America 250: Craft Today
MAY 9 – JULY 25, 2026
Touchstone Center for Crafts is thrilled to announce, America 250: Craft Today, a national juried exhibition celebrating the best of American contemporary craft. Showcasing exceptional work by leading and emerging artists from across the country, the exhibition highlights innovation, technical mastery, and the diverse voices shaping craft today. Together, these works reflect the evolving role of handmade art in American culture. This program is part of Handwork 2026, presented by Craft in America.
Guest Juror:
Judy Barie – Susan and John Turben Director of CVA Galleries at the Chautauqua Institution. Click for more information about the juror.
Handwork 2026:
Handwork: Celebrating American Craft 2026 is a nationwide, year-long initiative honoring the handmade as part of the U.S. Semiquincentennial. Led by Craft in America, the yearlong celebration brings together makers, museums, and organizations to showcase the craft traditions that define and connect America. Learn more.
Eligibility
We invite artists working in all craft mediums to submit their work for consideration in America 250: Craft Today, an exhibition celebrating the best of contemporary American craft. The exhibition will showcase works that push boundaries and explore the diverse landscape of craft, embracing a wide range of materials, techniques, and approaches.
Please submit original work that has been completed within the last three (3) years. Touchstone Center for Crafts reserves the right to reject any work that is not suitably prepared for exhibition or that differs from the original submission. All work must be no larger than 36” in any direction.
Prizes
1st Place: $500
2nd Place: $250
Entries and Fees
$40 for up to 3 entries.
Applications open February 15, 2026. All entries must be received by March 16, 2026.
Pricing and Commission
All work must be for sale. Touchstone Center for Crafts shall sell the artworks at the retail price as specified by the artist. Artists will be paid 50% of the retail price for sold work.
Shipping/Delivery of Artwork
The artist is responsible for the cost of shipping or mailing artwork to and from Touchstone Center for Crafts using UPS, or USPS. Artwork may also be hand-delivered to and picked up from Touchstone.
Schedule
- February 15 Applications Open (SlideRoom)
- March 16 All submissions are due
- April 1 Artists are notified
- April 27 Deadline to receive artwork
- May 9 Exhibition Opens
- July 25 Exhibition Closes
- August 15 All unsold artwork must be picked up or shipped
Meet the Juror
Judy Barie divides her time between her home in Pittsburgh, where she is an active studio artist exhibiting her paintings at Zynka Gallery, and living and working each summer at Chautauqua Institution. She has served as Director of the CVA Galleries for 19 years, hosting nine exhibitions in two art centers each season.
The mission of the CVA Galleries is a commitment to introducing audiences to artwork that is inclusive, inventive, and created by professional and emerging artists. The galleries also focus on building strong relationships and conversations with collectors, art enthusiasts, curators, and those new to contemporary art, resulting in broad support of artists both financially and professionally.
Instagram: @judybarie
CVA Galleries: art.chq.org
Zinka Gallery: zynkagallery.com
Handwork: Celebrating American Craft 2026 is a nationwide, year-long initiative honoring the handmade in celebration of the 250th anniversary of the United States. Led by Craft in America, the initiative includes more than 250 organizations across the country, uniting artists, cultural institutions, and communities in a shared recognition of American craft. Through exhibitions, programs, and public events, Handwork 2026 highlights the enduring role of handmade traditions in shaping the nation’s cultural identity.
Handwork 2026: handwork2026.org