Deadline for entry: July 23, 2026
Artist Eligibility
Open to all artists 18 year of age or older who are currently reside in the United States and whose work shows a serious approach to wildlife art. Artwork must show a serious approach to nature, depicting one or more species in a manner which captures the essence of the subject. All subjects, zoological and/or botanical, must be wild, no domestic plants/animals accepted. No man-made objects unless found in the subject's natural habitat. All work must be original.
Eligible Work Includes
- Painting: oil, alkyd, acrylic, transparent or opaque watercolor, or any liquid media.
- Drawing: pastel, charcoal, graphite, colored pencil, scratchboard, ink.
- Photography: film or digital, with or without alteration/manipulation.
- Three-Dimensional: carving and sculpture created in any durable material.
- Mixed Media & Other: any combination of media or artwork not covered in other mentioned categories. Video or projected art is not eligible.
- No AI generated art will be accepted.
Submission Guidelines
- All work must be original.
- The work must not have appeared in any previous IWA exhibits.
- All works of art must be original and the concept must be the artist's own.
- Paint must be dry.
- No entry can exceed 36" high or 18" deep or weigh over 40 pounds.
- Three-dimensional entries must be free-standing (no installation of pieces will be accepted).
- Three-dimensional entries must be appropriately framed by the artist and if to be hung, must be able to be hung as regular two-dimensional artwork.
- Saw-tooth hangers and screw-eyes are not permitted.
- All two-dimensional artwork must be framed with wire and flat strap hangers in place.
- Artwork must show a serious approach to nature and depict one of more species in a manner which captures the essence of the subject.
- All landscapes must have a specific identifiable wildlife subject (flora or fauna).
- All subjects, zoological and/or botanical must be wild – no domestic animals or plants will be accepted.
- No man-made objects allowed unless found in the subject's natural habitat.
- Artwork may not be withdrawn prior to the close of the exhibit.
- No Substitutions for Accepted Entries
Entry Fee
A non-refundable entry fee of $50 is required at the time of submission of one artwork, $5 each additional. Up to 3 artworks per artists.
*Exhibiting Artist Membership in Indiana Wildlife Artists (IWA) is Included with at Least One Artwork Entry.
*Exhibiting Artist Membership in Indiana Wildlife Artists (IWA) is Included with at Least One Artwork Entry.
Membership Types
- Exhibiting Artist – Individuals who use ShowSubmit for entry submission automatically become an Exhibiting Artist.
- Non-Exhibiting Artist – If you are NOT participating the annual show but desire to become a member or renew your membership, you can do this by visiting indianawildlifeartists.org/join
- Associate – These individuals wish to encourage appreciation and understanding of wildlife and wish to aide in promoting wildlife art. This can be done by visiting indianawildlifeartists.org/join
- Wildlife Advocate – A generous non-member individual, family, or entity who for a minimum $100 donation supports the organization, enabling IWA to meet its Mission Statement. This can be done by visiting indianawildlifeartists.org/join
Membership Annual Meeting
*Regardless of the artist's membership choice within the IWA non-profit organization, each member is invited to attend the annual meeting on Saturday, August 22, 2026. Active participation is encouraged but not required. See schedule below.
Annual Meeting Schedule of Events
Saturday, August 22, 2026
Indiana Room, Minnetrista Museum & Gardens:
9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. Alternate date/time Drop off artwork
10:15 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Annual Organization Meeting
12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. Catered on-site Luncheon (reservations req’d)
1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. Help Hang Artwork in Indiana Room
3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. Presentation
4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Awards Ceremony & Reception
Indiana Room, Minnetrista Museum & Gardens:
9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. Alternate date/time Drop off artwork
10:15 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Annual Organization Meeting
12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. Catered on-site Luncheon (reservations req’d)
1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. Help Hang Artwork in Indiana Room
3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. Presentation
4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Awards Ceremony & Reception
Jurors
Stephanie Michaels, Fine Art Judge
Stephanie Michaels has worked in the nonprofit arts sector for over 12 years, serving ten years as Curator & Collections Manager at the Anderson Museum of Art before joining Cornerstone Center for the Arts, where she has served as Programs Director for nearly two years. She holds a B.S. in Anthropology from Ball State University and an M.A. in Museum Studies from Indiana University–Purdue University Indianapolis. Stephanie spent three and a half years in the Art Department at Ball State pursuing art education before ultimately shifting her focus to anthropology and museum studies.
She serves on the Art Association of Madison County’s Student Exhibition team and recently revived the Young Artist Exhibition at Cornerstone. She is also a member of the Muncie Arts Student League. The arts have always been an important part of her life—from dancing jazz and tap to playing clarinet in concert and marching band, and continually creating in various forms. A lifelong arts advocate, Stephanie enjoys quilting and crocheting in her free time and shares her home with two dogs—one a brand-new puppy—and a cat (can't forget the bearded dragon, Russian tortoise, and fish).
