Coos Art Museum Call for Entry

2026 CAM Biennial

  • | Start Date: 6/27/2026 1:00:00 PM (PT)
  • | End Date: 8/28/2026 11:59:00 PM (PT)
  • | Fee: $20.00 USD per 1
  • | Additional Entries: $0.00 USD per 1
  • | Host: Coos Art Museum

CAM Biennial 2026: Facing Forward 

Call to Artists 

October 31, 2026 – January 24, 2027  

 

SHORT DESCRIPTION 

 

The CAM Biennial is Coos Art Museum’s recurring exhibition featuring emerging and established artists connected to Oregon. Held every two years, the Biennial provides a platform for early-career artists to present new work, gain professional visibility, and connect with a broader regional audience. 

 

The 2026 CAM Biennial will be presented under the theme Facing Forward and centered on portraiture, exploring identity, community, and the future through diverse media and perspectives. Artists are invited to examine how portraits can reveal personal narratives, cultural memory, and collective belonging while reflecting on Oregon as a point of connection. Presented in conjunction with the nation’s 250th anniversary, the exhibition considers how individuals experience ideals such as freedom and resilience. Through public programs and interpretive materials, Facing Forward fosters dialogue and offers a timely snapshot of Oregon’s active artistic voices. 

 

  • People’s Choice Award: a solo exhibition at CAM 

 

LONG DESCRIPTION 
The CAM Biennial is Coos Art Museum’s recurring exhibition featuring emerging and established artists connected to Oregon. Held every two years, the Biennial provides a platform for early-career artists to present new work, gain professional visibility, and connect with a broader regional audience. 

 

The 2026 CAM Biennial will be presented under the theme Facing Forward and centered on portraiture, exploring identity, community, and the future through diverse media and perspectives. Artists are invited to examine how portraits can reveal personal narratives, cultural memory, and collective belonging while reflecting on Oregon as a point of connection. Presented in conjunction with the nation’s 250th anniversary, the exhibition considers how individuals experience ideals such as freedom and resilience. Through public programs and interpretive materials, Facing Forward fosters dialogue and offers a timely snapshot of Oregon’s active artistic voices. 

 

This is an un-juried exhibition. One submission per artist will be accepted according to the Eligibility Requirements. This project is funded in part through Oregon Historical Society and under the direction of the America 250 Oregon Commission. 

 

PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD: a solo exhibition at CAM 

The winner of the People’s Choice Award will be selected by Museum visitors’ votes cast during the run of the exhibition. The winner will be notified during the closing weeks of the exhibition. The winner must compile an exhibition proposal, including exhibition title, exhibited works, and artist bio. 

 

Important Dates 

  • August 28, 2026 – Deadline for Submissions on Café 

  • September 18, 2026 - Notification of acceptance/rejection.  

  • September 30, 2026 – Deadline for Registration/Consent forms  

  • October 31, 2026 – Exhibition Opening Reception  

  • January 24, 2027 – Exhibition ends  

 

Sales 

Exhibited artworks may be offered for sale during the exhibition. The Artist shall determine the sales price and manage all aspects of the sale. The Museum will not process any purchases or handle transactions for artworks exhibited, as all sales will be managed directly by the Artist. The Museum will not receive any commission on sales made, except during designated fundraising events where specific terms will apply. The Artist is responsible for arranging the delivery or shipping of sold artworks to buyers after the exhibition closes. No artwork may be removed from the exhibit before the exhibit closes. 

 

Delivery of Accepted Works of Art 

All accepted artists are responsible for the delivery of their artwork to and from Coos Art Museum. Artworks accepted into the exhibition may be shipped or delivered by hand on designated dates. Detailed shipping instructions will be provided with acceptance notifications. All accepted works must be framed and ready for hanging prior to arrival. 

 

Artists may choose to coordinate return shipping independently or request that the Museum arrange return shipping on their behalf. If return shipping is coordinated by the Museum, a $30 handling fee, plus all shipping costs, will be charged to the artist. The handling fee covers staff time for shipping coordination. 

