79th Ohio Annual Exhibition

About the Exhibition

In 1942, the Zanesville Art Institute held the first annual May Show of Arts and Crafts for artists in and around Zanesville. More than seven decades later, this annual exhibition continues at the Zanesville Museum of Art as the Ohio Annual Exhibition. This highly anticipated exhibition, the eligibility for which has been expanded statewide, recognizes the extraordinary fine art and fine craft created in the Buckeye state and celebrates the museum’s commitment to discovering, encouraging, and recognizing Ohio’s finest artists and artisans.

Each year we look forward to presenting a stylistically and thematically diverse exhibition that captures the essence of Ohio’s vibrant visual arts scene. The people, places, and customs found in each unique region of the Buckeye state inspire its artists and the ZMA is in the fortunate position of recognizing and fostering this creativity.

In its 79th year, this competitive, juried exhibition welcomes submissions from all Ohio artists, in all stages of their career. In 2024, over three hundred artists vied for the opportunity to exhibit their work at the museum and earn the title Best in Show.

Meet the 79th Ohio Annual Juror

Charlotte Gordon is the 79th Ohio Annual Juror in 2025. Gordon is the Artistic Director of the Southern Ohio Museum and Cultural Center in Portsmouth, Ohio, the Mayor of this city, and a former Curator for the Springfield Museum of Art in Springfield, Ohio. Gordon holds a Bachelor of Fine Art from Tulane University’s Newcomb College of Art, and a Master of Art in Museum Studies from Southern University of New Orleans, focusing on collections management and creative community building. Gordon is deeply committed to art and its impact on community. The Southern Ohio Museum and Cultural Center is currently undergoing a multi-million-dollar expansion and renovation to exhibit and house its 25,000 object collection.

Call to Artists

This competition is open to all artists, 18 years of age and over, who presently live in or have previously lived in the state of Ohio. All works must be original, completed in the last two years, and not previously exhibited at the Zanesville Museum of Art. Accepted works may not be withdrawn by the artist prior to the close of the exhibition and artists must abide by the specifications outlined below. Entry application submission shall be taken as an agreement to all conditions stipulated in the entry form. Apply today at www.callforentry.org/.

Key Dates for Artists

Wednesday, February 19 - Application opens

Friday, April 25 - Application closes

Monday, May 12 - Acceptance notifications emailed to applicants. Acceptance is also available on CaFE

Monday, May 19 - Postmark shipping deadline for artwork.

  • All work should be shipped to:

    Zanesville Museum of Art

    C/O Ohio Annual

    620 Military Road, Zanesville, Ohio 43701

  • Please include a return shipping label.

  • A delivery confirmation email will be sent to the artist’s email on file in the Ohio Annual application. Please allow 48 hours for a delivery confirmation email. If you have not received a delivery confirmation email from the ZMA, please email ohioannual@zanesvilleart.org.

Friday, May 30–Sunday, June 1 - Hand-deliver artwork to the Zanesville Museum of Art.

The ZMA is located at 620 Military Road, Zanesville, Ohio 43701.

Artwork delivery dates and times:
Friday, May 30, from 10 am–3 pm
Saturday, May 31, from 12–4 pm
Sunday, June 1, 12–4 pm

Artists unable to drop off their work during these times should email ohioannual@zanesvilleart.org to schedule an alternative appointment. All artwork needs to be onsite by Sunday, June 1, 2025, to been included in the exhibition.

Thursday, June 26 - Exhibition opening 5:30–7:30 pm. The award ceremony begins at 6pm.

Saturday, September 13 - 79th Ohio Annual Exhibition closes.

Saturday, September 13–Sunday, 14 - Pickup artwork at the Zanesville Museum of Art

The ZMA is located at 620 Military Road, Zanesville, Ohio 43701.

Artwork pick up dates and times:
Saturday, September 13, 5:30–7 pm
Sunday, September 14, 12–5pm

Artists unable to pick up their work during this window should email ohioannual@zanesvilleart.org by Friday, August 29, 2025 to schedule an alternative appointment to pick up their artwork.

Tuesday, September 16 - Artwork will be scheduled for shipment to those artists who shipped their work to the ZMA.

Categories

1   Painting, All Types
2   Drawing, Prints, and Collage
3   Sculpture
4   Jewelry and Functional Metalwork
5   Ceramics
6   Glass
7   Photography
8   Fiber Art, Textiles, and Quilts

Submission Requirements

Artwork entered into this exhibition must not exceed 72”h x 72”w and 100lbs. No more than two artworks may be submitted by each artist for consideration in the Ohio Annual Exhibition. Whenever categories are in question, final decisions will be made by museum staff. The ZMA reserves the right to reject entries deemed unacceptable. Payment of entry fee does not ensure acceptance of any and all artworks submitted. The ZMA does not provide a refund of the entry fee.

Image format

  • Please make sure the images of your original artwork are of the highest qualitywww.callforentry.org

  • All artwork will be juried based on the high-resolution digital images submitted with the entry form.

  • Each image should be a .JPG and a minimum of 3,300 pixels tall by 2,550 pixels wide, 300 DPI. Images that adhere to these guidelines may be considered for inclusion in promotional materials including the ZMA Member Bulletin and exhibition postcard. Images of accepted artworks will be retained by the ZMA for educational and promotional purposes.

