ODC Best of 2026

Description

Ohio Designer Craftsmen's "Best of 2026"

About The Exhibition
Now in its 43rd year, Ohio Designer Craftsmen's annual juried members' exhibition, “The Best of...,” features works in all fine craft media by established and emerging artists. Regarded as a significant exhibition of fine craft, “The Best of 2026” showcases contemporary functional, sculptural and decorative approaches to works in clay, fiber, wood, glass, metal, jewelry or mixed media. Over $8000 in juror-selected artist awards are presented by ODC each year.

Entry Deadline
Registration is now open. Registration deadline: Friday, February 13, 2026, until midnight EST. 

Eligibility

Open to artists in all 50 states and the District of Columbia working in fine craft media, including clay, fiber, glass, wood, metal and 3D mixed media. 2D work must contain a fine-craft element.Membership will be required upon acceptance. Click here to become a new member or to renew your membership.We are proud of the fact that many of our staff and Board members are professional artists. As such, they are permitted to apply as ODC members, but they are not eligible for awards.

Submitted work must be original and handcrafted, must have been created within the last three years, and must not have been exhibited in any previous ODC/OCM exhibition.
 

Submission Guidelines

Entry fee: $30; undergraduate students, $20.

Open to all fine craft media, including clay, fiber, glass, wood, metal and 3D mixed media. 2D work must contain a fine-craft element.

Artists may enter up to three works. (A set, such as a pair of earrings, constitutes one work.) Each entry requires a full image and a detail image of the work.Minimum image dimensions (longest side): 1920 px. Maximum image dimensions: 4800 px.

Work must be available March 30 through November 2026. Please reserve the work you enter to ensure availability.

Museum access limits the size of art in boxes or crates to 82" in height, 31" in width. Works may not exceed 9 feet or 100 lbs. in weight.

ODC will bar from exhibition works that have been altered from the entry.

Artist is responsible for picking up work in November 2026 or arranging for return shipping. Return shipping charges will be the artist's responsibility.
 

Juror
We are thrilled to have Carol Sauvion as this year's juror! Sauvion is the creator of the Peabody-award-winning PBS series, Craft in America, and executive director of the Craft in America nonprofit organization, whose mission is to promote and advance original handcrafted work through educational programs in all media. Craft is Sauvion’s lifelong passion. She opened Freehand Gallery (specializing in fine craft) in Los Angeles over 40 years ago, and she continues to oversee its operations today. Prior to opening the gallery, she was a professional potter for ten years.
Sauvion received her degree in art history from Manhattanville College in Purchase, New York. She has served on the boards of the Craft Emergency Relief Fund and the American Craft Council. In 2025, Sauvion received the Award of Distinction from the American Craft Council. This biannual award recognizes an organization, institution, corporation or individual who has made significant contributions to the field of craft with a minimum of 25 years of service.

Commission
ODC’s commission for any work sold is 40%. Price your work to reflect our commission. Any piece sold within 30 days of the close of “The Best of 2026” (and its traveling segment) shall be considered as having been sold as a result of its exposure during the show, and the 40% commission will be remitted.
 
Insurance
Work is insured by ODC during exhibition and in transit to other venues. Insurance values should not exceed 60% of the retail price. Work not for sale (NFS) must list a value for insurance. The museum cannot insure any work for an amount in excess of its fair market value, and reserves the right to limit the amount of insurance coverage on a particular piece. In the event of loss or damage, it will be the artist’s responsibility to provide documentation concerning the value of the work and extent of the claim.

Awards
Over $8000 in awards are presented, including:
$2000 Challenge Award for Excellence
$2000 Yassenoff Family Award for Excellence and Watkins Printing Poster Award
$1000 Director Emeritus Betty Talbott Award for Excellence
Plus awards for excellence in specific mediums

The following awards require additional steps to apply: 
$1000 Artist Scholarship Award (apply after acceptance)
Once accepted into the exhibition, you are eligible to be considered for the $1000 Artist Scholarship Award. The scholarship must be used to attend a workshop in the artist's field. To be considered for this scholarship after acceptance, please e-mail  jriley@ohiocraft.org with your responses to the following: Workshop description, including title and artist/instructor, price, dates, location, and how this workshop will enhance your current work or take it in a new direction. This award will be chosen by members of the ODC Board of Trustees. Please do not e-mail responses until after acceptance.
$250 ODC Board of Trustees Emerging Craftsman Award (apply at time of Best of 2026 submission)
To be considered for this award, artists must be 30 years of age or younger. To apply, upload a photograph of your driver's license or other ID at time of application. Award chosen by juror.

Notification
Notifications will be sent via e-mail in early March. Be sure to enter a valid e-mail address.

Calendar
Entry deadline: Friday, February 13, 2026
Jury results and award notifications e-mailed to artists: early March 2026
Accepted work due: March 30–April 4, 2026
Opening and awards ceremony at the Ohio Craft Museum: Sunday, May 3, 2026
Exhibition dates:
Ohio Craft Museum, Columbus, OH: May 3–July 3, 2026Second Venue: Kent State University Galleries, Kent, Ohio: mid August–mid October 2026
Work returns to ODC: November 2026
Artist pick-up: Artists will be notified after the exhibition closes when works are available for pick-up. If artist requires shipping, instructions will be given for making shipping arrangements.

Fees
Entry fee: $30; undergraduate students, $20. To receive a coupon code for the student rate, email a copy of your student ID to info@ohiocraft.org. You have the option to pay via this site, or to pay with check or cash at the Ohio Craft Museum. If you'd like to pay with check or cash, email info@ohiocraft.org or call 614-486-4402. 

Membership to Ohio Designer Craftsmen will be required upon acceptance. An individual membership is $35 annually; senior membership is $25; student membership is $20.  Click here to renew your membership or to become a new member.

Questions?
If you have questions regarding this application or about membership to Ohio Designer Craftsmen, email jriley@ohiocraft.org or call 614-486-4402. See the video below for a brief tutorial on how to use this site and complete your entry.
 
Entry Process Tutorial