97th Michigan Contemporary Art Exhibition

The 97th Michigan Contemporary Art Exhibition continues a rich legacy of showcasing the work of Michigan artists, from talented beginners to accomplished professionals. A competitive show, the Michigan Contemporary presents a look at the issues, themes, and materials inspiring today’s Michigan artists. Featured media include painting, printmaking, photography, drawing, sculpture, ceramics, textiles, jewelry, and installation. A visitor favorite, the exhibition engages, challenges, and inspires conversation. Entry is open to Michigan residents ages 18 and over.

Muskegon Museum of Art 97th Michigan Contemporary Art Exhibition

Dates: September 10 – November 4, 2026

Eligibility: Artists 18 years or older residing in Michigan may enter.

READ ALL OF THE RULES AND TERMS BEFORE APPLYING. SUBMIT IMAGES FOR NO MORE THAN 2 (TWO) WORKS. ENTRY DOES NOT GUARANTEE EXHIBITION OF ART.

Entry: Entry is digital, through the www.callforentry.org (CaFÉ) website. Search keyword “Muskegon.” Free registration is required.

Number of Entries: Each artist may submit up to two (2) works in any medium. Video and performance are not eligible. Submit images for one or two artworks only.

Entry Fee: The entry fee is $35. MMA Members receive a discounted fee of $20. Members should call 231-720-2571 to receive the discount code before entering. Refunds cannot be provided after entry.

Deadline: Deadline for entry is July 10, 2026

Digital Entry: Digital image files must conform to the requirements as listed on the CaFÉ site. Provide the title, media, and dimensions of your entries. Incomplete entries will not be juried. Accepted works that differ dramatically from the submitted images or submitted information may be refused at the discretion of MMA staff, so make sure your entry accurately reflects your artwork(s).

Eligible Entries: Only original works completed in the last two years and not previously exhibited at the Muskegon Museum of Art are eligible. Commercial reproductions, including giclée prints, will not be accepted. Traditional print media, photography, and digital art should be from a limited edition. Wall mounted pieces may not exceed 5 feet wide by 8 feet high. Three-dimensional (standing) pieces may not exceed 10 feet high by 5 feet by 5 feet. Only work easily handled by two people will be accepted.

Questions? Please call the MMA at 231-720-2575.

Notification: Artists will be notified of the jury results by email no later than July 31, 2026.

Delivery: For hand-delivery, accepted artwork must arrive at the Muskegon Museum of Art on August 27, 28, or 29.

Artists may deliver:
Thursday, Aug 27, 11:00 am - 4:00 pm
Friday Aug 28, 11:00 am - 4:00 pm
Saturday Aug 29, 11:00 am - 4:00 pm

Call 231-720-2575 if you need to drop off prior to August 27. No objects will be accepted after August 29, 2026. Call 231-720-2575 if you need to drop off prior to August 27. No objects will be accepted after August 29, 2026.

Ship artwork to: 

97th MCAE, Muskegon Museum of Art

296 W Webster Ave

Muskegon, MI 49440

Works shipped by carrier must be prepaid and arrive at the MMA by Friday, August 28, 2025. For shipped work, include a prepaid return shipping label. All packing and shipping costs are the responsibility of the artist.

Attach identification labels securely on the back, upper left corner of two-dimensional artworks and under the base or securely tied to three-dimensional artworks. Labels must be those provided in the email of acceptance and should be completely filled in. Please notify the MMA if you require assistance for delivery by calling 231-720-2575.

Entry Condition: Works must be ready for presentation. All hanging works should be framed and fitted with wire or D-Rings. Entries must be dry, completely assembled, framed, matted, or mounted. All works on paper must be framed and glazed. Multiple panel pieces (diptychs, triptychs, etc.) cannot exceed 6 feet wide by twelve feet high when installed. Work requiring special handling or installation will be accepted only at the MMA’s discretion. Unsuitably prepared, hazardous, unstable, or extremely fragile works will be declined. If you are unsure about your work conforming to these conditions, please email Amelia Anderson at aanderso@muskegonartmuseum.org before entering.

