Call for Art entries
Shrode Photography Competition and Exhibit
Eligibility
The Shrode Photography Competition and Exhibit is a juried competition open to all artists 18 years of age or older, south of Interstate 70, including the Charleston, IL area.
Accepted Media and Specifications
Photography: photographic film and digital photographs.
- All work must be original work of the entrant, executed within the past three years (2023 or later), and not exhibited in any previous Cedarhurst/Shrode Art Center competition or exhibition
- Submissions may be watermarked if desired, but the watermark should be inconspicuous and not interfere with the judging of the photo. A watermarked photo accepted for exhibit will need to be printed watermark-free. A watermark-free digital file of the photo will also be needed if the piece is to be considered for inclusion in print and/or online marketing for the exhibition.
- Cedarhurst reserves the right to reject any entries that do not meet the prospectus requirements.
Judging
Cedarhurst invites an established photography professional to serve as judge for the competition. After viewing each digital entry individually, the judge selects the works to be accepted into the competition as well as the top award winners from the exhibition group.
All award winners will be announced on Saturday, October 3rd, 2026, at the Gather at the Galleries Opening Reception.
Entry Quanity
Each artist may enter up to 2 Entry Forms (entry fee $ x2)
(2 Entry Forms x 3 Photos per Form = 6 photos entered for judging)
Entry Fee
Each artist may submit up to 3 photographs for a one-time, non-refundable $25 entry fee (Cedarhurst members $20).
Submission Format and Delivery
ALL submissions for the competition must be DIGITAL and received at Shrode Art Center no later than 5pm Wednesday, August 26th, 2026.
- Digital images must be JPEG or TIFF files
- Each image must be identified with the artist’s last name and entry number (1, 2, or 3)
- SUBMIT your entry(s), upload digital images, and pay your entry fee online.
- Images on a (non-returnable) USB flash drive are also accepted.
Acceptance Notification
A list of accepted works will be e-mailed to artists by the end of the day on Wednesday, September 2, 2026. If you do not provide an e-mail address, your notification letter will be postmarked by this date.
Framing
If chosen for exhibit, all photographs must be framed and/or presented in a professional manner with braided wire attached for hanging. Do NOT use saw-tooth hangers, string, or single-strand aluminum wire! Use braided wire specifically made for your picture/frame weight.
Delivery of Accepted Artwork: Mail or hand deliver
The accepted artwork MUST arrive no later than Friday, September 25, 2026 at Shrode Art Center.
Delivery hours: Tuesday – Saturday 10 to 5 | Sunday 1 to 5
Exhibition Schedule:
October 4, 2026 – January 10, 2027. Artwork cannot be removed before the exhibit closes.
Pick-Up
Artwork must be picked up during the week of January 12 – 17, 2027.
Tuesday through Friday, 11 am to 4 pm | Saturday, 10 am to 5 pm | Sunday, 1 pm to 5 pm
Awards/Opening Reception:
Saturday, October 3, 2026 | Reception 5:00 – 7:00 pm
Award Presentation: 6 pm | Mitchell Museum
Awards:
- Best of Show – $500
- 1st Place – $250
- 2nd Place – $200
- Honorable Mention Certificates may be given at Judges’ discretion
- People’s Choice Award – $100 (announced at the close of the exhibition)
Art Chat | Sunday, January 10, 2027 | 3 pm
Carrie Stover – Director of Shrode Art Center will host Art Chat, offering an opportunity for photographers to discuss their work in the exhibition with each other and the curator. Everyone is invited, whether an exhibiting artist or photography enthusiast.
Admission is free and open to the public.
Photographers may take their exhibited photo home after the Art Chat.
For questions about the competition, contact:
tracy@cedarhurst.org | 618-242-1236 x 248
