23rd Annual Kaleidoscope Juried Exhibition
Betty and Howard Taylor Main Gallery at Summit Artspace
January 9 – March 14, 2026*
The Kaleidoscope Juried Exhibition is an annual holiday show presented by the Alliance for the Visual Arts (AVA). This show is open to all members of AVA organizations: Akron Society of Artists (ASA), Artists of Rubber City (AoRC), Cuyahoga Valley Art Center (CVAC), Medina County Art League (MCAL), Ohio Collage Society (OSC), and Women’s Art League of Akron (WAL).
Juror: Dr. Jeffrey Katzin, Senior Curator, Akron Art Museum
Entry Fee: $30 for up to 2 artwork submissions. Fees support the Alliance for the Visual Arts.
Important Dates*:
- Deadline to Apply: Sunday, November 23 at 11:59 p.m.
- Notification of Acceptance: Friday, December 5
- Artwork Drop-Off: Monday, December 15, 12 – 6 p.m.
- Exhibition Opening: Friday, January 9, 5 – 8 p.m.; Awards ceremony: 6:00 p.m.
- Exhibition Dates: January 9 – March 14, 2026
- Artwork Pick-up: Monday, March 16, 12 – 6 p.m.
*Please Note: All dates, including exhibition dates are subject to change due to delays in building construction at Summit Artspace. Artists will be notified as soon as possible in case of any changes.*
Awards:
1st place: $200, 2nd place $150, and 3rd place $100 and honorable mentions. Juror’s awards announced via video debut on Summit Artspace social media platforms and in person at the exhibition opening at 6:00 p.m. Winner of the People’s Choice Award will receive a hand-made kaleidoscope and their artwork will be featured on next year’s exhibition promotions. People's Choice recipient will be notified at the end of the exhibition.
Do you have limited computer access and need help submitting your application? Contact Executive Director, Natalie Grieshammer Patrick, to make an appointment by contacting her at natalie@summitartspace.org or (330) 376-8480 ext. 1.
Juror's Bio
Dr. Jeffrey Katzin is Senior Curator at the Akron Art Museum. He specializes in modern and contemporary art with research ranging from painting to photography, film, and video. Katzin has received a certificate in Art Museum Studies from Smith College, a BA from Wesleyan University, an MA from the University of Texas at Austin, and a PhD from the University of Pennsylvania, where his doctoral dissertation explored the history and potential of abstract photography, with particular focus on Alvin Langdon Coburn’s Vortographs of 1916–17. Since coming to Akron Art Museum in 2019, he has curated several exhibitions, including Keith Haring: Against All Odds, Michelangelo Lovelace: Art Saved My Life, Amanda D. King: Locusts, and Afterimages: Geometric Abstraction and Perception.
Eligibility
The exhibition is open to all current members (dues must be paid by August 20, 2025) of the society organizations of the Alliance for the Visual Arts: Akron Society of Artists (ASA), Artists of Rubber City (AoRC), Cuyahoga Valley Art Center (CVAC), Medina County Art League (MCAL), Ohio Collage Society (OSC), and Women’s Art League of Akron (WAL). Must be at least 18 years old to enter. Artwork must be completed upon submission. Artwork cannot have been previously displayed in a Summit Artspace gallery. Please see Display Requirements Below.
Important Guidelines and Information:
Jurying Information:
Jurying will be done via digital image. Artists may submit up to three high quality digital images (.jpg, .pdf, .tiff. .png) of each submission (to show different angles, details, etc.). The images must accurately represent the finished work and accepted work must be professionally presented for exhibition (see notes below). All jurying is blind. Artist's names cannot be in the file name of digital images. Submissions that include the artist’s name will be disqualified. If artists contact the juror in regards to their piece(s) from the time of submission to the announcement of winners, artists shall be subject to disqualification from this and future exhibitions. Signatures on artwork will be covered for final jurying to ensure blindness of juror.
Size and Weight Limits:
- Final installation size of 2-D work cannot exceed 4' (48") wide or 7' (84") high.
- 3-D work must not exceed 39" in diameter or 7' (84") high, nor may any single component of the work exceed 50 pounds.
Display Requirements:
- All wall-hung artwork must be wired with appropriate hardware for its weight; no saw tooth hangers. If wall mounted work absolutely cannot be wired, please indicate in the “Special Installation Requirements” section of the submission form. If there are special installation requirements, the artist must provide necessary hanging devices (i.e. magnets).
- All work must be labelled with the artist's name, name of the artwork, and contact information when delivered (in any format)
- Summit Artspace has a limited number of pedestals available. The artist may be required to provide a special display fixture appropriate for the installation (if necessary).
- Please note all displays are subject to Summit Artspace approval.
- Submitting diptychs are permitted as a single entry so long as the pieces are clearly defined as a single artwork. Please clearly label the entry as a diptych in the “Special Installation Requirements” and include desired measurements/ layout between components. Combined artwork must meet the other specified restrictions.
- Suitability of works which must be suspended, require a power source, are between 35-50 pounds, are close to the size limitations or have other special installation requirements will be determined on an individual basis.
- Professional installation will be provided by Summit Artspace. Care will be taken when handling and displaying all artwork; however Summit Artspace waives responsibility for either damage or loss of artwork.
Expectations:
30% gallery commission will be collected on all artwork sold during the show. Summit Artspace will process all artwork sales and compensation to artists. All artists will be required to sign a gallery contract. Upon entering you will be added to the Summit Artspace contact list. We cannot accept artwork that is shipped, nor can we ship artwork.
Questions or concerns? Please email natalie@summitartspace.org.