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Chicago Alliance
of Visual Artists
CAVA's 2025 Winter Season Exhibition
Call for Entries
The Chicago Alliance of Visual Artists (CAVA) presents
our 2025 Winter Season Exhibition
November 13, 2025–January 2, 2026
Renaissance Court of the Chicago Cultural Center
78 East Washington Street, Chicago IL 60602
The CAVA Winter Season Exhibition Call for Entries is now open! The show is open to all subject matter, most media, and current CAVA members, and provides a creative way to stay warm in the chilly weather.
Artists are eligible for the following prizes:
Best of Show $300
3 Awards of Excellence $100
3 Honorable Mention Blick Gift Cards
Event Jurors:
Dan Zamudio of Sultzen Fine Art Studio
William Bartelt, Studio Teacher and Artist
APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS
~~ Open to artists 50 and over who are current CAVA members.
~~ Nonmembers must join CAVA first on our website’s JOIN page, then apply before the deadline.
MEDIA REQUIREMENTS
1. All work must meet professional presentation standards and be original art.
2. Work must be WIRED for hanging, no saw tooth/alligator hangers.
3. 2-D work must be wired and ready for wall hanging. Size limitation is 30 inches in either direction including frame. Please use plexiglass when framing.
4. 3-D work: Artist must supply your own pedestal.
5. Work may not have been shown in any previous CAVA art show.
HOW TO ENTER
1. Use CAVA's EntryThingy online application BELOW ON THIS PAGE. Use Entrythingy on a laptop, tablet, or desktop computer. The Entrythingy application interface does not work on smartphones.
2. Digital images should be a minimum of 1500 pixels in the longer dimension in .jpg format. Minimum file size 100 kb, maximum file size 5 mg.
3. Online submission deadline: Sunday, October 5, 2025 at 11:59 p.m.
PAYMENT:
>> CAVA MEMBERS: Use the PayPal button here to pay the $30 application entry.
>> NONMEMBERS: Join CAVA first by using the PayPal button to pay the annual $50 membership fee first on this page of our website: https://www.wearecava.org/join-cava
Then return to this page to pay the application fee ($35) for this exhibit using the PayPal button above.
>> YOU MAY ALSO MAIL A CHECK for the membership and/or application by sending a check payable to CAVA to: CAVA c/o Bill Bein, 2829 N Sawyer Ave, Chicago IL 60618.
CALENDAR OF EVENTS/IMPORTANT DATES
DEADLINE TO SUBMIT: Tuesday, October 6, 2025 at 11:59 p.m.
NOTIFICATION OF ACCEPTED ARTWORK: Sunday, October 26, by 11:59 p.m.
EXHIBIT LOCATION: Renaissance Court of the Chicago Cultural Center, 78 East Washington Street, Chicago IL 60602.
ACCEPTED ARTWORK DROP OFF: Monday, November 3, from 12:00–2:00 p.m.
If you plan to SHIP your work, contact Dorothy Mason at info@wearecava.org for instructions.
IDENTIFICATION OF ACCEPTED WORK: Affix a label on the back of your work with artist's name, phone number, title, and price.
DELIVERY INSTRUCTIONS: Enter at North Garland Court, which is the alley just to the west of the Chicago Cultural Center. You must turn left from Randolph Street due to one-way traffic. Volunteers will be there to accept your artwork and release form.
EXHIBIT OPENS: Thursday, November 13, 2025
OPENING RECEPTION: Thursday, November 13, 5:00–7:00 p.m.
Regular Renaissance Court Gallery Hours: Monday–Friday: 10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
ARTIST TALK: Thursday, December 11, 2025, 4:00 pm.
EXHIBIT ENDS: Friday, January 2, 2026
ARTWORK PICK UP: Monday, January 5, 2026 from 11:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m.
Artists are responsible for on-time delivery and pick up of their art. All work left beyond the pick-up date is subject to a $10 daily storage fee.
Terms of Entry for Entrants
ARTWORK SALES AND COMMISSIONS:
CAVA will manage and complete any sale of work sold; receive a 25% commission from all sales; collect sales tax from the buyer and send it to the state. Artists will receive their share of proceeds from a sale from CAVA after the exhibit is over. Please price your work accordingly.
LIABILITIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Submission of work for this exhibit will be construed as acceptance of all conditions set forth in the Call for Entry. CAVA reserves the right not to display work that does not meet exhibition standards or the terms of this CFE. Reasonable precautions will be taken to safeguard artists' work from damage; however, neither CAVA nor the Chicago Cultural Center or Renaissance Court Regional Senior Center, nor its supporters, volunteers, subcontractors, nor any of the participating agencies or businesses will be responsible for the loss or damage of artwork for any reason. CAVA retains the right to photograph artwork and reproduce images for publicity at their discretion. Photographs and videos taken during the event may be shared on various social media sites and other promotional material. CAVA requires that all Exhibitors sign a release form; forms will be sent via email to the artists, available at the drop-off location, and may also be downloaded from wearecava.org.
USE THE ENTRYTHINGY APPLICATION BELOW TO APPLY FOR CAVA'S 2025 WINTER EXHIBITION TODAY!
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