Guidelines
'Spirited Aiken' at Aiken Center for the arts
Entry Guidelines and Specifications:
Submitting images and Artists Statements:
- All entries are submitted through Show Submit at:
https://showsubmit.com/show/nawasc-spirited-aiken
- File Format: Submit original, high-quality (300 dpi) JPEG image files; 1500 on the longest side; no larger than 30MB. Other formats (e.g. PNG, TIFF) are not accepted.
- Crop your image: Ensure only the artwork itself is visible in the image. Do not show any visible matting, frames or background distractions. Do not include your name or watermark on images when photographing.
- Submit art size up to nearest inch; if art is framed, submit framed size.
- Image size: You do not need to resize your image files before uploading. The system will automatically resize them. Smaller images cannot be enlarged to meet the requirements, so ensure your images are high-resolution (300 dpi) before uploading.
- File names: You don’t need to rename your files before uploading them. The system will handle any file renaming requirements.
- You will pay for your entry by credit or debit card using Show Submit’s secure checkout system.
- After your entry is submitted and paid for, you may log back in to review your
entry, edit artist statement(s) and image(s), or add or substitute images up until the entry deadline April 16, 2026.
- Entry form must be filled out in its entirety.
- Entries cannot be accepted or changed after the deadline. Incomplete entries will be disqualified.
- Entry fees are not refundable and must be submitted/paid by the entry deadline.
Technical Support
For technical support on entry submissions, first check Show Submit’s Help Center: https://showsubmit.com/help-center#artist. Click “artist” for help. If you still need help, email ShowSubmit Support: support@showsubmit.com. You will receive a response between 9am - 6pm EST, Monday - Friday.
Additional Entry Information:
⁃ This exhibit is open to all mediums. Three submission are allowed, but submission does not guarantee acceptance. This is a juried exhibit.
⁃ Finished size: The ACA has not put a size limit on art; however, there is a weight limit of 20 pounds for wall hung art. Please check size limitations on vehicles, when transporting art with other NAWA SC members. Pedestal display sculpture is accepted. No ceiling hung work is accepted.
⁃ Installations are accepted and must be entered by June 4 so gallery space can be determined.
⁃ Unframed canvas artwork must have sides painted. Depth of canvas stretchers must be at least 1” deep.
⁃ Unframed oils and acrylics must be gallery wrapped and neatly finished on all edges (no staples showing).
⁃ All work must be original and created by the artist alone. No Classroom, workshop or AI generated art.
⁃ Paintings or frames with wet paint will not be accepted.
⁃ All art work must be wired to gallery standards and meet professional presentation as interpreted by gallery director; no sawtooth hangers.
⁃ All works must be for sale. Price, title, dimensions of entered work cannot be substituted and must be available for the duration of the exhibit.
⁃ Art must be original - no reproductions or Giclee prints⁃ Graphic violence and/or lewd sexual content is prohibited. Nudes are
acceptable at the discretion of the committee.
⁃ Work will not be hung if it is damaged in transit. You will be notified immediately if your work arrives damaged.
⁃ NAWA SC and ACA reserve the right to refuse work unprofessionally presented.
Previously NAWA SC Exhibited work:
Work exhibited in any previous NAWA SC Exhibit may be submitted as an opportunity for sale, but is not eligible for awards. This is a juried exhibit. Acceptance is at the discretion of NAWA peer jurors (not from the SC Chapter).
Artist Bio:
A binder of Artists’ Bios will be available to gallery visitors who may desire more information on artists. If you wish your bio to be included in the binder, please email your one page bio to: mwelkerpix@gmail.com. The binder will be available at the gallery during the reception and for the remainder of the exhibit. If you wish, business cards or rack cards may be added to the binder at anytime during the exhibit or include them with your art shipment to be placed in the binder.
Waiver
My entry into the NAWA SC Exhibit titled: Spirited Aiken, to be held at Aiken ntry into the NAWA SC Exhibit titled: Spirited Aiken, to be held at Aiken Center for the Arts (ACA) and entered through Show Submit, binds me to the agreement as stated below.
