THE 2025 CALL FOR SHOW APPLICATIONS IS NOW CLOSED.

THE APPLICATION PROCESS FOR THE 2025 SHOW IS NOW CLOSED.
Direct all questions to Show Manager Nancy O’Meara via email: nancy.omeara@philamuseum.org.

                             APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS
THE SHOW

The 49th Annual Philadelphia Museum of Art Craft Show, a juried exhibition and retail sale, will be held in-person at the Pennsylvania Convention Center from November 7-9, 2025, with a Preview Party on Thursday, November 6. The jury will accept 195 craft artists.  This Show of Art by Hand serves as the Museum's largest yearly fundraising event and is devoted to bringing wide public attention to the field of craft art. Cumulative 48-year contribution: $15 million. Funds raised are used to purchase works of art and craft for the permanent collections of the Philadelphia Museum of Art, to support exhibitions and education programs and to contribute to conservation and publication projects.

APPLICATION INFORMATION, DEADLINES AND FEES

Juried Art Services (juriedartservices.com) is the Show's host for electronic applications. To contact them directly: support@jurying.net or 954-418-2827.

 

Each year the non-refundable processing fee for applying electronically by April 1, is $50.00, at 11:59 PM PST, payable online* at the time the application is completed.

The non-refundable processing for applying during the late deadline period, between April 2, 2025 and April 17, 2025 at 11:59.PM PST,. is $75.  Payable online at the time the application is completed.

Images must be no smaller than 750px and no larger than 10,000px. Refer to the help menu on the Juried Art Services site and review the Application Check List. Contact Juried Art Services directly for technical assistance.

All applicants are required to submit an artist statement limited to 700 characters. Include information useful to jurors such as use or application of materials and techniques used in your work.  

*If you prefer to pay by check, make check payable to PMA CRAFT SHOW and mail to PMA CRAFT SHOW, PO BOX 7646, PHILADELPHIA, PA 19101. include your application identification number so that we may credit your account appropriately.

Each entrant must submit five (5) images for consideration by the jury. Images must be of current work and representative of work entrant plans to exhibit at the show. Do not submit a booth display image.

EMERGING ARTISTS

To encourage the participation of craft artists who are beginning their careers, an Emerging Artist category is available. At the 2024 Show, seven (7) emerging artists participated. This option is open only to those who have been working at their craft for six (6) years or less and who have never exhibited at the Show. The application procedure and fees are the same as above. However, those who check the Emerging Artist category will be juried in that same category. If you choose to apply as an Emerging Artist, you must do so exclusively. Those who are accepted will have two booth options: to share a booth with one other emerging artist or pay the special reduced fee of $1,000 for a 10'x10' booth space. 

SHOW DATES 2025

November 7 - 11 am - 7 pm 
November 8 - 10 am - 6 pm
November 9 - 10 am - 5 pm

LOCATION

Pennsylvania Convention Center
12th & Arch Streets, Philadelphia, PA 19107

ELIGIBILITY

The Show is open to all craft artists who are residents of and working in the United States. All work, whether one-of-a-kind pieces or limited editions, should be well conceived and expertly executed without technical faults; works should be made by hand or with the use of appropriate tools, showing imagination and the mark of the craft artist's individuality.

CATEGORIES:

Basketry, ceramics, fiber, furniture (includes all media), glass, jewelry, leather, metal, mixed media, handmade paper, art-to-wear and wood.

CATEGORIES NOT INCLUDED:

Calligraphy, fine arts such as painting, photography, lithography, etc., except when incorporated into an otherwise acceptable craft category; candles; handmade soap; dried flower arrangements; pressed flowers; seed and pod decorations; mass-produced work, commercially made objects that have been embellished such as bottles, boxes, bowls, eggs, weather boards, stones, shells, buttons, decorated furniture and handmade reproductions. Objects made from commercial kits or commercially available plans are not acceptable.

DEFINITION OF MEDIA CATEGORIES

Basketry Functional and sculptural works where the material used is woven or plaited.
Ceramics Functional and sculptural work where the primary material is clay.
Emerging This category is open to any medium but is exclusive to those who have been working in their medium for six (6) years or less and who have never exhibited at the Show.
Fiber Decorative Wall hangings, quilts, rugs, etc., where the primary material is fiber.
Fiber Wearable Work where the primary intention is to be worn and where the primary material is fiber (not including leather).
Furniture Work where the primary intention is furniture, including clocks and lamps. All media are included.
Glass Functional and sculptural work where the primary material is glass that has been hand formed, hand worked, hand blown or hand cast.
Jewelry All jewelry made from 14k gold, 14k gold & precious stones, sterling silver & precious stones, non-precious metals and other materials such as glass, clay, paper, fiber, wood, leather, and polymer clay.
Leather Work where the primary material is leather, including belts, handbags, wearables and sculptural work.
Metal Functional and sculptural work where the primary material is metal.
Mixed Media Work where the primary intention of the work is the union of two or more media. Soft sculptures and musical instruments are included in this category.
Paper Functional and sculptural work created primarily from handmade paper.
Wood Functional and sculptural work where the primary material is wood.