(P.S. For the wildlife side, I am super excited that morel and leek hunting season is almost here!)
Stephanie Michaels has worked in the nonprofit arts sector for over 12 years, serving ten years as Curator & Collections Manager at the Anderson Museum of Art before joining Cornerstone Center for the Arts, where she has served as Programs Director for nearly two years. She holds a B.S. in Anthropology from Ball State University and an M.A. in Museum Studies from Indiana University–Purdue University Indianapolis. Stephanie spent three and a half years in the Art Department at Ball State pursuing art education before ultimately shifting her focus to anthropology and museum studies.
She serves on the Art Association of Madison County’s Student Exhibition team and recently revived the Young Artist Exhibition at Cornerstone. She is also a member of the Muncie Arts Student League. The arts have always been an important part of her life—from dancing jazz and tap to playing clarinet in concert and marching band, and continually creating in various forms. A lifelong arts advocate, Stephanie enjoys quilting and crocheting in her free time and shares her home with two dogs—one a brand-new puppy—and a cat (can't forget the bearded dragon, Russian tortoise, and fish).
(P.S. For the wildlife side, I am super excited that morel and leek hunting season is almost here!)
Emily Grant, Naturalist Judge
Emily Grant is a Stewardship Coordinator who focuses on land protection for Red-tail Land Conservancy. As a Muncie local, she enjoys working to preserve the native habitats that inspired her love of wildlife so they may continue to be a source of beauty and safety for the communities that need them. With a background in Zoology and a passion for birdwatching, she is very familiar with the wonder and inspiration the natural world brings to the heart of the observer.
Awards & Reception
Awards totally $2000 will be given at the jurors' discretion. Prizes and awards in each of five categories may include:
- Best of Show ($500)
- First Place ($150)
- Second Place ($100)
- Third Place ($50)
- Honorable Mention
Exhibiting artists and their guests are invited to attend the awards reception of Saturday, August 22, 2026, from 4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. in the Indiana Room at Minnetrista Museum & Gardens.
Entry Procedure
Artists may submit up to three entries. All artwork must be submitted digitally through ShowSubmit. Entries are due by Thursday, July 23, 2026. Physical drop-off; of entries will not be accepted.
Sales
Work may be for sale; NFS is allowed.
All artists are encouraged to offer their artwork for sale. Minnetrista is responsible for all sales transactions and will retain 40% of the selling price of each work sold. Artwork may not be removed until after the show closes on Sunday, October 11, 2026. Purchased art pickups will be arranged through a Minnetrista Museum & Gardens representative.
Disclaimers
Submission of artwork shall be understood to indicate agreement to abide by the rules and the decision of the jurors. Entry constitutes permission to photograph artwork and use the images in publications, advertisements, or promotional materials on any media. Artwork may not be withdrawn prior to the close of the exhibition. Reasonable precautions will be taken to safeguard all entries. All unclaimed artwork will become the property of IWA after Monday, October 12, 2026.
Insurance
IWA provides limited insurance for physical loss or damage to member's works of art while those pieces are in IWA custody. IWA also provides members with liability insurance for acts that occur during IWA activities or carrying out IWA business. Members are encouraged to examine the policies for detailed information. Copies may be requested from IWA President Ron Hall at [email protected].
Additional Notification Information
Notifications will be emailed and posted in your ShowSubmit account by the end of the day on July 31, 2026.
If you do not receive your email, login and view the notification in your account. We cannot respond to inquiries regarding the status of notifications.
Image and Filename Specifications
- File Format: Submit original, high-quality JPEG image files. 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.
- Orientation: Make sure your image is oriented correctly (right side up) so that the artwork appears in its intended viewing direction.
- 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 before uploading.
- File Names: You do not need to rename your files before uploading them. The system will handle any file naming requirements.
- File Size: There is a 30mb maximum file size limit. Larger image files will take longer to upload and process.
Additional Entry Information
- You will pay for your entry by credit or debit card using our secure checkout system.
- After your entry is submitted and paid for, you may log back in to review your entry, edit artist and image information, and add or substitute images up until the entry deadline (July 23, 2026.)
- Entry fees are not refundable and must be submitted and paid by the entry deadline.
- Entries cannot be accepted or changed after the deadline. Incomplete entries will be disqualified.
Support
Questions about this exhibition?
Contact Jenny Smith ([email protected]) or Carla Allgeier ([email protected]) for questions about the Prospectus, IWA, eligibility, artwork requirements, drop-off, pick-up, sales, etc.
Need help with ShowSubmit?
Visit our Help Center or Entry Guide for guidance on image uploads, payments, and managing your entry. If you still need help, email ShowSubmit Support ([email protected]). We respond Monday–Friday, 9am–6pm Eastern.