Minnetrista Museum & Gardens
Exhibition artwork

Minnetrista Museum & Gardens

Open Space

Art About the Land

Muncie, IN

November 7, 2026 – January 3, 2027

Deadline is September 28th. 6 weeks left to enter.
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About Open Space

Since 2001, Open Space: Art About the Land, an annual art competition and exhibition, has encouraged Indiana artists to derive creative inspiration from the land and recognized new artistic creations that celebrate the notion of “open space” as it relates to the land.

Open Space will be exhibited at both Minnetrista Museum & Gardens and the Anderson Museum of Art (AMOA). Developed by the two museums in partnership with Red-tail Land Conservancy, a portion of the event’s proceeds will benefit Red-tail’s work to preserve and restore vital wildlife habitats and natural beauty.

Juror

India Cruse-Griffin, Professional Mixed Media Collage artist India Cruse Griffin earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Art Education from Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana. India’s art is based on her family, community, and the spirit of humanity. Her art is created with a combined collection of Magazines, Fabric, Glue, and acrylic paint. Her spirited, expressive, multi-layered, multi-textural and colorful Collage style is unmistakably hers.

India has received many awards, including Indy Arts Council’s DeHaan Artist of Distinction in 2025, Curator’s Award at Butter, and Best of Show in the Hoosier Art Salon Allen Whitehill Clowes Collaborative exhibition. India is currently a Studio Artist at the Harrison Center for the Arts in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Awards & Reception

Awards totaling $1,500 will be given at the juror’s discretion. Prizes and awards include: First Place ($500), Second Place ($350), Third Place ($250), Photography Merit Award ($100), Three-Dimensional Artwork Merit Award ($100), Jim Faulkner Landscape Merit Award ($100), and the Stefan and Joan Anderson Prize for Art ($100), for the best exhibited piece representing any Red-tail Land Conservancy nature preserve (please identify if your artwork represents any Red-tail preserve).

Exhibiting artists are invited to attend the awards reception on Friday, November 6, 2026, at Minnetrista Museum & Gardens. Each artist may bring one guest.

Entry Fees

  • A non-refundable entry fee of $35 is required to submit your work.
  • Artists may submit up to 3 artworks.
  • Entry fees are non-refundable.
Please note that all fees must be paid at the time of submission to complete your entry. Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover, Diners, JBC, Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Link are all accepted.

Entry Procedure

Artists may submit up to three entries. All artwork must be submitted digitally at ShowSubmit.com. Entries are due by 11:59pm, Monday, September 28, 2026. Physical drop-offs will not be accepted.

Eligibility Requirements

  • Any artist 18 years of age or older who is a present or former resident of Indiana.
  • Eligible Work includes: ceramics, digital art, drawings, fiber, mixed media, paintings, prints, sculptures, metalwork, and photography.
  • Digitally created art is accepted but must be printed.
  • Video and audio art are not eligible.
  • No use of Artificial Intelligence, either in the conception or development of the artwork, is permitted.
  • Eligible artwork must have been completed within the last three years.
  • Artwork may be in any media (excluding video art) and must address “the spirit of open space with reference to the land.”
  • No entry may exceed 48 inches in any direction and/or 50 pounds in weight.
  • All two-dimensional entries must be ready to exhibit
    (i.e. framed or ready to hang—no saw tooth hangers or clips will be accepted).
  • Paint must be dry.
  • A single entry may contain no more than four component parts.
  • All art must include artists name and title.

Sales

Work may be for sale; NFS is allowed.

All artists are encouraged to offer their artwork for sale. Minnetrista and AMOA are responsible for all sales transactions at their respective venues and will retain 30% of the selling price of each work sold. A portion of the sales will benefit Red-tail Land Conservancy. Artwork sold may not be removed until after the show closes on Sunday, January 3, 2027. Purchased art pickups will be arranged the following week according to the schedules of the respective venues (Minnetrista Museum & Gardens or Anderson Museum of Art).

Disclaimers

Submission of artwork shall be understood to indicate agreement to abide by the rules and the decision of the juror. Entry constitutes permission to photograph artwork and use the images in publications, advertisements or promotional materials. Artwork may not be withdrawn prior to the close of the exhibition. Display of art does not guarantee free access to galleries.

Insurance

The exhibiting facilities will make every effort to protect the artwork but will not be responsible for damage or loss. The venues will not be responsible for insuring unclaimed artwork after Friday, April 30, 2027.

Pick Up of Artwork

Instructions for final artwork pickup following the close of the exhibition at Minnetrista and AMOA on Sunday, January 3, 2027 will be sent to artists via email by the respective venues by early December. Pick up schedules may vary by venue. Artwork not picked up by August 31, 2027 will be considered abandoned. Ownership will transfer to host museum who will dispose of the artwork in a manner of their choosing.

Questions

For questions about Minnetrista Museum & Gardens or this Prospectus, contact:

Anderson Museum of Art | andersonart.org
at [email protected]

Red-tail Land Conservancy | fortheland.org
at [email protected]

Minnetrista Museum & Gardens | minnetrista.net
at [email protected]

Notifications Are Posted in Your Account

Results will be posted in your ShowSubmit account by the end of the day on October 2, 2026. You will also receive an email.

Log in and check your account. We are unable to answer individual inquiries about results.

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 (September 28, 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 ([email protected]) or ([email protected]) for questions about the prospectus, MMG, 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.