COMPLETING THE APPLICATION

When choosing a media category, allow the function of the work to determine the category rather than the material (i.e., metal furniture should apply in furniture and not in metal). For further information, see media definitions. When preparing images, remember it is the majority of work that determines media category. Do not send booth shots. If an individual craft artist wishes to apply in two different media categories, two separate applications using different images must be submitted. If only one application is accepted, only work in that medium may be exhibited. If an individual is working in a variety of styles within one medium, then he or she should submit only one (five images) application reflecting these various styles. If an individual does both one-of-a-kind and production work, for example, images of each kind of work must be shown in the same proportion to be exhibited at the Craft Show. Craft artists working together may apply as one if they collaborate on every piece. If accepted, they may exhibit only pieces that are a part of the collaboration.

ACCEPTANCE

Email notification will be sent no later than June 3, 2025. The top 195 craft artists will be accepted. There is no quota system for each category, however, the Philadelphia Museum of Art Craft Show reserves the right to create balance for the show. At the same time, 40 plus craft artists will be placed on a Standby Status list and Show positions will be offered as they become available.

INQUIRIES

All correspondence and inquiries should be addressed to:
telephone 215.684.7930 e-mail nancy.omeara@philamuseum.org
PMA - Craft Show
Philadelphia Museum of Art
PO Box 7646, Philadelphia, PA 19101

JURY, 2025

Elisabeth Agro, Philadelphia, PA, The Nancy M. McNeil Curator of American Modern and Contemporary Crafts and Decorative Arts, Philadelphia Museum of Art
Bill Gudenrath, Corning, NY, Resident Advisor, Corning Museum of Glass 
Jennifer Martin, Philadelphia, PA, Executive Director, Clay Studio
Michael Puryear, Hudson Valley, NY, Designer, Furniture Maker and Teacher
John Rais, Philadelphia, PA, Metal artist

AWARDS

In addition to the Best of Show award ($1,500), there are nine (9) cash awards ($1,000 each) for excellence selected and sponsored by foundations, individuals and arts organizations. These awards are presented at the Preview Party.
Award recipients are automatically accepted to the following Show year. 2024 Award recipients must submit an application and processing fee to participate in the 2025 Show.

EXHIBITING ARTISTS’ LISTING ON WEBSITE

Once all the artists have been notified and have accepted, the five (5) images submitted in the application process by each artist will be posted up on the Philadelphia Museum of Art Craft Show website. Please check all information for accuracy, including your name as it should appear, address, phone numbers, email address and website.

EXHIBITION AREA

The Pennsylvania Convention Center is a facility with one large unencumbered exhibition space. There is ample room for booths and large crowds and it is conveniently located to restaurants, shops and public transportation.

BOOTH SPACE FEE 

10' x 10' standard $1,000 for artists applying and accepted in Emerging Artist only category
10' x 10' standard $1,350
10' x 10' corner $1,650
20' x 5' corner end cap $1,850
10' x 15' standard $1,850
10'x 15' corner $2,050
22' x 10' end cap $2,500
REQUESTS CONSIDERED ON A FIRST COME, FIRST SERVED BASIS

  • ARTISTS MUST FURNISH OR RENT THEIR OWN DISPLAY EQUIPMENT, INCLUDING BOOTH WALLS OR PIPE & DRAPE, CARPET, CHAIRS, DISPLAY CASES AND LIGHTS. BOOTH SPACE FEE DOES NOT INCLUDE ELECTRICAL SERVICE.

  • ARTISTS MUST BE PRESENT IN THEIR BOOTH DURING SHOW HOURS.

THE PHILADELPHIA MUSEUM OF ART CRAFT SHOW OFFERS THE FOLLOWING FREE OF CHARGE TO EXHIBITING ARTISTS:

  • WIFI (LIMITED TO CHECKING EMAILS AND COMPLETING SALES TRANSACTIONS ONLINE)

  • BEVERAGES AND SNACKS AT THE EXHIBITOR HOSPITALITY LOUNGE

  • SIGN WITH NAME, CITY, STATE AND BOOTH NUMBER

  • LISTING AND THUMBNAIL IMAGE INCLUDED IN SHOW PROGRAM BOOK

  • SHOW POSTCARDS FOR MAILING TO CUSTOMERS

  • BOOTH SITTING BY VOLUNTEERS

  • ONLINE DIRECTORY LISTING AND LINK TO WEBSITE

LIABILITY & INSURANCE
The Philadelphia Museum of Art Craft Show will provide security on the grounds both day and night; however, each craft artist exhibits at his or her own risk and should carry appropriate insurance. Neither the Women's Committee of the Philadelphia Museum of Art, Philadelphia Museum of Art or Philadelphia Museum of Art Craft Show is responsible for damage, theft or loss of an individual's work.

SHOW SCHEDULE 2025 - NOTE DATES AND HOURS!
November 5-6  Exhibitor MOVE-IN & setup days     
Thursday, November 6, 4:00 to 9:00 pm, Preview Reception
Friday, November 7, 11:00 am to 7:00 pm, Open to the public 
Saturday, November 8, 10:00 am 6:00 pm, Open to the public
Sunday, November 9, 10:00 am to 5:00 pm, Open to the public

CHECKLIST

  • COMPLETED THE APPLICATION FORM ON JURIED ART SERVICES?

  • UPDATED YOUR CONTACT INFORMATION ON JURIED ART SERVICES?

  • SENT APPROPRIATE PROCESSING PAYMENT?

  • SELECTED THE CORRECT CATEGORY?

  • POSTED 5 IMAGES OF YOUR WORK AND CLEARLY IDENTIFIED THEM?