83rd Annual Salon Show My America
South Shore Arts is proud to announce its 83rd annual Salon Show: My America
Submissions Open: Monday, April 6, 2026
Submissions Deadline: Friday, May 22, 2026 by 5:00pm (No Exceptions)
Exhibition Dates: June 19 - August 15, 2026
Awards Reception: Sunday, August 2, 2026: 1-3pm
Awards
South Shore Arts provides numerous awards totaling in excess of $15,000. We wish to thank the many individuals and businesses who sponsor or contribute to these cash awards each year. Their generosity directly supports working artists, such as yourself.
Renee & Sam Denmark Memorial Award- $2500
Sandie Kozlowski Memorial Award - $2,026
Helen V Surovek Memorial Award - $2,000
Cegur/ Pohl Award - $1,500
Leslie Denmark Memorial Award - $1,000
Over $6000 in $500 awards
All proceeds generated from this exhibition, aside from awards, support South Shore Arts educational programs and exhibitions.
About the Exhibition
My America is South Shore Arts’ first themed Salon Show. The exhibition invites artists to engage with the United States’ semi-quincentennial through a personal lens. What do 250 years of “America” mean to you? Is it celebrated, critiqued, or reimagined? Do you look back on the often-complicated history of the past 250 years, observe the present with all its strengths and challenges, or imagine the future? Ultimately, artists are asked to reflect on one essential question: What is My America?
Eligibility
Artists must be 18 years or older. They must reside or have been born in the state of Indiana; or reside or work in Cook County, Illinois; or be a current member of South Shore Arts. Artwork may not be submitted on behalf of a gallery, gallery representative, or outside party.
Entry Specifications
All entries must be the original work and executed solely by the artist within the last two years.
Work must not have been previously exhibited in South Shore Arts Annual Salon Show.
Accepted work must be labeled as specified and be ready to be displayed or hang upon delivery.
Selected work must remain during the entire exhibition, and may not be removed prior to the end of the exhibition, August 15, 2026.
2-D Media:
Work must be appropriately framed, wired to hang, or have D-rings installed. No sawtooth hangers. Works that have non-traditional or unique hanging requirements must make prior arrangements with the exhibitions manager to ensure proper hanging/installation.
All paper, print, or photography work must be appropriately framed and ready to hang.
Unframed stretched canvas is allowed
2-D Media (items that hang flat against the wall, framed work) include, but are not limited to the following subcategories:
Drawing, Mixed Media, Painting, Paper/Fiber, Pastel, Photography, Printmaking, other Media
3-D Media:
All sculptural media is expected to be ready to be displayed
For any accepted artwork that requires special installation, it is expected that the artists will either be present to install the artwork, or to provide the exhibits manager with a comprehensive installation plan
2-D sculptural media will be designated under the 3-D media.
Ceramic Arts (CA) include the following subcategories:
Ceramic, Wood, Stone, Fiber, Mixed Media, Installation, Other Media
All images submitted for both 2d and 3d should be saved in a resolution of no less than 300dpi, with an image size no smaller than 4 inches in either direction (width & height) and save as .jpg files. Name your files with the first 6 letters of your last name, the first initial of your first name and the number of entry, 1, 2, 3. Example: If your name is Barbara Smithson your filename would be smithsb1.jpg (.jpg files only)
Entry Fee:
Non-refundable entry fee of $35 includes up to 3 entries.
Notification:
Selection notification emails sent by Saturday, June 6, 2026. Artists may also go to SouthShoreArtsonline.org to see the list of accepted artists.
Sales:
For art sales, South Shore Arts receives a 35% commission. A payment check will be issued within 30 days of the exhibition closing. Art not picked up within 60 days becomes property of the South Shore Arts unless prior special arrangements are made.
Photography Waiver:
By submitting your entry you give South Shore Arts permission to use images of you or your artwork for the purposes of promotion in connection with South Shore Arts
Email Waiver:
By opting in to this agreement, you agree that South Shore Arts is able to share your contact information with other Arts Organizations in regard to any potential artists opportunities to appear in the future, i.e. commission work, calls for artists, public works, etc.
Delivery of Accepted Work
Selected works are to be hand delivered or shipped to:
South Shore Arts, 1040 Ridge Road, Munster, IN, 46321
Hand-delivered work will be accepted at South Shore Arts on the following dates:
Friday, June 12, from 9am – 5pm
Saturday, June 13, from 12pm – 4pm
Sunday, June 14, from 12pm – 4pm
Shipped work must arrive no later than 5:00pm on June 16, 2026
Carefully package artwork in sturdy, reusable packaging to prevent damage. We encourage using Plexiglass for shipped work. No packing peanuts please. Artists are encouraged to and responsible for insuring their work during transit, as South Shore Arts is not liable for damages or theft during transit. Damaged work will not be exhibited.
Artists are responsible for all shipping costs of accepted work using FedEx, UPS or USPS. Include a paid return shipping label in the package (do not include stamps). Confirm that your shipping provider will refund the return shipping label in the event your work is sold.
All delivered work MUST reflect entry submissions. Any work not matching the submission will be disqualified and will not be exhibited (no refunds).
Return of Work
Unsold work must be picked up:
Sunday, August 16 from 12pm – 4:00pm
Monday, August 17 from 9am – 5:00pm
Unsold shipped work will be delivered to the shipper in its original packaging by August 23, 2026
Please click below to download the full print prospectus
For any questions or concerns please reach out to brandon@southshoreartsonline.org