Cup Show 2026

Our much-anticipated Annual Cup Show is back! No matter the beverage, it deserves a good cup, and we can’t wait to see your best ceramic mugs, cups tumblers and more. Nationally recognized ceramic artist, Samuel Thompson, has invited 25 ceramic artists and will be jurying the remainder of the participating artists. This exhibition will be on view and for sale in The Krikorian Gallery at the Worcester Center for Crafts as well as listed in our online store at thehandcraftedshop.com. There will be a $150 juror’s choice award and a $100 staff pick award. Awards will be announced at the start of the exhibition.

Description:

Our much-anticipated Annual Cup Show is back! No matter the beverage, it deserves a good cup, and we can’t wait to see your best ceramic mugs, cups, tumblers and more. Nationally recognized ceramic artist, Samuel Thompson, has invited 25 artists and will be jurying the remainder of the participating artists. This exhibition will be on view and for sale in The Krikorian Gallery at the Worcester Center for Crafts as well as listed in our online store at thehandcraftedshop.com. There will be a $150 juror’s choice award and a $100 staff pick award. Awards will be announced at the start of the exhibition.

Guidelines:

Size: no larger than 10” tall and 6” wide (around standard cup sizes please!)
Open to ceramics of varying type, but must be functional
All work must be available for sale with no single piece exceeding $200 in retail price
Open to any artists living or working in the United States, ages 18 and over
All accepted and delivered pieces must be accompanied by a signed consignment contract, prepaid or emailed after the show RETURN SHIPPING LABEL 

Application Checklist:

You may submit 4 – 10 high quality images of 3 – 5 pieces, include any necessary descriptions of work
$35 fee paid by credit card
$15 fee available to currently enrolled students, email lmaclean1@worcester.edu to receive discount code

Timeline:  

Call Open: July 29 - September 26, 2026
Results Announced: October 27-30, 2026
Work in house by: October 12, 2026
Exhibition Dates: December 3,- December 24, 2026
Unsold work will be shipped for return starting January 27th, 2026
Unsold work pickup: January 27th – February 1st, 2026

Delivery Checklist and Details:

Signed consignment contract and inventory form with pricing information
Pre-paid return shipping label, emailed return label at the end of the show or signed statement of intent to pick up unsold pieces after the conclusion of the show, beginning January 27, 2026 and no later than February 1st, 2026.
All accepted pieces, thoroughly packed and shipped or hand delivered to:

The Worcester Center for Crafts 
attn: Handcrafted Shop, Cup Show 
25 Sagamore Rd. 
Worcester, MA 01605 

The gallery reserves the right to exclude the work if the delivered piece is broken upon arrival or does not reflect the quality and style of the piece(s) in application images. IF ARTIST DOES NOT INCLUDE OR EMAIL AFTER THE SHOW A RETURN SHIPPING LABEL and is not sold by the conclusion of the Show, the Handcrafted Shop reserves the right to absorb ownership of your work. (Refer to contract for more info)

Please direct any questions to Lindsey MacLean at lmaclean1@worcester.edu or (508)753-8183 ext. 307

About the Worcester Center for Crafts and The Handcrafted Shop:

Gallery & Store hours: Tuesday - Saturday, 10am-5pm
December: Monday – Saturday, 10 am – 5pm, Sunday 11 am – 4 pm

The Worcester Center for Crafts is a non-profit community-based arts organization committed to sustaining craft as a vital part of our community. Established in 1856 as the Worcester Employment Society, the Worcester Center for Crafts is an organization that still sees the value of craft in improving the quality of life for Worcester residents. In the early days, the Center forged its tradition of economic empowerment through craft by teaching the skills necessary to create and sell handmade crafts primarily to immigrants and immigrant women.

In its current state, the Craft Center offers classes in a variety of media, holds community events, and houses the Krikorian Gallery with an ever-flowing line up of gallery exhibits. The Handcrafted Shop is part of our mission to support artists and craftspeople across the U.S. by representing them and their work and bringing awareness to all that walk through the store. The store contains handmade American craft by over 500 artists.

“The Cup Show” is held in the Krikorian Gallery and all items are entered into our store-inventory under the guidelines of the Handcrafted consignment contract, the store receives 50% of profits and customers are able to leave with their newly purchased item at the time of sale. 

• You may submit 4 – 10 high quality images of 3-5 pieces, include any necessary descriptions of work
• $35 fee paid by credit card
• $15 fee available to currently enrolled students

• Size: no larger than 10” tall and 6” wide (around standard cup sizes please!)
• Open to ceramics of varying type, but must be functional
• All work must be available for sale with no single piece exceeding $200 in retail price