EXTENDED: New Wave 2026 – Juried College Regional Exhibition (FREE ENTRY)

The Adrian Center for the Arts (ACA) invites submissions for New Wave, a juried exhibition celebrating the creative vision of emerging artists from the Great Lakes region. For 10 years, the ACA has provided opportunities for young artists to gain professional experience and share their work with new audiences.

The exhibition will be held in the ACA Gallery, located on the 57-acre PlaneWave Instruments campus. This unique setting – shared by world-class telescope design and manufacturing and a vibrant community of makers – offers a distinctive environment for showcasing the next generation of creative voices.

JUROR: Chicago-based artist, curator, and critic Robin Dluzen.

DETAILS:

ENTRY FEE: FREE ($0.00)

AWARDS: $1,000 in total cash awards.

ELIGIBILITY: Current undergraduate/graduate students in Michigan (MI), Ohio (OH), Indiana (IN), Wisconsin (WI), Illinois (IL), or Minnesota (MN).

SUBMISSIONS: Up to 3 works.

DEADLINE: January 21, 2026

EXHIBITION: March 2 – April 11, 2026

About New Wave 2026 The Adrian Center for the Arts (ACA) is a vibrant community art center celebrating its 10th year of programming. The ACA serves as a creative home for area artists and the public alike, offering a wide range of classes, studio spaces, and professional gallery exhibitions.

The ACA Gallery is located on the 57-acre PlaneWave Instruments campus. This unique setting—where advanced telescope engineering meets a dedicated community of makers—offers a distinctive environment for showcasing the next generation of creative voices from the Great Lakes region.

Calendar of Events

Entry Deadline: Wednesday, January 21, 2026 (11:59 p.m. ET)

Notification of Acceptance: Friday, January 30, 2026

Work Delivery Deadline: February 20, 2026

Exhibition Dates: March 2 – April 11, 2026

Reception & Awards: Saturday, April 11, 2026 (2:00–4:00 p.m.)

Juror’s remarks and award presentation at 3:00 p.m.

Artwork Pickup: April 11 (following reception) and April 12–14 (1:00–4:00 p.m.)

Artists may submit up to three original works completed within the past three years. All media are eligible except projection, sound, or time-based works unless they are fully self-contained with all necessary equipment.

Work Specifications
All work must be original. Editioned pieces are acceptable. Digital art is welcome, but giclée or other reproductions of original physical works (for example, digital prints of paintings or drawings) are not. For clarity, a fine-art print of a digitally created work is considered original.

Work must fit through a 33" × 81" doorway and weigh no more than 100 pounds.

Artwork must be ready to hang or display. If installation requires special tools or methods, artists may be asked to assist with setup.

Questions about installation or display requirements may be directed to: dordenudt@gmail.com

Open to undergraduate and graduate students currently enrolled at colleges or universities in Michigan (MI), Ohio (OH), Indiana (IN), Wisconsin (WI), Illinois (IL), or Minnesota (MN).

Works previously exhibited in the ACA Gallery are not eligible.