2026 Next Generation – University Art Competition

Honeywell Arts & Entertainment is pleased to announce its annual University Art Competition! This is a unique opportunity to showcase your talent and creativity in a highly regarded gallery.

This statewide juried exhibition is open to students currently enrolled in higher education programs across Indiana. We invite submissions from those pursuing an Associate, Bachelor’s, or Master’s Degree in any field of fine art or craft.

The Clark Gallery is located in the Honeywell Center, Wabash, IN. The Gallery encompasses the semi-circle of the Honeywell Center Porter Lobby, with foot traffic exceeding 170,000 guests per year. View some of our shows at https://www.honeywellarts.org/exhibits

Honeywell Arts & Entertainment is calling for entries for artists currently enrolled in a higher education program in Indiana for its Next Generation: University Art Competition – A statewide juried competition focusing on currently enrolled college students who are seeking an Associate, Bachelor’s, or Master’s Degree in any field of fine art and/or craft. Students pursuing other degrees are welcome to apply but should consider the competitive nature of this call. Jurors will be considering works of the highest artistic quality and merit, regardless of individual degree path. Awards will be announced at the Closing Reception. It is encouraged that artists attend the reception but not required. 

The Clark Gallery, located in the Honeywell Center, Wabash, IN, hosts 10+ exhibits per year and features students, amateurs, and professionals. Because the Gallery encompasses the semi-circle of the Honeywell Center Porter Lobby, foot traffic exceeds 170,000 guests per year! 

Honeywell Arts & Entertainment encompasses the full range of arts opportunities and venues of The Honeywell Foundation, a nonprofit public charity based in Wabash, Indiana. The organization is dedicated to providing arts, education, and entertainment for all through live entertainment, movies, arts education, cultural events, culinary experiences, Honeywell Arts Academy, and more. Offerings take place at seven venues including the Honeywell Center, Honeywell House, Eagles Theatre, Charley Creek Gardens, Dr. James Ford Historic Home, Clarkson House, and 13-24 Drive In. Honeywell Arts & Entertainment partners with a network of venues throughout the region to further the reach of live entertainment programming. Honeywell Arts & Entertainment programs and activities are made possible by generous donors and in part by Arts United of Greater Fort Wayne; the Indiana Arts Commission, a state agency; and the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency. For more information about Honeywell Arts & Entertainment, please visit honeywellarts.org.

Eligibility 
Currently enrolled college students who are seeking an Associate, Bachelor’s, or Master’s Degree at an accredited Indiana college or university. 

Mediums Accepted 
Any 2-D 
3-D (must be able to be displayed within the confines of the gallery, please contact with any questions) 

• Artwork must be original, completed within three years of the entry deadline, and may not have been previously shown at the Clark Gallery. Artwork may have been completed before entering college. All work must be finished at the time of submission.
• Submissions must be no taller than 8.5 ft tall, no more than 2 ft in depth, no more than 5 ft wide.
• The Clark Gallery is a public, multi-use space and artwork must be appropriate for all ages. Submissions may not include nudity or other adult content.

Required presentation standards: 
Submitted Two-Dimensional Work 

• For non-photography or non-digital pieces: prints of an original cannot be entered (including giclées); only the original artwork will be allowed.
• Work must be framed or attached securely to a display board. Suggested mat/display board colors are white, black, charcoal, or any shade of gray. If using a mat and hinge-mount method, please ensure the mat is securely affixed at all four corners to prevent it from lifting or flapping.
• If canvases are unframed, the image must continue on all visible surfaces and no staples can be exposed.
• Dry mounting to foam/gatorboard with imagery flush (bleed off) to all four edges acceptable.
• Accepted work must come ready to install/hang. The Clark Gallery uses a picture rail/chain and s-hook system. The best hanging method is a wire between two eyehooks, but a sawtooth or keyhole hanger is acceptable. All parts of the piece and frame must be secure while hanging on the wall.
• Framing and presentation must meet professional gallery standards. Mat boards should be clean and free of dents, scratches, or stains. Frames and glass must be free of chips, scratches, or visible damage.

Submitted Three-Dimensional Work 

• Work must be stable.
• When special/custom stands for presentation are required, they must be noted by the artist and provided at time of delivery.
• Artwork that requires suspension from the ceiling, water, perishable food or electricity is prohibited.

Accepted Work 

• HAE staff reserves the right to remove any works from the exhibition based on special installation circumstances, presentation that isn’t up to gallery standards, or discrepancies between the juried images and actual work.
• All accepted work must remain on display until the end of the exhibition on Wednesday, January 13th.
• All work must arrive ready to install/hang. The best hanging method is a wire between two metal eyehooks, but a sawtooth or keyhole hanger is acceptable. For special installation circumstances, please contact Isabel Hughes, Arts Programming Assistant, via email at ihughes@honeywellarts.org.
• All work must come with a label on the back, or somewhere the label won’t be seen. If it is impossible to hide the label, then the label must be easy to remove. The label must include the artist’s name and the title of the piece.
• Work may be offered for sale or be designated as not for sale. HAE retains a 20% commission on all sales. Please provide a work value for insurnace purposes, regardless of for sale status.
• Artwork titles, sale status, and sale prices may not be changed after submissions close.
• By submitting an application, you are guaranteeing the artwork is available to be included in the exhibit. Additionally, the artist is committing to the financial responsibility of delivering accepted artwork by the deadline provided. Any artist who has artwork accepted into the show, yet does not deliver said artwork, will not be allowed to enter any Honeywell show for a period of two years.

Delivery 

• All artwork must arrive by Tuesday, December 8th via hand delivery or shipping. Artists are responsible for all shipping costs and insurance. Shipped artwork must be sent in a reusable container, with return shipping pre-paid by the artist. Hand-delivered artwork may be dropped off during the following times:
  • Saturday, December 5th, 4 PM - 7 PM
  • Sunday, December 6th, 1 PM - 4 PM
  • Tuesday, December 8th, 5 PM - 8 PM

Display 

• The Clark Gallery is open to the public Monday - Friday from 8 AM to 5 PM. Artwork may be purchased through the box office during those hours. The Center is closed on all major holidays. Work accepted in the show may not be removed before January 13th without permission from the Director of Arts. Please note that the Clark Gallery is a shared space. At times, events in the Honeywell Center may limit access to the Clark Gallery.

IMPORTANT DATES

AWARDS

Six honorable mentions will also be given.

Currently enrolled college students pursuing an Associate, Bachelor’s, or Master’s Degree at an accredited Indiana college or university.