Application Requirements and Expectations
Potluck: Art of (and about) Food
January 2026 Call for Entry
Rumriver Art Center is calling for artists to submit food-themed art. Artists are being prompted to explore any and all aspects of food through their unique creative lens. Many aspects of food exist outside of preparation and consumption. There is a rich art history of depicting food within cultural contexts, community, family tradition, cooking, and scarcity. Pieces may also investigate the societal significance and nuances of food, such as over-indulgence, access, food labor, and agricultural practices.
Throughout the duration of the exhibition, Rumriver Art Center is holding a food drive in partnership with HOPE 4 Youth. HOPE 4 Youth is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that assists young adults experiencing homelessness in the Twin Cities Metro area. To see what donations are most needed follow this link: Top Needed Items
This show is on display at Rumriver Art Center from January 10th – January 31st, 2026.
Link to Application: https://pci.jotform.com/252754782889175
Overview of Timeline:
- Applications Close: Thursday, December 4th, at 11:59 pm.
- Artists Notified: by 11:59 on Friday, December 12th.
- Drop-Off: Tuesday, January 6th, 2026, between 10:30 am – 6:30 pm.
- Opening Reception: Saturday, January 10th, 2026, from 2 – 4 pm.
- Pick-Up: Monday, February 2nd, 2026, between 10:30 am – 6:30 pm.
Required Application Materials:
* If you have any questions please email madison@rumriverart.com.
Completed Application Form – Due Thursday, December 4th at 11:59 pm.
- You must complete all required information on the application form. Incomplete applications will not be accepted.
- Applications must be submitted electronically to be accepted.
- Link to application: https://pci.jotform.com/252754782889175
- If contributing artists exceed expectations, the Rumriver Art Center reserves the right to close submission acceptance early.
Up to three images of artwork – Due Thursday, December 4th at 11:59 pm (part of the application form).
- You will upload the image(s) of your artwork in your application form. You MUST name each image file with your last name and first initial, entry number, and artwork title. (Example: BotticelliS_01_Venus, BotticelliS_02_Primavera)
- Please submit images as a JPEG file.
- Please submit well lit images featuring only the artwork. Blurry, cluttered, and poorly lit images will NOT be used in press materials.
Entry Fee – Due at the time of submission
- There is a $10 entry fee per entry, with a limit of three (3) entries.
- Each piece of artwork is a separate entry.
- Whether your work is accepted or not, there will be NO REFUNDS of the entry fees.
- One, two, three or none of your pieces may be accepted for the gallery show
Judging:
This show is juried. The judge will award a 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place prize. The first place recipient will receive $100, second place $75, and third place will be awarded $50.
Our Call for Entries are juried by different anonymous artists who are professionals in a creative field related to the show’s theme and/or the theme is strongly intertwined with their personal practice. When making their decisions many aspects are taken into consideration. The judge will examine the overall cohesion of the submitted artworks, adherence to the theme, presentation, and compliance to the application guidelines.
Detailed Timeline:
- Complete application and submit artwork images by Thursday, December 4th, by 11:59 pm.
- Artists will be notified if their artwork(s) is accepted or not by 11:59 pm on Friday, December 12th.
- Drop off artwork on Tuesday, January 6th, 2026, between 10:30 am and 6:30 pm at Rumriver Art Center (2665 4th Ave. Suite 103, Anoka, MN).
- Show opening reception is on Saturday, January 10th, 2026, from 2 pm – 4 pm at Rumriver Art Center.
- The exhibition ends at Rumriver Art Center on January 31st.
- Artists must pick up their artwork at Rumriver Art Center on Monday, February 2nd, 2026, between 10:30 am and 6:30 pm.
This show is on display at Rumriver Art Center from January 10th through January 31st, 2026.
Conditions of Application:
- ALL ages can apply! We are a community art center and believe that you can be an artist at any age.
- Your artwork must be ready for installation. ONLY wired hanging systems will be accepted for work that is meant to be hung. (e.g. paintings, drawings, prints, hanging sculptures…)
- All mediums can apply, with the exception of digital/virtual art forms that require technological support to be displayed.
- Accepted artwork will be labeled with a price. Submitted artwork marked NFS or left empty in the entry form will be marked NFS (Not for Sale).
- Rumriver Art Center will take a 35% commission on the sale price of any artwork sold during the show. Please price your pieces accordingly.
- All accepted artworks MUST be dropped off, in person, at the Rumriver Art Center Gallery on Tuesday, January 6th between 10:30 am and 6:30 pm.
- Rumriver Art Center is a small non-profit, and we do not have the capacity to receive artwork via mail. Rumriver Art Center will not ship artwork back to participating artists. Artwork must be dropped off and picked up in person.
- You may NOT remove your artwork from the gallery earlier than the designated pick-up time.
- Buyers of artwork sold during the exhibit agree that the artwork will remain in the Rumriver Art Center Gallery until the show ends on Saturday, January 31st, 2026.
- If an artwork sells, then the Gallery Director, Madison Nelmark, will notify the artist via email.
- Reproduction of Images for Publicity – Permission is granted to the Rumriver Art Center for reproduction of artwork for advertising purposes. Entry into the exhibit constitutes agreement with this rule. Images of artwork may be used for flyers, press releases, posters, on the Rumriver Art Center website (rumriverart.com), social media, etc.
- Artwork that has been unclaimed after 2 weeks will become property of the Rumriver Art Center, either being added to our collection of artworks or sold as part of a fundraiser for the organization.
The following will result in the rejection of your application:
- Failure to adhere to the provided application guidelines.
- Incomplete application.
- Harassment, discrimination, or inappropriate actions towards any Rumriver Art Center staff or patrons.
Liability:
All reasonable care will be taken with artwork. Rumriver Art Center staff and volunteers cannot be held responsible for loss or damage to artwork including frames and mountings, no matter how damage/loss is caused. All entries submitted are subject to this condition. Rumriver Art Center has an excellent record in the care and handling of works of art. We suggest that artists insure work privately if they feel the need for such protection.
About Rumriver Art Center:
The mission of Rumriver Art Center is to make a difference through art by being a welcoming and inspiring environment for artists of all ages to explore their creative potential through our classes, collaborations, and partnerships in the North Metro.
The art center began in 2009 as a small 500 square foot studio and has expanded to over 5,000 square feet with the addition of an art cafe and library, a ceramics studio, a larger multi-purpose studio, and seven private artist studios in the historic Old Milk Factory along the Rum River. We opened a community art gallery in the fall of 2018 for local artists to showcase their work and have been hosting a community art fair in Ramsey each summer since 2016.
We reach over 10,000 students annually of different ages, ethnicities, abilities, and economic backgrounds offering the opportunity to grow artistically and creatively while building confidence and social skills. The art center offers programs for public and private educational institutions, summer art camps for youth, art courses for homeschool families, virtual classes, a Vitality Arts program for older adults, and more.
If you have any questions please email madison@rumriverart.com.