Your Massillon Museum is working to document the history of Massillon’s Black community, and to maintain and integrate representation of this history into the archives, collections, and shared memory of our community.
From 2020 to the present, we have been collecting oral histories, scanning community photographs, and sharing stories from the archives about Massillon's rich history of Black excellence.
Community members are invited to help preserve the history of African American Massillonians. Historic and contemporary photographs, artifacts, documents, family letters, artworks, uniforms, patches, telegrams, and audiovisual recordings are among the many items we are seeking to preserve in the Museum's physical history files and virtual archives and collections.
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Upon submitting this entry form, payment must be made via credit card or PayPal. If you would prefer to pay by cash or check, contact submissions@massillonmuseum.org.
Eligibility
Open to present and former Stark County residents and to those currently working in Stark County. Entrants must be at least 18 years of age. All media will be considered. A panel of three independent jurors will select awork to be included and prizes to be awarded.
Acceptable Artwork
Each artist may submit up to three digital images of artwork completed within the past two years. If any staff or juror recognizes artwork suspected to be older than two years, that entry will be disqualified from the show, without opportunity to provide a new one. Artwork generated by artificial intelligence (AI), the direct authorship of which cannot be proven without citation, will not be accepted. Artwork residing in collections other than those of the artist themselves are not eligible for submission.
Fees
Each artist may submit up to three artworks. A non-refundable $15 fee per artwork or $30 for three artworks must accompany entries. Works may be for sale; the Museum will retain a 30% commission.
Photographs of Artwork
Each artist may submit up to three artworks. For the jurying process, artwork must be represented by digital photography. No more than two photographs of each artwork will be allowed. All components of the artwork must be visible in original submission. A neutral color background, such as white, black, or gray, is preferable when submitting photos of artists' work that will include background elements. Each digital file must be 300-dpi in jpeg format. Do not superimpose any information (including artist's name) on the photographs.
Digital files must be labeled with artist's last name followed by the artwork title, corresponding exactly with the name and title on the entry form (example: monet_waterlilies).
If you would prefer to have your work photographed by staff at the Museum, please reach out to us via email at submissions@massillonmuseum.org or phone at 330-833-4061 to schedule a photographing appointment.
Eligible Artwork
Artwork must be completely ready to hang or display. Works on paper must be framed under glass or Plexiglass. Frames must be sturdy and in good condition. Clip and plastic box frames are not acceptable, nor are sawtooth hangers. For safety reasons, all hanging work must have D-rings secured to the back. Click here for more information about proper D-ring use. Swath and wires will not be used and may need to be removed if impeding the D-rings. The Museum is not responsible for damage to improperly prepared work. The Museum reserves the right to reject artwork that is not ready for hanging. Each entry must be identified with the provided label completely filled out and securely attached to the back. No components that were not part of the work upon submission may be added to accepted artwork.
Labels
The exhibit labels and brochure will be reproduced exactly from the entry forms. Changes will not be allowed after submission. Labels for the back of artwork will be sent out to be completed before submissions are delivered to the Museum. If you are unable to print these labels, a small amount of labels will be available upon delivery of artwork.
Delivery
Artists are responsible for delivery of accepted artwork between October 22–25, 2025, between 9:30am–5:00pm. Late work will be disqualified from the exhibit; artwork not received by 5:00 pm October 25, 2025, will be excluded regardless of circumstances. Packing materials will not be saved or stored. Please plan to take your materials with you after delivery of artwork.
Pickup
Artwork must be retrieved following the show between January 14–17, 2026. Artwork not retrieved by January 17, 2026, will become the property of the Massillon Museum. Packing materials will not be saved or stored from drop off. Please plan to bring packing materials with you when retrieving artwork.
Jurors
Kristen Cliffel, Artist (Cleveland)
Maeve Crotty, Gallery Manager, Peg’s Foundation (Hudson)
Kerry Davis, Executive Director, Cleveland Print Room (Cleveland)
Prizes
- Best in show $300
- Second place $200
- Third place $100
- People's choice $100
Stark County Artists Schedule
- Submission deadline: July 13, 2025
- E-mail notification to artists: September 5, 2025
- Delivery of accepted artwork: October 22–25, 2025
- Exhibition: November 1, 2025–January 11, 2026
- Pick-up of exhibited artwork: January 14–17, 2026
Exhibition Opening
Saturday, November 1, 2025, 5:30–8:00 PM, Awards announced at 7:00 PM
Massillon Museum Hours
Tuesday to Saturday: 9:30 am to 5:00 pm
Sunday: 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm
Questions?
Email submissions@massillonmuseum.org or call 330.833.4061.
Note: Upon submission, please check that you have received a "Submission Received" email notification. If you do not have one in your inbox or spam folder shortly after submitting, please email submissions@massillonmuseum.org to make sure that your submission went through and was submitted under the correct email address.