--- title: "TOTALLY OPEN: An International Open-Theme Opportunity Exhibit" description: Open-theme, open-media juried exhibition at Manifest Gallery, Cincinnati; $50 honorarium plus a shot at a $1,000 Grand Jury Award. url: https://www.artsume.com/programs/3642a065-f522-4052-a525-77460eb9786c type: program status: open createdAt: "2026-10-24" updatedAt: "2026-10-24" programType: Exhibition organization: Manifest organizationUrl: https://www.artsume.com/o/manifest deadline: "2026-11-22" entryFee: 10 USD location: Manifest Gallery, Cincinnati, OH, United States isOnline: false compensationRange: $50 honorarium for every exhibiting artist, plus a $1,000 Grand Jury Award for one jury-selected work. --- # TOTALLY OPEN: An International Open-Theme Opportunity Exhibit **Hosted by:** Manifest **Type:** Exhibition | **Location:** Manifest Gallery, Cincinnati, OH, United States | **Deadline:** November 22, 2026 | **Entry fee:** $10 ## About This Program ### About This Call The Cincinnati based non-profit arts organization and gallery, Manifest, invites visual artists and designers to submit works of art with no specific theme. Open to all traditional and non-traditional genre and media, including 2D, 3D, etc. Manifest is known for its thoughtful thematic approaches to exhibitions. When we put out a call for works with a subject in mind, the resulting show serves as a survey of contemporary art made about that certain idea. The subjects span geographies, emotions, methods, ideas. Through our over 550 exhibit history Manifest has produced shows exploring hundreds of unique themes. And each work, each theme, has been documented through our exhibition catalogs and award-winning publications. The next creative experiment we want to run, now for a third year in a row, is this: reverse the process and host an open call, then discover the theme (or multiple themes) through the curatorial process, and not before. With an eye still fixed on finding and showcasing exceptional quality visual art, we want to give the artists a chance to steer the epiphanies that a TOTALLY OPEN call will yield. Utilizing a reduced entry fee to lower certain barriers to access, this call is TOTALLY OPEN—completely open to any work, any media, and idea, under the umbrella of "visual art". ### Eligibility TOTALLY OPEN is open to everyone internationally. There is no limitation to this special call. Artists in Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana are encouraged to consider the Regional Showcase exhibition for this exhibit period instead. ### Media Open to all traditional and non-traditional genre and media, including 2D, 3D, etc. Manifest's carefully assembled juries change from project to project, and have no collective predisposition towards any particular kind or style of art. ### Size Limit Manifest has no size restrictions on submissions other than what can fit in their spaces, on their walls, and through their door. ### Date Restrictions Manifest has no requirements on timeframe when submitted works must have been made. While most work submitted has been made within the past five years or so, sometimes older works are submitted and accepted. ### Exhibiting Artist Honoraria Each participating exhibitor will receive a $50 honorarium, intended as a modest thank-you and as possible practical support for shipping, framing, delivery, or travel to attend the Manifest exhibit reception events. ### $9,000 in Grand Jury Awards Since Manifest's 13th season the annual Grand Jury Award has recognized one exhibited work each year with a significant jury-determined cash prize. The current format awards $1,000 to one work during each of nine exhibition periods during Manifest's 23rd season (beginning September 25, 2026 through August 2027), including this one. ### Entry Fee This special project has a dramatically minimized entry fee structure in order to provide access for exhibiting at Manifest to more artists with limited means. $10 per each entry. Fees are non-refundable. Number of entries is unlimited. ### Jury and Curator Manifest's selection process involves a complex two-part system. This exhibit will be juried by an anonymous several member panel of professional and academic advisors with a broad range of expertise relative to art and design. The jury will then pass along their recommendations to the exhibit curator who will make the final selections from the jury-approved pool. ### Sale of Artwork Artworks are not required to be for sale in order to be included. Works must be indicated as either "for sale" or not for sale (NFS). Manifest Gallery will retain a commission of 30% of the sale price on all artwork sold during the exhibition. ### Calendar - November 22: Deadline to Submit - January 25, 2027: Notifications sent by email - February 1 (ASAP): Hi-res images needed for season annual and PR - February 27: Artwork due to Manifest - March 4: Special Preview Event (Ticketed, 7-9pm) - March 5: Opening Reception (6-9pm) - April 2: Final Day of Exhibition ## Eligibility & Requirements - **Geographic Eligibility:** International - **Disciplines:** All disciplines - **Note:** TOTALLY OPEN is open to everyone internationally. There is no limitation to this special call. Artists in Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana are encouraged to consider the Regional Showcase exhibition for this exhibit period instead. ### Additional Requirements - Completed entry form (online submission required) - Entry fee of $10 per work, paid by check/money order payable to Manifest or by credit card via PayPal - Digital images formatted per specifications, loaded to the project Dropbox, or video/interactive work linked on the entry form - Indicate on the entry form whether each work is "for sale" or not for sale (NFS) ## Compensation & Benefits $50 honorarium for every exhibiting artist, plus a $1,000 Grand Jury Award for one jury-selected work. **Includes:** Honorarium, Prize Each participating exhibitor receives a $50 cash honorarium with no strings attached other than full participation in the exhibit. Since Manifest's 13th season, a $1,000 Grand Jury Award has recognized one exhibited work each exhibition period, determined through a second-round jury process involving the top-scoring works from the exhibition's initial jury. Awards are supported by the Manifest Annual Fund and subject to revision based on funding conditions. Honoraria are transferred by check or electronically within 30 days after the close of the exhibition. ## Timeline - **Opens:** October 24, 2026 - **Deadline:** November 22, 2026 - **Program Start:** March 5, 2027 - **Program End:** April 2, 2027 ## Contact **Email:** info@manifestgallery.org ## How to Apply Apply at: https://www.manifestgallery.org/totally-open/