Organizer Information
Manifest Creative Research Gallery and Drawing Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit arts organization founded in 2004 by Cincinnati-area college professors and students, headquartered on Woodburn Avenue in the East Walnut Hills neighborhood of Cincinnati, Ohio, with a separate Drawing Center studio in Clifton/Madisonville. Manifest's mission is to stand for quality in the visual arts and the importance of creative research, offering meaningful and accessible art-based experiences for the public, deep learning outside academia, and rigorous documentation of exceptional art. Its programming operates across four areas: Gallery (exhibitions), Press (publications, including the International Drawing Annual, International Painting Annual, and International Photography Annual), Artist Residency (support), and Drawing Center (education). Manifest's operations are funded through a mix of artist-supported revenue, Ohio Arts Council funding, ArtsWave regional funding, grants, memberships, and public donations.
Title & Description
TAPPED (Side-by-Side) — 17th Annual Exhibit of Paired Works by Artists and Their Current or Former Instructors
TAPPED is Manifest's annual exhibition presenting paired works of art by current or former artist/teacher pairs, honoring the relationship between artists and the instructors who shaped them. This is explicitly not a call for collaborative works — each year TAPPED features works made by distinct individuals, and each person's works need not be similar in any way. Submission may be initiated by either the artist or the instructor "tapping" the other to participate; the pairing's sole requirement is that the two once had, or currently have, a formal teacher/student relationship, at any educational level (including high school or other primary/secondary education).
Theme
Paired works by current or former instructor/student pairs, in honor of the artist-teacher relationship. Works within a pair need not relate in theme, media, or style.
Categories
- Visual Arts
- Sculpture
- Photography
- Painting
- Drawing
- Printmaking
- Mixed Media
- Design
- Video Art
- Digital
Eligibility
- Open to everyone; entries must represent original works of art or design (visual art)
- Each entrant must name at least one current or former instructor, or current or former student, as an exhibiting companion
- The "student" half of a pair may be at any stage, from a college freshman to a retired veteran; the "instructor" half may be currently or no longer teaching
- The teacher/student relationship may have occurred at the high school or other primary/secondary education level, not only college
- Each member of a pair must submit their own entry form, entry fee, and image(s) for their own work only, referencing their companion(s) in the appropriate field
- The number of works submitted by an entrant must be at least equal to the number of companions named in their form's "companion" field (e.g., tapping two people requires submitting at least two works)
- Three-way connections (e.g., tapping both a former teacher and a current/former student) are welcomed
- Open to all traditional and non-traditional genres and media, including but not limited to sculpture, photography, painting, drawing, and printmaking
- No date restrictions on when submitted works were made
- No size restrictions other than what can fit in Manifest's spaces, walls, and door (artists with larger work should inquire directly)
Program Benefits & Awards
- Every exhibiting artist receives a $50 cash honorarium (no strings attached beyond full participation in the exhibit), transferred by check or electronically within 30 days of the close of the exhibition
- $9,000 in Grand Jury Awards across Manifest's 23rd season (September 25, 2026 – August 2027): $1,000 awarded to one work during each of nine exhibition periods, including TAPPED, determined by a re-jury process from the pool of top-scoring works from each show's initial jury
- For work sold during the exhibition, the artist receives 70% of the sale price (Manifest retains 30% commission)
- Exhibiting artists may purchase one copy of the season's Manifest Exhibition Annual (MEA) at half price while supplies last; all entrants may pre-order the season MEA at 40% off at the time of entry; solo exhibitors receive a copy of the MEA for free
- Supporting donors to Manifest's Annual Fund at the eligible level are recognized in print and public membership materials and receive a free MEA for the season underway
- Awards and honoraria are supported by the Manifest Annual Fund and are subject to revision based on funding circumstances
Application Fee
- $45 for up to three entries; $5 for each additional entry (unlimited number of entries allowed)
- Fees are non-refundable
- Payable by U.S. check or money order to Manifest, or by credit card via PayPal (using the link provided after online entry form submission)
- Fee payment must reference the paying artist's name, or Manifest must be notified if another party is paying
How to Apply?
Online Application
Key Dates
- Application Deadline: 13 September 2026
- Notifications Sent: 2 November 2026
- Hi-Res Images Needed for Season Annual/PR: 9 November 2026
- Artwork Due to Manifest: 5 December 2026
- Special Preview Event (ticketed): December 10, 2026, 7–9 PM
- Opening Reception: December 11, 2026, 6–9 PM
- Final Day of Exhibition: January 8, 2027
- Pickup of Hand-Delivered Work: January 9–16, 2027
- Artists' Schedule Pickup of Shipped Artwork: January 13, 2027
Location
Manifest Creative Research Gallery, 2727 Woodburn Ave, Cincinnati, United States
Additional Details
- Manifest retains the submitted images of accepted artwork and reserves the right to use them in publications and gallery publicity; beyond this use, the artist retains full copyright of exhibited work
- Selection involves a two-part jury process: an anonymous panel of professional and academic advisors reviews entries and passes recommendations to the exhibit curator, who makes final selections from the jury-approved pool
- Accepted work must arrive ready to install; work not gallery-ready, lacking good craftsmanship, or differing significantly from entry images may be omitted or disqualified
- Shipped works must include easily reusable packaging with prepaid return shipping; artists are responsible for all shipping costs to and from the gallery
- Works not claimed within 30 days of the close of the exhibit become the property of Manifest
- Manifest insures works while on gallery premises against theft, vandalism, and damage caused by patrons or staff; insurance does not cover shipping damage, damage from artist-provided mounting systems, material degradation, or incidental damage from non-traditional presentation methods; proof of value may be required for claims; artists are encouraged to separately insure work in transit
- Manifest is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit with no substantial reserve or endowment; entry fees fund project-related expenses, and this jury fee is the only cost charged for participation
- Submitting an entry form constitutes agreement to the prospectus conditions, including a commitment not to double-book, sell, or otherwise compromise the availability of submitted work for the exhibition if selected