Black Swamp Arts Center
Black Swamp Arts Center

2026 Photography Exhibit

January 16 – February 27, 2026 Black Swamp Art Center, Archbold, Ohio
Deadline is January 2nd. 3 weeks left to enter. Open to Members and Non-Members.
Open Calls

or to submit.

Deadline for entry: January 2, 2026

Description

We are launching our first Photography Exhibit! We are inviting regional photographers ages 18 and up to submit work for a juried exhibition celebrating the art of seeing and the power of visual storytelling. Share the world through your lens—capturing moments, telling stories, and revealing beauty in everyday life. This exhibit will showcase a diverse range of photographic styles, subjects, and techniques. Up to $1,000 in awards will be given out. Meet the Artists and Opening Party will be held, January 16, 5–7 pm. Award presentations, light refreshments, wine and beer will be available.

Venue

Black Swamp Arts Center
210 N. Defiance St.
Archbold, Ohio 43502

Gallery Hours:
Wednesday–Friday, 10 – 5:30
Saturday, 10 – 2

[email protected]

Awards

  • Best of Show: $300
  • Outstanding Awards (3): $150 each
  • Merit Awards (3): $50
  • People’s Choice: $50
  • Honorable Mentions (3)

Entry Fee

Members: $25 for up to 5 entries.
Non-members: $30 for up to 5 entries.

To become a member, visit blackswamparts.com.

Entry fees are non-refundable. All entries are to be submitted through ShowSubmit our online exhibit platform. Deadline to apply is Friday, January 2, 2026. NO late entries can be accepted.

Eligibility and Entry Requirements

  • Photographers may submit a maximum of (5) photographs for consideration.
  • No more than two (2) per category.
  • Photographs must be the artist’s original work.
  • No photographer’s names, logo or title visible on the front.
  • Only one photo per image or frame.

Categories

  1. Human Stories
    Portraits, candid moments, documentary-style images,
    daily life, emotion-driven work.
  2. Landscapes & Environments
    Natural scenes, rural and urban landscapes,
    environmental textures, sense-of-place imagery.
  3. Abstract & Experimental
    Patterns, macro shots, minimalism, motion blur,
    unconventional perspectives, artistic experimentation.
  4. Stillness & Objects
    Still life, architectural details, found objects, quiet scenes
    that focus on form, shape, and composition.
  5. Light & Shadow
    High-contrast studies, black-and-white work, dramatic
    lighting, mood-driven photography.

Judging

This is a juried exhibit; exhibition not guaranteed. Decision of the juror is final. Please provide a valid e-mail address to receive results. Results will not be mailed.

Framing And Size Requirements

  • All accepted works must be in a frame with a sturdy wire hanger securely attached to the frame.
  • Conventional frames (enclosed on all four sides) are mandatory.
  • Screw eyes or metal eyes and wire are required: No sawtooth hangers, No “one hole” hangers.
  • Finished canvas wrapped frames (all 4 sides) will be accepted.
  • The minimum visible print size is 25 united inches (United inches = 1 length of visible print plus 1 width of visible print; for example, an 11 x 14 visible print size would be 25 united inches).
  • The maximum size is 66 united inches (add 1 length plus, 1 width of outside frame measurement).

Sales

Sales will be handled by the Black Swamp Arts Center and a commission of 30% will be charged. Works not priced on entry form will be considered Not For Sale (NFS). Entry into this exhibit will be considered by the Black Swamp Art Center as a contract and agreement to these terms.

Pick-Up Dates

Exhibit ends on February 27. Photographs can be picked up after the exhibit ends on February 28, 10 am–2 pm. Any entry left beyond 30 days will become the property of the Black Swamp Arts Center and will be sold without commission.

IMPORTANT: If you require an alternate pick-up date, please contact us. No work is released without prior consent. If you are sending an agent to pick up your work, please inform the art center prior.

Liability And Reservation of Rights

All possible care will be taken in handling of entries, but neither The Black Swamp Arts Center nor the Black Swamp Arts Council will be held responsible for loss or damage. The Black Swamp Arts Center reserves the right to reproduce any photograph or images of the exhibit participants for the purposes of publicity. BSAC reserves the right to reject any work without explanation. Submission of entry shall imply an agreement on the part of the photographer to all of the above conditions.

Additional Notification Information

Notifications will be emailed and posted in your ShowSubmit account by the end of the day on January 5, 2026.

You may view the notification in your ShowSubmit account by logging in and tapping the Notifications at the top right of the screen, or in your Entry History.

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.

Note: Entries made prior to 2023 may not display the View Notification link.

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 (January 2, 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

For questions about BSAC or this Prospectus, please contact ([email protected]).

For technical support or entry questions, first check our Help Center or Entry Guide. If you still need help, email ShowSubmit Support ([email protected]). We’ll respond between 9am and 6pm Eastern Time, Monday through Friday.