 

Artwork received without prepaid return shipping arrangements or a return shipping label will be shipped to the artist’s last known address. In such cases, the artist will be responsible for all shipping and handling charges. 

 

Coos Art Museum reserves the right to reject any work.  Receipt of work at the Museum prior to the opening does not constitute acceptance into the exhibition.  

 

APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS 

Submission Fee: Non-refundable fee is $20 for one submission. 

All submissions through Smarter Entry 

[Smarter entry link] 

 

Only one artwork per artist may be submitted. All information on the original entry as to title, size and price must remain the same on the delivered work. 

 

Oregon as Lens and Landscape 

The exhibition centers Oregon as a point of connection rather than a boundary. Artists may reflect on the state as home, origin, migration path, ancestral territory, or source of creative influence. This flexible grounding creates opportunities for works that explore identity through geography, community, heritage, and lived experience. Portraits that engage with regional histories, contemporary social dynamics, or the distinct character of Oregon’s people and cultures are especially encouraged. 

 

America250 Context 

As the United States marks the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, CAM Biennial 2026: Facing Forward asks how individuals connected to Oregon experience and interpret the ideals that continue to shape the country. Themes may include freedom, inclusion, identity, aspiration, contradiction, and resilience. By bringing disparate voices into a shared space, the exhibition positions portraiture as a method for reflecting on America’s past while envisioning its future. 

 

 

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA 

Artists Eligibility 

One of a kind, original works of art created in the past 6 years (2020 - 2026) by artists 18 years and older. Artists connected to Oregon are eligible for entry. Artists may reflect on the state as home, origin, migration path, ancestral territory, or source of creative influence.  No commercial artwork or reproductions of any kind will be accepted.   

 

Eligible Art Media 

  • Paintings - limitation of 48 inches in any direction including the frame 

  • Drawings - limitation of 48 inches in any direction including the frame 

  • Hand pulled prints, etchings, serigraphs - limitation of 48 inches in any direction including the frame 

  • Photography (film or digital) - limitation of 48 inches in any direction including the frame 

  • Mixed media - limitation of 48 inches in any direction including the frame 

  • Fiber & textiles - wall hangings - limitation of 48 inches in any direction including the frame 

  • Fiber & textiles - wearable - must supply display device 

  • Small sculptures - weight limitation of 50 lbs. and 48" inches any direction  

  • Glass (blown, fused, or leaded stained) - if to be suspended, must include a secure hanging or display device 

  • Turned and carved wood - weight limitation of 50 lbs. and 48" inches any direction  

  • Jewelry - only if ALL elements were created by the artist  

  • Furniture 

 

 

If your work is a replica of another person's work - Title MUST contain notation of the original work and original artist. Example: "..........A Study of the Mona Lisa, by Leonardo DaVinci" 

 

Ineligible Art Media 

  • Video 

  • narrative film 

  • audio 

  • computer generated digital artworks 

  • giclée prints 

  • giclée prints modified in any way, i.e. the addition of paint. 

 

Artwork primarily created by AI chatbots, agents, image generators, or other platforms designed mainly for AI-generated content is not eligible. Limited use of AI-assisted tools within traditional creative software, such as Photoshop, may be acceptable when the final artwork is substantially human-created and directed. 

 

If you are unsure of eligibility, contact Coos Art Museum.  

  

 

RULES & TERMS 

Coos Art Museum reserves the right to reject any work.  Receipt of work at the Museum prior to the opening does not constitute acceptance into the exhibition.  

 

All works accepted in the exhibition must remain on display for the duration of the exhibit.  No work may be removed from the Museum for any reason prior to the close of the exhibition. 

 

Works left at Coos Art Museum more than 30 days after the closing of the exhibit are considered abandoned and will be disposed of accordingly. 

 

Your entry confirms all terms of this agreement.