The ACA gallery maintains complete control over the location, manner, coordination of the display, and necessary changes in display for artwork security. Artwork will be available at the ACA until the end of the exhibit on July 23, 2026.
I hereby declare I am the owner and creator of the original artwork being submitted by me, both as the artwork's physical manifestation and the copyright of the artwork. No AI artwork is allowed. The artist must obtain written permission of any people featured in the artwork or their parents/guardians if children under 18 are featured. Artist is fully responsible to obtain all model or property releases.
The ACA gallery has property insurance intended to cover artwork on exhibition in the event of any negligent acts or omissions on the part of the Gallery, its agents and employees. Before delivery, the artist will assign the value of the artwork. The artist agrees to hold the gallery harmless to any and all loss of property from: flood, hurricane, earthquake, terrorism, acts of war, and nuclear hazard. The artist
is encouraged to maintain her own property damage coverage, and in the event that alternate coverage is available, the Gallery’s insurance coverage will be secondary. I accept full responsibility for any and all damages, loss, theft, and/or any other casualty of any kind in shipping artwork to the gallery, and to a buyer, if the work sells. I hereby waive any and all claims against the ACA and the National Association of Women Artists, SC Chapter as well as their officers, directors, and committee personnel.
I agree to allow an image of my artwork being exhibited to be used without charge for advertising and/or promotion in the furtherance of the Exhibition and for any purposes including without limitation traditional media, social media, website as well as public relations, prior to and/or after the Exhibition.
My work is available for sale at the price hereinbefore agreed. I agree that if my work is sold during the exhibition, the ACA will retain 35% commission, NAWA SC Chapter will retain 5% percent, and the artist will receive 60% of the selling price. Sales will be handled by the ACA. The ACA will forward NAWA SC commission at the time payment is made to artists. Artists do not have to send
commission to NAWA SC. Point of release clause: the work in the exhibition is considered part of the exhibition from the point of opening of the exhibit on June 18, 2026, through the
end of the exhibit on July 23, 2026.
I understand that my work may not be included if it fails to meet professional presentation standards (as determined by the exhibitions jurors), including but not limited to blurry photography entry, inclusion of watermark or name on the image, or by the gallery Executive Director, if artwork has improper hanging apparatus, or unprofessional framing. Please advise the shipper to not use packing peanuts; items packed this way will be returned after calling the artist. NAWA SC retains the right of discretion to decide if artworks do or do not meet the requirements of our show standards, or contain any inflammatory or offensive materials.
I understand that I MUST be a member in good standing during the entire date range of the exhibit, June 18 - July 23, 2026.
In the event of a dispute with regard to this Waiver Agreement, we agree that all disputes must be adjudicated in a State Court in the County, City, and State of South Carolina, under the Laws of the State of South Carolina, without regard to choice of Law rules.
NAWASC Board of Directors: art.nawasc@gmail.com Click the Photo below to Visit Aiken SC
'Spirited Aiken' at Aiken Center for the arts
Inspirational ideas for Spirited Aiken theme:
Founded in 1835, Aiken became a health resort and winter colony for the wealthy during America’s Gilded Age. However, Aiken was originally a railroad town, which included the first steam powered passenger train in the United States, with rail lines running from Hamburg (now North Augusta)
to Charleston, with a stop in Aiken. Renowned as an equestrian town, Aiken is also celebrated for its quaint and artsy downtown and myriad other recreational, cultural, environmental, and historical attributes. Artists are requested to submit artwork featuring Aiken’s ‘Spirited Life’.
Inspirational ideas are presented below. An internet search, on any of the topics that inspire your creativity, will provide you with more information. All forms of art will be considered for this exhibit. Three pieces of art may be submitted for this juried exhibit.
Notable aspects of Aiken:
Historical Winter Colony during the Gilded Age; Railroad town; Livery Stables; 19th century architectureAiken’s
Equestrian Life - Thoroughbred training; dressage events;
Steeplechase, Triple Crown, and Blessing of the hounds.