  • Please submit one image of each two-dimensional submission and two different images of each fiber or three-dimensional submission.

  • The title of each image should follow these guidelines:  

    Artist Last Name Artist First Name Category # Title.JPG

    (For example, KappesKarl1EveningLandscape.JPG).

  • The ZMA reserves the right to reject an artwork if that artwork was not accurately or clearly represented during the submission process.  

Apply Online, by Mail, or in Person 

Apply and submit the entry form and fee online at www.callforentry.org by April 25, 2025.

Apply and submit the entry form and fee by mail or in person by clicking on, then printing a copy of the entry form, which can be found to the right.

Please mail or deliver the following items to complete the application:

  • Completed entry form

  • USB Stick / Thumb Drive with labeled images. Please do not email images.

  • The entry fee (check made payable to the Zanesville Museum of Art) should be mailed or delivered to:

    Zanesville Museum of Art
    C/O Ohio Annual
    620 Military Road, Zanesville, Ohio 43701

  • The postmark deadline is April 25, 2025. 

Entry Fee

The entry fee is $25 for each work submitted for jury. Each artist may submit a maximum of two works. Entry fee payment does not guarantee acceptance into the 79th Ohio Annual Exhibition and the ZMA does not provide a refund for entry fees. 

Sales and Insurance

Artwork should be eligible for sale. The ZMA will retain a 30% commission on all artwork sold from this exhibition. Prices of accepted works may not be change after submission deadline and all artwork for sale will be insured at the sale value. The insurance value may not exceed fair market value and must be provided on the entry form. Artwork that is not for sale must be marked NFS on the entry form.

Artwork Display Requirements

  • Two-dimensional submissions must come framed and ready to hang with D-rings. Please note, we will not hang artwork from wire, only D-Rings. View a 1-minute D-Ring video tutorial

  • Upon delivery, all artwork must be dry and in stable condition. The ZMA has the right to reject art work accepted into the exhibition if, upon delivery, it is not in stable condition or if the artwork is not properly seated and secure in its frame.

  • Please attach a label with your last name, first name, and artwork title to the lower right back section of a two-dimensional work or to the bottom of a three-dimensional work.

    • For example: Kappes, Karl, Evening Landscape

  • Please note: Some 3-dimensional work may require the museum to affix museum wax to secure the work to the pedestal.

Delivery and Pick Up

  • Artists are responsible for the transit of artwork to and from the ZMA. 

  • Please email the ZMA to authorize another party to deliver or pick up their artwork.

Ship your work to the ZMA

  • Shipped artworks must be postmarked by Monday, May 19, 2025.

  • Ship artwork to:

    Zanesville Museum of Art
    c/o Ohio Annual
    620 Military Road
    Zanesville, Ohio 43701.

  • Please include a return shipping label in your original shipping container, box, or crate.

  • COD shipments will not be accepted.

  • A delivery confirmation email will be sent upon receipt to the email included in the application. Please ensure that the ZMA has the most up-to-date email. If you do not receive a delivery confirmation email, please confirm delivery by emailing ohioannual@zanesvilleart.org. Please allow 48 hours for a response.

  • Artworks shipped to the ZMA will be shipped back to the artist using the enclosed shipping label. A return shipping label should included in the shipping box covering full return shipping charges.

  • Artwork will be scheduled for return shipment on Tuesday,

Hand-deliver your artwork to the ZMA

  • Please plan to deliver artwork at the Zanesville Museum of Art, 620 Military Road, Zanesville, Ohio 43701, during the following days:

    • Friday, May 30, from 10 am–3 pm

    • Saturday, May 31, from 12–4 pm

    • Sunday, June 1, 12–4 pm

    • Artists unable to drop off their work during this three-day window should email ohioannual@zanesvilleart.org to schedule an alternative delivery appointment.

  • The ZMA is not liable for any damage or loss incurred in transit. Settlement for any artworks damaged in transit will be the responsibility of the artist and shipper.

Pickup your artwork at the ZMA

  • Please plan to deliver artwork at the Zanesville Museum of Art, 620 Military Road, Zanesville, Ohio 43701, during the following days:

    • Saturday, September 13, 2025, 5:30–7 pm

    • Sunday, September 14, 2025, 12–5pm

    • Artists unable to pick up their work during this window two-day weekend window should email ohioannual@zanesvilleart.org to schedule an alternative pickup appointment.

Awards

The ZMA’s Executive Director and the 79th Ohio Annual Exhibition juror will present the cash prizes and awards during the exhibition opening Thursday, June 26, 2025, from 5:30 to 7:30 pm. All award and prize decisions are final and at the discretion of the museum and exhibition juror.


Awards and prizes will be presented in the following categories:

Best of Show, $1,000

1 Painting, All Types, $100

2 Drawing, Prints, and Collage, $100

3 Sculpture, $100

4 Jewelry and Functional Metalwork, $100

5 Ceramics, The Ceramics Heritage Award, $500

6 Glass, $100

7 Photography, $100

9 Fiber Art, Textiles, and Quilts, The Janice Ballas Excellence in Fiber Arts, $250

 *Please note, if a category receives only a single applicant, that applicant is not granted an award by default. Decisions remain at the discretion of the juror.