Prospectus
Smithsonian Craft Show
Preview Night Benefit: April 23, 2025
Show Dates: April 24 - 27, 2025
SHOW:
The 2025 Smithsonian Craft Show will feature America's finest artisans and celebrate their vision of what might be. It is a juried exhibition and sale of contemporary craft and design held annually in Washington DC. Three expert jurors, newly selected each year, choose 120 artists from a large pool of applicants.
Previous exhibitors must re-apply each year. No one is grandfathered into the show. There is no quota for any category of Craft Art. Artists are selected based on the originality, artistic conception, beauty, and quality of their work. The show is produced by the Smithsonian Women's Committee. Proceeds from the show fund grants that benefit the Smithsonian's education, outreach, conservation, and research programs.
The Smithsonian Craft Show is produced by the Smithsonian Women’s Committee (SWC) as a fund-raising event for the Smithsonian Institution. Since its inception, SWC has awarded more than 14 MILLION dollars in grants to Smithsonian organizations throughout the world.
The Craft Show does not charge sales commissions. However, accepted artists are encouraged to donate an item for the Show’s Online Auction or other fund-raising initiatives, the proceeds of which benefit the Smithsonian.
APPLICATION DEADLINES AND FEES:
Electronic applications are due by September 3, 2024.
The fee for applying is $50. NOTICE: The application fee is non-refundable and due at the time you fill out the online application and accept its terms and conditions.
LATE APPLICATIONS will be accepted until September 17, 2024 (midnight PT). The fee for late applications is $75. The late application fee includes the basic application fee of $50 and a late penalty of $25. The $75 fee must be included with all electronic applications submitted after September 3, 2024. Late electronic applications will not be accepted after September 17, 20234.
DATES OF SHOW:
Preview Night Benefit: April 23, 2025
Show days: April 24 - 27, 2025
LOCATION:
National Building Museum, 401 F Street, NW, Washington, DC 20001
Judiciary Square Metro Station (Red Line)
ELIGIBILITY:
The Smithsonian Craft Show is committed to presenting the most thoughtful, original, and skilled American craft and design objects. The Craft Show is looking for artists who produce one-of-a-kind and limited-edition objects that have been conceived and perfected by the artist's own hands and created in the artist’s studio. All work submitted to the Smithsonian Craft Show must be created and made in the United States.
The Smithsonian Craft Show encourages artists to continue to grow and stretch the limits of their media. The exploration of new and innovative technology has historically been a part of craft practice. New technologies such as computer-aided design and manufacturing (CAD/CAM) are increasingly prevalent in the designing and making of contemporary studio crafts. Because we recognize that new technologies are increasingly helpful in this process, it is acceptable to submit work in which CAD/CAM and other industrial techniques such as 3-D printing tools are used in the creative process.
The use of repurposed materials, including found objects and sustainable practices, should be included in the Artist’s Statement, if applicable.
Only U.S. residents who make their work in the U.S. are eligible to apply.
ACCEPTABLE MEDIA CATEGORIES:
Basketry, ceramics, decorative fiber, furniture, glass, jewelry, leather, metal, mixed media, paper, wearable art, and wood.
The artist should apply in the category that best describes his/her medium. For instance, a jewelry artist using metal should not apply in the metal category. Other media not listed above may be included in the mixed media category when it is combined with one of the Show's established media.
The following categories are not included in the Smithsonian Craft Show: Objects mass produced using 3D printing technology, paintings, prints, graphics, photography, mass-produced work, soap, or objects made from commercial kits. In addition, works that incorporate materials and parts acquired from the killing of endangered species (e.g., feathers, tusks) or elephant or mammoth ivory do not qualify. Nor do arrangements of dried or silk flowers, bonsai, or embellished commercially made objects (e.g., t-shirts, note cards, etc.).
The Smithsonian Women’s Committee reserves the right to examine applicants’ web pages and any available documentation to determine that an artist is in compliance with the terms of our application.
