We invite artists to participate in a community exhibition exploring how culture, religion, and belief shape the ways people live alongside one another. This exhibition brings together work that reflects personal tradition, inherited practice, daily ritual, and the spaces where differences meet.

Rather than offering a single definition, the exhibition creates room for many perspectives—acknowledging that belief systems can be sources of meaning, tension, continuity, care, and connection. The goal is not consensus, but presence: work that asks viewers to slow down, notice, and consider experiences beyond their own.

Areas of Exploration

Artists may respond to one or more of the following ideas:

• Cultural or religious traditions passed through generations

• Rituals, symbols, or practices that shape everyday life

• Shared motifs across belief systems (light, water, hands, meals, circles, textiles)

• Intersections of faith, culture, and place

• Migration, memory, and belonging

• Repair, resilience, and living with difference

Held In Common 2026 Program Rules and Guidelines

ELIGIBILITY- Open to all artists eighteen years or older who reside in the STATE OF CALIFORNIA.

MEDIA– ART MEDIA, including PAINT, DRAWING, SCULPTURE, FIBER ART, PHOTOGRAPHY & JEWELRY may be entered in any and all categories. If your piece is DIGITAL or manipulated, we ask that it please be noted.

ENTRY FEE– $15.00 EACH for the first work entered; $5.00 for each additional work entered. Example: 1 work = $15.00; 2 works = $20.00, 3 works = $25.00.  

NOTICE OF ACCEPTANCE-Entrants will be notified of acceptance between February 23-25, 2026 by an MCAC representative via email.

RULES– The total number of entries per artist is unlimited. Entries must be original work, recent (within 3 years) cannot be a copy, classroom work, nor have been accepted in this exhibition previously.

Artwork must be submitted dry, securely framed, wired, and ready to hang. Unframed paintings must have sides painted. Please keep framing simple. Please no sawtooth hangers. Madera County Arts Council staff reserves the right to reject or require correction of framing issue of any artwork that has been accepted which, upon delivery, does not meet the above guidelines.

A limited number of large framed artwork and/or large free-standing sculptures can be accepted due to space limitations.

We ask that no accepted entry be removed before the end of the show.

Work must be available for sale. There will be a 30% commission on all sales paid to MCAC.

Please note: By submitting artwork into this exhibition, the artist agrees to the MCAC Release of Liability and Artwork
Photo Release outlined below.

Artwork Photo Release and Release of Liability

By submitting artwork into this competition, the artist grants permission to Madera County Arts Council (MCAC) and its employees to photograph and reproduce all accepted artworks for publicity purposes. The artist waives their right to inspect or approve the finished images, printed materials and digital materials that may be created. The artist releases MCAC and its affiliates to publish and/or distribute publicity materials obtaining images of their artwork(s), free from any claims, damages, or liability which may occur in connection with the creation and distribution of said materials. Images of artworks may be used in any media or form deemed necessary, including but not limited to, use on the MCAC website, social media accounts, press releases, newsletters, posters, programs, publications, presentations, digital presentations, promotions, broadcasts, advertisements, and in any other form of advertising, publicity, and promotion. When deemed appropriate, but not mandatory, the artist’s name will be credited. MCAC will not alter photographs other than cropping and adjusting for clarity in full color or single-color usage.

Artists retain the copyrights to their artworks.

All artwork accepted into this exhibition may be photographed by MCAC, their partners, associates, and visitors.

The artist grants permission for the original artwork to be displayed for brief periods of time away from the exhibition for promotional purposes of the exhibition.

The artist agrees to hold harmless MCAC, their employees and Board of Directors should any damage occur to the artwork.

TO PREPARE IMAGES FOR ONLINE ENTRY PLEASE USE THE FOLLOWING CRITERIA: 
 


File size can be no larger than 2MB; JPG format only
File name (not the artwork title) cannot include special characters:’ “ ; : {} \ / ! @ # $ % ^ & * ( )
• In your web browser enter the link: https://client.smarterentry.com/madera

• Under FIRST TIME USER click “Start Here” to create your own personal artist account.

• Record and save your login and password for future use.

• RETURNING USERS log in using the original email and password you set up when you last used Smarter Entry. If you have forgotten your password, you will see a prompt button on the login page to retrieve it.

• Pay your MCAC ENTRY FEE (noted in Rules and Guidelines above) for the images you plan to upload. You may pay the fee and return later to upload the images. Your information is saved under your account.

• Smarter Entry provides a secure credit card transmission. For the Smarter Entry Policy click on “CREDIT CARD POLICY” when registering.

• Follow the directions to upload your images and the identifying information.

• Purchase and upload additional submissions any time before the ENTRY DEADLINE OF FEBRUARY 22, 2206 using the artist profile you have just created.