48th Annual Whitewater Valley Art Competition

Originating in 1978, the Whitewater Competition has a history of “open judging”, allowing the public to observe the jurying process and ask the jurors questions about their decisions.  In this spirit, prerecorded juried rounds are broadcast on Facebook Live and Zoom with breaks to allow the audience to ask the jurors questions about accepted and declined entries.  Jurors will select 50-55 works for the exhibit. All art submissions will be juried electronically. 

Awards:  Over $2,000 in total award money

1st  Place:  $1,000 in addition to a 2027 Solo Exhibition Invitation

2nd Place:  $500

3rd  Place:  $250 

Honorable Mentions: Three (3) $100 awards

 Chancellor’s Choice Purchase Award: Purchased piece will be included in the Indiana University East Public Art Collection.

Important Dates:

Wednesday, October 14, 11:59pm: Deadline to submit artwork via www.callforentry.org.

Friday, October 23; 10am –12:30pm:  Prerecorded juried rounds shared on Facebook Live. Breaks between juried rounds will allow time for live questions from the audience.

Friday, November 6, 5 pm: Deadline for accepted entries to be received at IU East.  Artists my ship or hand deliver artwork to the Tom Thomas Gallery, which is located in Whitewater Hall on the Indiana University East Campus.

November 3-6 10am-2pm: Hand delivered works accepted at the Tom Thomas Gallery.

Saturday, November 14, 2-4pm: Artist’s reception and awards presentation, Tom Thomas Gallery @ IU East

November 14, 2026 – April 9, 2027: Whitewater Valley Art Exhibit in Tom Thomas Gallery and Meijer Artway.

April 13-16, 2027 10am-2pm: Exhibit artwork collected by artist or shipped back to artist with return shipping label.

 All questions should be directed toward Art Director, Carrie Longley, clongley@iu.edu.

October 14, 2026 11:59pm: Deadline to submit artwork via www.callforentry.org.

Please use the link below to pay your $35 entry fee.

https://indianauniv.ungerboeck.com/prod/emc00/register.aspx?aat=4865476d38696941534278726b78665234436a336e664d7174565a4b304769726947435a366f6f494b4e673d

Friday, October 23; 10am –12:30pm:  Prerecorded juried rounds shared on Facebook Live. Breaks between juried rounds will allow time for live questions from the audience.

Friday, November 6, 5 pm: Deadline for accepted entries to be received at IU East.  Artists my ship or hand deliver artwork to the Tom Thomas Gallery, which is located in Whitewater Hall on the Indiana University East Campus.

November 3-6 10am-2pm: Hand delivered works accepted at the Tom Thomas Gallery.

Saturday, November 14, 2-4pm: Artist’s reception and awards presentation, Tom Thomas Gallery @ IU East

November 14, 2026 – April 9, 2027: Whitewater Valley Art Exhibit in Tom Thomas Gallery and Meijer Artway.

April 13-16, 2027 10am-2pm: Exhibit artwork collected by artist or shipped back to artist with return shipping label.

 All questions should be directed toward Art Director, Carrie Longley, clongley@iu.edu.

Eligibility

 Artists must be 18 years or older and reside in the United States. All work must be original by the submitting artist and cannot have been exhibited in previous Whitewater Valley Art Competitions.

 Registration Fee: $35 for up to 3 entries.

 Artists may choose to submit three different views of each art piece. Artists submitting more than 3 separate art pieces will be eliminated from consideration. Entry fees will not be refunded.

 Submission process via www.callforentry.org.

 All visual art mediums (except for video and sound) are allowed.  Examples of acceptable works include paintings, drawings, printmaking, digital artworks, photographs, ceramics, jewelry, sculpture, textiles, installation, and mixed media art pieces.