The 37th Annual
American Craft Exposition (ACE)
**Important Notice**
ACE 2021 is still accepting applications until March 29 Apr 1 for its free, virtual online show. Although we will no longer hold an in-person show, we will jury all 2021 applicants and host an online show for all accepted artists. If accepted, there will be no virtual booth fees and no commission is taken on sales. Artists accepted are not required to have or create a specific e-commerce website separate from the tools an artist currently uses to do business online.
In addition, all 2021 applicants, whether or not they are accepted into our virtual show this year, will be juried in the spring of 2022 for our live ACE show in 2022 at no additional cost. ACE 2022 is scheduled for September 29 – October 2, 2022, at the Chicago Botanic Garden, Glencoe, Illinois.
The decision to pivot our show from live to virtual was a very difficult one for us, however, many factors regarding the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic contributed to this decision. We look forward to seeing everyone in person as soon as it’s safe to do so. For now, your safety and that of our guests and volunteers must be our priority.
   
The 37th Annual American Craft Exposition (ACE), is a juried exhibition and sale presented by The Auxiliary of NorthShore University HealthSystem (NorthShore).
Proceeds from ACE will support an initiative entitled “SAVE MOMS,” which aims to use advanced solutions to protect and preserve maternal health at NorthShore University HealthSystem.
Deadline for Applications
Deadline for Applications: March 29, 2021
APPLICATIONS AND FEES
When submitting credit card payment please click pay only one time and wait 24 hours. Then check “My Applications” to confirm payment has posted.
Applicants must use the electronic application system to submit their information and five (5) digital images. A nonrefundable fee of $50 for applying electronically is payable online by American Express, Discover, MasterCard or VISA from December 1, 2020 through March 29, 2021. Your ACE 2021 application and $50 fee will also roll over to our live ACE 2022 show, where you will be juried again in the spring of 2022. ACE 2022 is scheduled for September 29 – October 2, 2022.
Emerging Artists
To encourage the participation of craftsmen who are beginning their careers, an Emerging Artist category is available. This option is open only to those who have been practicing their craft for six years or less and who have never exhibited at ACE. If you choose to apply as an emerging artist, you must do so exclusively. The application procedure and fees are the same as for other applicants. However, those who check the emerging artist category will be juried separately from the other applicants. If you are accepted as an Emerging Artist into the virtual online ACE 2021 show, your roll-over application for ACE 2022 will be placed in your media category and not as an Emerging Artist again.
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Eligibility:
The American Craft Exposition is open to all artists who are residents of and working in the United States. Work must be produced in the U.S. by the craftsmen or under their personal supervision. Work should be made by hand or with appropriate tools. Eligible media categories include baskets, ceramics, fiber decorative, fiber wearable, furniture, glass, fine/precious jewelry, contemporary/semi-precious jewelry, leather, metal, mixed media, paper and wood. Categories not accepted: fine arts such as painting, photography, lithography, etc., except when incorporated into an otherwise acceptable craft category; dried flower arrangements; pressed flowers; seed and pod decorations; cut bottles and embellished objects such as painted boxes, weather boards, shells, buttons, decorated furniture and handmade reproductions. Objects made from commercial kits or commercially available plans are also not acceptable.
Media Categories:
The function of the work rather than the material should determine the media.
DEFINITIONS OF MEDIA CATEGORIES:
BASKETS: Functional and sculptural work; material used is woven or plaited.
CERAMICS: Functional and sculptural work; primary material is clay.
FIBER DECORATIVE: Wall hangings, quilts, rugs, etc.; primary material is fiber.
FIBER WEARABLE: Work that is primarily intended to be worn.
FURNITURE: Work that has the primary function of furniture. All materials are included.
GLASS: Functional and sculptural work; primary material is glass.
FINE/PRECIOUS JEWELRY: Work which has the primary function as jewelry; material used is platinum, gold, sterling silver, precious gems.
CONTEMPORARY/SEMI-PRECIOUS JEWELRY: Work which has the primary function as jewelry; material used is metal, enamel, glass, paper, fiber/fabric/felt, polymers, clay, wood, leather, recycled materials.
LEATHER: Functional, wearable and sculptural work; primary material is leather.
METAL: Functional and sculptural work; primary material is metal.
MIXED MEDIA: Work which is the union of two or more media.
PAPER: Functional and sculptural work; primary material is handmade paper.
WOOD: Functional and sculptural work; primary material is wood.
A craftsman who wishes to apply in different media categories must submit applications in each category. If only one application is accepted, only work in that category may be exhibited. More than one application in the same media category is not acceptable. We reserve the right to place a craftsman in another media category. An artist may bring up to 10% of items from a different category; however, the different items must be done in the same media (i.e., an artist who has juried in under the wood category may bring wood jewelry). A slide of this work must have been included in the artist’s application.
Application and Fees:
Applicants should submit their information and five (5) electronic images: Do Not Send Booth Images. A nonrefundable application fee of $50 is payable online by American Express, Discover, MasterCard or VISA by March 29, 2021. Your ACE 2021 application and $50 fee will also roll over to our live ACE 2022 show, where you will be juried again in the spring of 2022. ACE 2022 is scheduled for September 29 – October 2, 2022.
Acceptance Information:
Notification of the jury's decision will be by e-mail directly following the jurying and not later than end of day on April 22, 2021. More information and details regarding the free virtual online ACE 2021 show will be emailed to all artists who have been accepted.
Virtual Online ACE 2021 Show:
No virtual booth fees and no commission is taken on sales.
Artists accepted into the virtual online ACE 2021 show are not required to have or create a specific e-commerce website separate from the tools you currently use to do business online. We are planning exciting ways to promote accepted artists’ work on our ACE website and across social media in the months leading up to our original show weekend of September 24 – 26, 2021.
www.americancraftexpo.org
Office Phone: (224) 364-7270
Office Fax: (224) 364-7245
Written correspondence should be addressed to:
American Craft Exposition
c/o The Auxiliary of NorthShore
1033 University Place, Suite 450
Evanston, IL 60201
Show Director Chair:
Leslie Sevcik
(847) 363-1893
2021 Show Co-Chairs:
Kathy Gianaras
(708) 284-1850
Alexis Washa
(847) 420-2787
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