Other sports: Polo matches open to the public in Spring and Fall; Court tennis; Aiken’s Palmetto Golf Course was one of the first golf courses in the nation. Aiken’s population swells during the Masters Golf Tournament each year, due to its close proximity to Augusta, GA.
Center for African American History, Art and Culture: formerly the Immanuel Institute built in 1889 by Rev. W. R. Coles as a school for Black children in Aiken and surrounding counties. Today, the Center promotes
Black culture, art and history in: Visual Arts; Religion: church, superstition; music: gospel, jazz; Crafts: Sweetgrass basket-making, quilting.
Reconstruction Era National Historic Network: Martha Schofield, a Pennsylvania Quaker, joined the Freedman’s Bureau as an educator, in 1865, and helped found the Schofield Normal and Industrial School in Aiken. She then dedicated her life to the education of Black children and
adults. The school trained Black teachers during the Reconstruction era.
During her first two years with the Bureau, she taught at schools on the SC Sea Islands. In 1868 she moved to Aiken and founded the school.
Flora and Fauna - Hopelands Gardens: A 14 acre botanical garden in the heart of Aiken features 100 year-old live oaks, magnolias and cedars; camellias and other flora; Aiken is part of America’s Camellia Trail, which
features more than 60 camellia species; a bird and butterfly garden; a summer concert series is hosted in the Gardens every summer.
More Flora and Fauna
- Hitchcock Woods: One of the largest city center
“iron lungs” in America. Pedestrian and horse traffic only. Cars allowed once a year during one Aiken horse event. 2,100 acres, preserved long leaf pines, dogwood and tulip trees, fox squirrels, grey and red fox, deer, and
myriad songbirds.
The Aiken County Farmers Market is the oldest county farmers’ market in continuous service in the same location in S.C. (foods and crafts)
Western Carolina State Fair: features carnival rides, livestock
competitions, games and food stalls.
Downtown Aiken Annual Parades: Horse and Dog Parade; ChristmasParade; Memorial Day parade.
Music and Dance Scene: Aiken Civic Ballet; Amp the Alley: musicians every Thursday night in a downtown Aiken Alley; Aiken Symphony Orchestra; Joye in Aiken, an annual week-long jazz event brings world-class musicians from the Julliard School to Aiken; Bluegrass Festival.
Savannah River Site (SRS): During the Cold War, the SRS was
constructed to produce materials required for nuclear weapons. Since then, the site is primarily focused on environmental stewardship, environmental cleanup, waste management and disposition of nuclear materials.
DuPont Planetarium: This planetarium houses the only camera obscurer that shines into the planetarium to view the celestial heavens.
Threads of Labor - Women’s Work Online Exhibit October 15 - November 15, 2025
This exhibition was CLOSED 2025
Zoom Reception will be held on October 15 from 5pm - 6pm
The Threads of Labor - Woman’s Work Zoom Online Reception will be held on October 15th from 5 - 6pm to announce awards and give artists the opportunity to speak about their work. You do not have to have entered this exhibit to attend the Zoom Reception. All members are welcome. The Link to the Zoom Reception will be forwarded to members the day before the event.
Congratulations to our juried artists: Jill Cliffer Baratta (2), Judith Carlin, Sandy Dimke (2), Meyriel Edge (2), Joyce Erb, Sheila Plaskon Grabarsky (2), Deidre Hayes (2), Linda McCune, Joan Moreau McKeever (2), Pamela Urban Moore, Rhian Swain (2), and Beau Wild.
Joanne Crouch, Judge for Threads of Labor - Women’s Work Exhibit
Joanne Crouch is a versatile and accomplished visual artist whose creative practice spans painting, encaustic wax, alcohol ink, cyanotype photography, and gourd art. As President of the Art Association of Ridge Spring, SC, she plays a vital role in cultivating a dynamic local arts community and leads efforts to promote creativity, connection, and education through exhibitions, workshops and public events.
Artwork is for sale! If you are interested in buying a piece, please email NAWASC art.nawasc@gmail.com with the title of the painting, the artist and the price if it is listed.