Art Sales: All accepted work is eligible for sale through the MMA Store. The MMA commission is 30% and must be included in the purchase price. Work offered for sale will be sold as exhibited. If the work is not for sale, please indicate “0 (zero)” for value on entry form. Price On Requests (PORs) will not be accepted.

Prizes: Best of Show: $1,500, 2nd Place: $1,000 3rd Place: $750

Liability/Publicity: Entries will be handled with all possible care but the MMA is not responsible for any loss or damage for any cause whatsoever. Submitting a work of art to this exhibition implies agreement on the part of the artist with all stated conditions. The MMA assumes the privilege of photographing or using any work entered in the exhibition for the purpose of publicity or education unless the artist notifies the MMA in writing to the contrary.

Pickup: Accepted entries must remain in the exhibition through Wednesday, November 4, 2026.

Shipped artworks will be returned in the packing materials they arrived in. Return of shipped artwork will begin Friday, November 6, 2026.

In person pickup:
Thursday, November 5, 11:00 am - 4:00 pm
Friday, November 6, 11:00 am – 4:00 pm
Saturday, November 7, 11:00 am – 4:00 pm

Due to limited storage, prompt pickup is required. Please call if you must make special pickup arrangements.

Written authorization is required for the MMA to release work to anyone other than the artist. Shipment costs are the responsibility of the artist.

Works not picked up by January 15, 2027 will be considered abandoned and will be discarded unless other arrangements are made in advance with MMA staff.

Juror: Lauren Semivan (b. 1981) was born in Detroit, Michigan.  She received a BA in studio art from Lawrence University in Appleton, Wisconsin, and an MFA in photography from Cranbrook Academy of Art. Her work has been exhibited at the Nelson Atkins Museum of Art, Cranbrook Art Museum, Blue Sky Gallery, Silver Eye Center for Photography, Paris Photo, The Griffin Museum of Photography, The Madison Museum of Contemporary Art, The Museum of Wisconsin Art, and the Hunterdon Art Museum among others.  

Semivan’s work was recently published in With Eyes Opened: Cranbrook Academy of Art Since 1932 (Cranbrook Art Museum, 2021), Essay’d III: 30 Detroit Artists (Wayne State University Press, 2019), Harper’s magazine, and Series of Dreams (Skeleton Key Press, 2018).  Reviews have appeared in The New Yorker, Interview Magazine, The Village Voice, and Photograph magazine.  Semivan’s work is part of permanent collections at the Nelson Atkins Museum of Art, Cranbrook Art Museum, The Wriston Art Galleries at Lawrence University, Cassilhaus, and The Elton John Photography Collection.  She is represented by Benrubi Gallery in New York, David Klein Gallery in Detroit, Michigan, and The Portrait Society Gallery for Contemporary Art in Milwaukee, WI.  Lauren lives and works in Northeast Wisconsin.

READ ALL OF THE RULES AND TERMS BEFORE APPLYING. SUBMIT IMAGES FOR NO MORE THAN 2 (TWO) WORKS. ENTRY DOES NOT GUARANTEE EXHIBITION OF ART

Entry: Entry is digital, through the www.callforentry.org (CaFÉ) website. Search keyword “Muskegon.” Free registration is required.

Number of Entries: Each artist may submit up to two (2) works in any medium. Video and performance are not eligible. Submit images for one or two artworks only.

Entry Fee: The entry fee is $35. MMA Members receive a discounted fee of $20. Members should call 231-720-2571 to receive the discount code before entering. Refunds cannot be provided after entry.

Eligibility: Artists 18 years or older residing in Michigan may enter.

Eligible Entries: Only original works completed in the last two years and not previously exhibited at the Muskegon Museum of Art are eligible. Commercial reproductions, including giclée prints, will not be accepted. Traditional print media, photography, and digital art should be from a limited edition. Wall mounted pieces may not exceed 6 feet wide by 12 feet high. Three-dimensional (standing) pieces may not exceed 10 feet high by 6 feet by 6 feet. Only work easily handled by two people will be accepted.