Smithsonian Craft Show

Preview Night Benefit: April 22, 2026
Show Dates: April 23 - 26, 2026

 ABOUT THE SHOW

THE 2026 SMITHSONIAN CRAFT SHOW, AMERICAN ARTISTRY, will celebrate America’s 250-year tradition of excellence and innovation in craftsmanship and design. This juried exhibition and sale of contemporary craft and design is held annually in Washington DC. Three expert jurors, newly selected each year, choose 120 artists from a large pool of applicants. We are requesting your application to participate in our show. 

Previous exhibitors must reapply 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 all-volunteer Smithsonian Women's Committee (SWC) as a fund-raising event for the Smithsonian Institution. Proceeds from the show fund grants that benefit the Smithsonian's education, outreach, conservation, and research programs. Since its inception, SWC has awarded more than $14 MILLION in grants to Smithsonian organizations throughout the world.

The Craft Show does not charge sales commissions.  Accepted artists are encouraged, however, to donate an item for the Show’s Online Auction, the entire proceeds of which benefit the Smithsonian.

APPLICATION DEADLINES AND FEES:

Applications must be submitted on line through Juried Art Services and are due by midnight PDT September 16, 2025.

The application fee is $50. NOTE: The application fee is non-refundable and is due at the time you submit the online application and accept its terms and conditions.

LATE APPLICATIONS may be submitted until midnight PDT September 30, 2025. The fee for late applications is $75 . The late application fee includes the basic application fee of $50 plus a late penalty of $25. The $75 fee must be included with all electronic applications submitted after September 16, 2025.  

DATES OF SHOW:

Preview Night Benefit: April 22, 2026
Show days: April 23 - 26, 2026

LOCATION:

National Building Museum, 401 F Street, NW, Washington, DC 20001
Judiciary Square Metro Station (Red Line)

ELIGIBILITY:

Only U.S. residents who make their work in the U.S are eligible to apply.  All work submitted to the Smithsonian Craft Show must be created and made in the United States.

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. 

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 used increasingly 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.

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 the artist’s 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 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 whether an artist is in compliance with our terms.

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, including an "Honoring the Future Sustainability Award" of $1,000. 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: 

Applications must be submitted online at Juried Art Services. Each applicant must submit an application, the non-refundable fee, five (5) electronic images of your work, one booth image, and an artist statement for consideration by the jurors.  The images must be fully representative of the work you will bring to the Craft Show, including price range.

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 portfolios 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.

ARTIST STATEMENT: 

Each application must include an artist statement, limited to 1000 characters, briefly describing the work.  If applicable, include information regarding the use or application of environmentally friendly materials and techniques in your work.  

MULTIPLE ENTRIES:

If you enter in more than one medium, you must submit separate applications, fees, and images for each category for which you wish to be considered.  If only one application is accepted, you may only exhibit work in that medium.
 

STATUS REVIEW AND EDITING FUNCTION:

You will be able to check your application after you have set it up in Juried Art Services.  You will be able to access your application as it will appear to the judges and (1) edit the copy submitted up until September 30, 2025; (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.  You may check the status of your application(s) online by clicking on the Manage Application function of the Juried Art Services web site.

 ACCEPTANCE:

The 120 applicants with the highest scores will be invited to exhibit.  You will be notified of your status directly after the jury's decision.   

Results of the jurying process will be emailed to each applicant no later than the last week of November 2025.

EXHIBITORS' DIRECTORY

The Smithsonian Craft Show website will post a 2026 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.

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:

Craft Show booth fees for 2026 range from $1,605 to $2300 depending on the 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 furnishing and structures.  The Smithsonian Craft Show will supply electrical outlets.

SECURITY:

The Smithsonian Craft Show provides security.  You will exhibit all work at your own risk, however,  and should carry appropriate insurance.  An overnight lock-up for jewelry artists is available the nights of April 22, 23,  24, and 25 for a minimal fee.  The Smithsonian Women's Committee, the Smithsonian, and the Smithsonian Craft Show will not be responsible for damage, theft, or loss of your work.

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.

Thank you for applying to the Smithsonian Craft Show.