Thursday, March 26, 6 to 8 p.m.

Juror’s gallery talk and awards presentation, 7 p.m. in the Grand Gallery, Shearman Fine Arts Annex, McNeese State University, Lake Charles, Louisiana

*image credit: Andrew Rice, Wave, Collage

Artists may submit no more than three entries. Entries are submitted using the CaFÉ™ website https://www.callforentry.org/

You may prep your materials in advance by following these specifications below:

File format - JPEG or JPG

File dimension - minimum 1,200 pixels on the longest side

File size - under 5 MB

ENTRY FEE

A non-refundable entry fee of $35 is charged each entrant. This fee entitles the artist to a maximum of three entries. Credit card payments are accepted using the CaFÉ™ website. Entries will be marked complete upon receipt of payment. 

Open to all artists living in the United States. All artwork should be original and completed in the last two years.