2026 Exhibition Dates: November 11 - December 9
The University of Southern Indiana Annual Juried Student Art Exhibition is a presentation of selected student artworks from the past academic year, held at the McCutchan Art Center / Pace Galleries in the lower level of the Liberal Arts Center. The works are chosen by an expert in the field of art, invited by the Art and Design faculty for his/her expertise and understanding of undergraduate art works. This independent juror is brought in to assure an objective selection of artworks and awards, and to provide an educational experience for students in preparation for professional careers in art. Juried exhibitions are standard procedure in group art exhibitions at universities, museums, and art associations.
The University of Southern Indiana Annual Juried Student Art Exhibition is open to all current students who are enrolled in or completed an art course from Fall 2025 to now.
The artwork submitted to the juror must have been completed within one academic year from when the exhibition is being held, artworks completed during Fall of 2025 up to the present. Works submitted or included in previous exhibitions at the MAC/Pace Galleries cannot be resubmitted.
All artwork submitted for jurying must be the student’s original artwork. Copies of other artists’ work are not acceptable. Consult a faculty member if in doubt.
Entry period closes Thursday, October 15, 2026, at 5 p.m.
No entry fee
Each student may enter up to 4 works in any combination of media. An art faculty member must approve an art “series” before it can be submitted for entry into the show.
Make sure that digital photographs are crisp, accurate, the object being photographed is well lit, any negative space or non-object space surrounding the piece is muted and free of distractions. Submissions that do not follow the guidelines may be excluded from the juror's consideration.
Please title each entry using the following format, "LastName_FirstName#.jpg" (1-4 based upon how many entries you are submitting)
Please submit the image as a JPG, JPEG or PDF. If possible, the resolution for your image should be set to 96 dpi. Again, if possible, the file must be no larger than 12 inches on the longest side, (1200 pixels). Please try to keep each jpegs files smaller than 2 MB. Still images over 10 MB will not be accepted.
Smart phone photographs saved as HEIC will not be accepted. Make sure to convert your phone camera images and title the files to include your name.
Video entries need to be submitted as a MPG, MOV, or MP4. Please keep video files smaller than 100 MB.
If accepted, 2-dimensional works on paper must be matted or mounted piece must be framed under glass or Plexiglas in a simple frame to be hung in the exhibition. No wet work will be accepted for exhibition.
If accepted, all 2-dimensional works must be wired with picture wire for hanging. No sawtooth hangers.
Paintings on canvas or panels should be lattice framed. There will be matting and framing workshops available before the framed work is due for the exhibition. If financial constraints do not allow you to frame your work in this manner, please talk with an art faculty member.
3-dimensional works must accommodate handling and installation without special equipment. Pieces requiring special assembly or having gross weight over 50 lbs. must be cleared with the art faculty before being juried. (Wall assembling must be noted; multi-pieces must include an image of the assembled artwork.)
The art and design faculty retains the right to remove any work deemed not original or that does not meet the above specifications. All works must be ready to hang and delivered to the McCutchan Art Center/Pace Galleries by 4 pm. on Wednesday, Nov. 4 -- no exceptions.
The art and design faculty retains the right to remove any work deemed not original or that does not meet the above specifications. All works must be ready to hang and delivered to the McCutchan Art Center/Pace Galleries by 4 pm. on Wednesday, Nov. 4 -- no exceptions. The gallery will be open from 10am until 4pm for delivery of work.
Area companies and private individuals generously provide funds for awards presented at the USI Annual Juried Student Art Exhibition. Awards are given in the form of Art Scholarships and Purchase Awards.
Awards are given for the quality of student artwork and are awarded at the discretion of the juror.
The 57th Efroymson Family Fund Juried Student Art Show Schedule
Friday, October 2 – Thursday, October 15 (until 5 pm): digital entries accepted
Friday, October 15 – Thursday, October 22: show entries selected by juror from digital submissions
Friday, October 23: Email notifications of accepted work
Framing & Matting Assistance for students will be available during the week of October 26th.
Matting assistance in AC 237, Afternoons. Contact Greg Blair if you want assistance; you must give Greg 24 hours’ notice.
Framing & frame building assistance in AC 110, Mornings Only. Contact Justin Kramer if want assistance, you must give Justin 24 hours’ notice.
Monday, October 26 – Wednesday, November 4, 10 am - 4 pm: Framed and matted works accepted for installation at MAC/Pace
ALL ACCEPTED WORK DUE to McCutchan Art Center by 4:00 PM on Wednesday, November 4. Each piece must be ready to install or hang.
Wednesday, November 11 - Exhibition opens
Thursday, November 12, - 4:30p.m. Kleymeyer Hall (LA0101)
Juror's lecture: Jason Swift will give a presentation about his career path and will also describe his approach to jurying an art exhibit. The public is cordially invited to attend.
Sunday, November 15 Exhibition reception from 1:00 – 3:00p.m., Awards Ceremony begins at 2:00 p.m.
Wednesday, December 9, Show closes
All exhibition work must be picked up Thursday, Dec. 10 – Wednesday Dec. 16 – 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
The McCutchan Art Center/ Pace Galleries has established specific pick-up dates for this exhibition as stated on the entry form. If you are unable to pick up your artwork between the times listed above, you must schedule an appointment.
It is the policy of the McCutchan Art Center/ Pace Galleries, in accordance with insurance guidelines and for the protection of your artwork, that art left 30 days after the close of an exhibit is abandoned property. Artwork that is not picked up or does not have an alternative appointment scheduled by midnight on Monday, June 10th will be considered abandoned. Abandoned work will be assessed and disposed up accordingly. The Art Center will retain the right to use, discard, or gift any abandoned artwork, as it deems appropriate.
Enter Wednesday, October 8 – 5 p.m. Monday, October 13
About the juror
Jason Swift earned his BFA from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro in 1994, his MFA from the Rinehart School of Sculpture at the Maryland Institute, College of Art in 1997 and his EdM in 2003 and EdD in 2009 from Teachers College, Columbia University. He was Artist in Residence for the Curatorial Experiences Program at Maryland Institute, College of Art from 1998 to 1999, guest lecturer at the New School University and at the Central Academy of Fine Arts’ Art Education Leadership Academy in Beijing, China in 2005 and a resident at the Vermont Studio Center in 2006 and 2010. In 1997 Jason was the recipient of the Amalie Rothschild Award, and in 2005 he received the Enid Morse Fellowship for Teaching in the Arts. In 2004 he co-founded the Pearl Street Gallery in Brooklyn, NY. Jason has served as the Director of Exhibition Proposals, Curation and Grant Writing for artHarlem in New York City and was a member of the Board of Curators for Visions in New York City: Short Films and Video. In 2016 he became the Vice President of Development for Integrative Teaching International. Jason has taught at Queens College, Teachers College, Columbia University and Plymouth State University. He is currently Associate Professor and Director of Art Education at the University of West Georgia. In his studio and research practice Jason investigates the influence of experiences upon the artist’s visual vocabulary. His artwork has appeared in exhibitions in the United States, China, and South Korea.
