Organizer Information
The open call is issued by Manifest Creative Research Gallery and Drawing Center, a nonprofit contemporary art institution based in Cincinnati, United States. Founded by artists, Manifest operates as a hybrid gallery, research platform, and publication house dedicated to supporting rigorous contemporary visual art practices. Over more than two decades of programming, the organization has built an international reputation for its juried exhibitions, annual publication series, and structured exhibition seasons featuring both emerging and established artists.
Manifest positions itself as an artist-driven institution with a strong curatorial framework, combining public exhibitions, publication, and critical discourse. Its programming includes solo exhibitions, thematic group shows, and curated experimental projects, with a strong emphasis on quality, presentation standards, and long-term documentation through its printed annual catalogues.
Title & Description
Manifest Season 23 (2026/2027) Exhibition Proposal Open Call
Manifest Gallery is currently accepting exhibition proposals for its 23rd exhibition season, scheduled from September 2026 to September 2027. This open call invites artists to propose solo exhibitions, two-person exhibitions, or group projects for inclusion in a structured, curated exhibition program.
Selected artists will be part of a museum-style exhibition season featuring rotating shows open to the public in a professional gallery environment. The program balances solo exhibitions (which provide in-depth presentation of an artist’s practice) with curated group exhibitions that highlight diversity in media, geography, and conceptual approaches.
Artists are invited to submit proposals that may include completed bodies of work or projects intended for development. The curatorial team at Manifest works closely with selected artists to refine exhibition layouts, select works, and shape the final presentation within one of several gallery spaces. Exhibitions are professionally installed, public-facing, and documented in an annual hardbound publication.
The open call emphasizes curatorial selection, exhibition design collaboration, and the integration of works into a structured seasonal program reviewed by a jury of arts professionals.
Categories
- Visual Arts
- Painting
- Drawing
- Sculpture
- Installation Art
- Photography
- Video / Media Art
- Mixed Media
- Conceptual Art
- Printmaking
- Interdisciplinary Visual Practices
Eligibility
- Open internationally to all artists
- Emerging, mid-career, and established artists are eligible
- Individuals, duos, and group proposals accepted (with one lead applicant for groups)
- All traditional and non-traditional visual art media are accepted
- No geographic restrictions
- Strong emphasis on coherent, well-documented bodies of work
- Applicants should be prepared for professional-level presentation and exhibition requirements
Program Benefits & Awards
Selected artists receive:
- Inclusion in a curated, museum-style exhibition season
- Solo or group exhibition presentation in a professional gallery environment
- Curatorial support and exhibition design collaboration
- Public exposure to gallery visitors (exhibitions run ~4 weeks, free admission)
- Professional installation and exhibition production support
- Inclusion in Manifest’s annual hardcover publication documenting the season
- Eligibility for sales of exhibited works (the gallery takes a 30% commission)
Additional incentives:
- Exhibiting Artist Honorarium:
- $50 for group show participants
- $100 for solo exhibition artists
- Grand Jury Award eligibility:
- One selected artwork per season receives a $1,000 cash prize
- International visibility through publications and art press coverage
Application Fee
- $50 non-refundable application fee required per proposal
- Payment methods:
- Credit card (via PayPal link provided after submission)
- U.S. check or international money order (by postal mail)
- Fee supports nonprofit exhibition production and programming costs
Application Requirements
- Completed online exhibition proposal form
- Artist CV or resume (required for solo proposals)
- Portfolio (maximum 12 artworks for initial submission)
- High-quality digital images of artworks (JPEG format, properly labeled)
- Optional installation or detailed images (clearly labeled)
- Exhibition proposal/project description
- For video works: online viewing links (YouTube, Vimeo, Dropbox, etc.) + still image
- Notes regarding availability of works (“will hold” status if applicable)
Additional expectations:
- Professional documentation quality (installation views encouraged)
- Clear indication of presentation format (framing, installation method, etc.)
- Works should ideally be available for exhibition if selected
How to Apply?
Online Application
Key Dates
- Application Deadline: 21 June 2026
- Review Period Begins: Early June 2026
- Selection & Season Finalization: Early–mid August 2026
- Notification of Results: Mid-August 2026 (approximate)
- Exhibition Season Start: Late September 2026
- Exhibition Season End: Mid-September 2027
- Individual exhibition duration: ~4 weeks per show period
Location
Cincinnati, United States
Additional Details
- Exhibitions are curated rather than purely proposal-driven; final selection and layout are determined by curators
- Gallery assigns exhibition spaces based on curatorial needs (artists may suggest preferences)
- Works must arrive professionally prepared for installation
- Shipping and return costs are the responsibility of the artist
- Insurance is provided only while works are physically in the gallery
- Sales of artworks are permitted unless marked “not for sale (NFS)”
- Gallery commission on sales is 30%
- Works may be selected for inclusion in Manifest’s annual publication
- Strong emphasis on high-quality documentation and presentation standards
- Video and installation-based works require additional planning with curatorial staff
- Selected artists may be featured in both exhibitions and publication archive
- Open to experimental, traditional, and hybrid visual practices