AWARDS:
The Smithsonian Women's Committee recognizes outstanding work exhibited at the Craft Show by presenting a number of awards. The awards include Gold, Silver and Bronze levels of distinction, Excellence within select categories (such as jewelry, glass, ceramics, etc.), as well as several Exhibitors' Choice Awards. Cash awards range from $500 to $1500. "Honoring the Future Sustainability Award" of $1,000 will be offered. The purpose of this award is to educate the public about climate change and to inspire and model sustainable responses to this problem.
TO ENTER:
Each applicant must submit an application, the non-refundable fee, and five (5) electronic images for consideration by the jury and a (1) booth image. The images must be fully representative of the work you will sell at the Craft Show.
Images should be at least 750px at the smallest dimension and can be up to 10,950px. We support up to 300 DPI/PPI images, however the file size is capped at 50MB per image, so if you upload an image in maximum detail, you will need to use a file format which compresses the file such as JPG. The system supports 10,950 x 10,950 @ 300 DPI, which equates to 120 Megapixel images.
Artists are encouraged to update their portfolio with new images and consider improving the quality of previously submitted images to meet these specifications.
Craft artists who work together may apply as one if they collaborate on every piece of work.
MULTIPLE ENTRIES:
If you enter in more than one medium, you must submit separate applications, fees, and slides for each category for which you wish to be considered. If only one application is accepted, you may only exhibit work in that medium.
ACCEPTANCE:
EXHIBITORS' DIRECTORY
The 120 top applicants with the highest scores will be invited to exhibit. You will be notified of your status directly after the jury's decision. If you applied electronically, you may look up the status of your application(s) online by clicking on the Manage Application function of the Juried Art Services web site. The Smithsonian Craft Show website will post a 2025 Exhibitors’ Directory. The site will include the 5 images submitted by each artist, with titles and dimensions. Information and images will be taken directly from the Juried Art Services website.
Therefore, please submit the following information accurately:
1. Your name as you wish to be listed;
2. Your preferred U.S. mail address;
3. Your phone numbers, website and email address;
4. Correct identification for your images.
BOOTH FEES:
2025 Craft Show booth fees ranged from $1,300 to $2000, depending on size and location of the booth.
Craft artists who work together and apply as one entity pay only one booth fee. All other artists must pay the full booth fee even if they choose to share a booth with another craft artist. Exhibitors must supply their own booth structures. The Smithsonian Craft Show will supply electrical outlets.
SECURITY:
The Smithsonian Craft Show provides security. However, you will exhibit all work at your own risk and should carry appropriate insurance. An overnight lock-up is available to jewelers for a minimal fee. The Smithsonian Women's Committee, the Smithsonian, and the Smithsonian Craft Show will not be held responsible for damage, theft, or loss of your work or that of any other craft artist.
INQUIRIES:
Address all correspondence and inquiries to:
Smithsonian Craft Show
MRC 527 PO Box 37012
Washington, DC 20013-7012
E-mail: austrpr@si.edu
Web site: www.smithsoniancraftshow.org
The Smithsonian Craft Show complies with the American Disabilities Act to enable all craft artists to participate fully in the Craft Show.
ARTIST STATEMENT:
All applicants are required to submit an artist statement limited to 1000 characters. Include information regarding the use or application of environmentally friendly materials and techniques in your work if applicable.
STATUS REVIEW AND EDITING FUNCTION:
You will be able to check your application after you have set it up in the system. This feature enables you to access your application as it will appear to the judges and: 1) edit the copy submitted up until September 17, 2024; 2) verify that your payment has been received (if you find your payment has not been received, please call the Smithsonian Women’s Committee Office at: 888-832-9554); and 3) find the results of the jurying process.
Results of the jurying process will be emailed to each applicant no later than the last week of November, 2024.
Thank you for applying to the Smithsonian Craft Show.