MUSE GALLERY   ·   CARRBORO, NORTH CAROLINA

Answering
the Forests

A Juried Exhibition of North Carolina Artists

March 5–28, 2027   |   Apply by January 31, 2027

Submit Your Artwork

$20 submission fee   ·   Up to two artworks

An invitation to artists

What do the forests ask of us?

Inspired by the International Day of Forests on March 21, MUSE Gallery invites North Carolina artists to submit work for Answering the Forests, a juried exhibition celebrating our state’s forests and honoring our relationship to the natural world.

Our intention is to bring people together to celebrate the work of North Carolina artists and take a closer look at our individual and collective relationship with nature. We welcome beauty and complexity alike, encouraging honest, original interpretations and diverse conversations.

Do trees have voices? What do roots remember? What is quietly communicated between the forests and us?

Consider what you find most beautiful about our forests; your sense of connection or responsibility to them; the expressions, seasons, and stories of trees; or the feeling of roots, trunks, and canopies. These are invitations, not instructions. We look forward to seeing your own artistic response.

Save the dates

Exhibition Timeline

Call for artists

Exhibition Prospectus

Who may apply

Artists age 18 or older who reside in North Carolina.

Artwork Requirements

• Submit up to two artworks; a maximum of one may be accepted.
• Original two-dimensional work: painting, drawing, watercolor, printmaking, collage, mixed media, or photography.
• Minimum size: 12 × 12 inches. Maximum: 40 × 60 inches.
• Completed within the last three years; not made under instruction, in person or online.
• Wall-mountable and professionally presented, with secure wire hanging hardware. No sawtooth hangers or freestanding works.
• Fully AI-generated artwork is not accepted. Any AI use during creation must be disclosed.
• Artwork must not infringe the rights of others; submitting artists must own the necessary rights.
• All accepted work must be offered for sale and remain on view for the full exhibition.
• Artists must deliver and collect the artwork in person; shipping is not accepted.

How to Apply

Complete the online application and provide:

• Up to two artwork images.
• For each artwork: title, medium, dimensions, retail price, and other requested details.
• Artist statement (250 words maximum) and short biography (150 words maximum).
• Any required AI-use disclosure.

Image preparation: High-quality JPEG (.jpg) photographs, accurately representing the work, without filters or enhancements; 300 dpi requested. Name each file LastName_TitleOfArtwork.jpg (example: Smith_Awakening.jpg). The gallery may reject images that do not accurately represent the original.

Google Forms requires artists to sign in to a Google account to upload images. Please ensure the two file-upload questions have been enabled on the application form before submitting.

Submission Fee & Sales

$20 non-refundable for up to two submissions. Fees are non-refundable regardless of jury results. Payment is required for a complete application; follow the payment instructions in the application form.

For sold works, proceeds are divided 60% to the artist / 40% to MUSE Gallery. All sales are processed by the gallery. Prices cannot be changed after acceptance. Payment for sold works will be made within ten days following the exhibition’s closing.

Delivery, Presentation & Pickup

Accepted work must arrive February 22–24, 2027. Unsold work must be collected March 28–31, 2027. Works cannot be withdrawn early or substituted without written gallery approval. The gallery may determine installation placement and refuse artwork that is substantially different from the submitted image, improperly presented, or otherwise unsuitable.

Artwork not picked up by April 10, 2027, without prior arrangements, will be considered abandoned and will become the property of MUSE Gallery under the exhibition terms.

Insurance, Liability & Permissions

MUSE Gallery will exercise reasonable care in handling accepted work on its premises. Artists are responsible for insurance during transportation. MUSE Gallery and its staff, volunteers, and affiliates are not liable for loss, theft, or damage during transportation or from circumstances beyond the gallery’s reasonable control.

By applying, artists confirm that their works are original and that they possess the rights necessary to exhibit and sell them. Artists agree to indemnify and hold harmless MUSE Gallery and its representatives against claims arising from submitted artwork, including intellectual-property disputes.

Artists authorize MUSE Gallery to photograph and reproduce accepted work for promotional, educational, archival, and publicity purposes, including the website, newsletters, press releases, social media, and print materials, with artist credit where practical. Images may remain in the gallery’s archives or promotional materials after the exhibition.

Submitting an application constitutes acceptance of the complete exhibition rules, terms, and conditions.

An Opportunity for Artists

Selected artists may opt into a short video interview (up to three minutes), introducing their creative journey and practice. Interviews may be shared on MUSE Gallery’s social media platforms to connect artists with our growing community.

We invite your perspective

Let your work enter
the conversation.

Applications close January 31, 2027.

Apply to the Exhibition

MUSE Gallery

201 E Main Street · Carrboro, NC 27510 · (984) 234-3008

Art. Conversation. Community.