What are the submission deadlines?
Submissions close at the end of the day April 24, 2026. Artists can expect to hear if their work has been chosen in early May.
Do I have to currently live in one of the seven counties listed?
Yes, participants must be current residents of one of these seven counties (Cuyahoga, Geauga, Lake, Lorain, Medina, Portage, and Summit) to be eligible.
Why is all of Northeast Ohio not included?
The selected counties are considered the CMA’s service region, the part of the Cleveland metropolitan area traditionally and most frequently served by the museum.
I’m not a careered/established artist; does that exclude me from eligibility? What should I put in my CV if I don’t have an art background?
Being a career artist isn’t a requirement. Artworks will be judged by the quality of the work itself. We recommend creating a version of your CV that balances experiences outside of the art world with anything related to art as a personal endeavor such as workshops, community events, etc., that you’ve participated in.
Does work have to be Cleveland or Lake themed?
No. There is no specific theme for this exhibition. Artwork selection will be based on artistic excellence and feasibility of installation.
What does “feasibility of installation” mean?
“Feasibility of install” refers to how complicated, or straightforward, it will be to display an artwork. For example, an artwork that would require special machinery to install or an installation artwork that involved building modifications would likely not be suitable for this exhibition. Similarly, an artwork that contains living or unprocessed biological materials may not make ideal candidates.
Are there size or weight limits for artwork?
The maximum height or width of any component is not to exceed 8 feet (96 inches). It is recommended that no artwork weigh over 70 lbs.
Please keep in mind that, if selected, you will be responsible for transporting your art to the Transformer Station and delivering it into the building.
Will pedestals be available for 3-D work?
If an artist’s work is selected for Lake Effect and it requires a moderately sized pedestal, the CMA has prefabricated pedestals in our inventory that, if not currently in use in our galleries, could be provided to display 3-D work. The artist is responsible for supplying a mount to attach the artwork to the pedestal, or, depending on the medium, allow us to affix the work using museum wax. Please note the desired deck size or surface area of a pedestal in your submission materials (final size is dependent on availability). Artists are also welcome to provide their own pedestal but are responsible for delivering it to and from the Transformer Station. If you would like to provide your own pedestal, include the dimensions in your submission materials.
What should I expect for artwork drop-off and pickup?
If selected, the Lake Effect team will reach out with dates and times that the Transformer Station will be open to receive artwork drop-offs. It will be the responsibility of the artist to bring their work to the Transformer Station (1460 West 29th Street, Cleveland, OH 44113) and into the building. At this time all art is expected to be display-ready (i.e., framed, has hanging hardware, rests or stands, and so on, as applicable).
At pickup all art will already be deinstalled by the CMA. It is the artist’s responsibility to claim their work and remove it from the Transformer Station during the set time frame communicated by the Lake Effect team.
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