51 Sheboygan St, Fond du Lac, WI 54935

The Thelma Sadoff Center for the Arts is a cornerstone of the Arts and Entertainment district in downtown Fond du Lac. The Susan O. Ahern Contemporary Galleries are a bright, modern wing tucked inside THELMA's historic building, with high ceilings, clean modern lines, and an abundance of natural light that gives the artwork room to breathe. The flexible, gallery-style layout works equally well for quiet, contemplative visits and for lively opening-night crowds. Wisconsin Craft is excited to bring our Biennial Exhibition to this beautiful space and looks forward to presenting the outstanding works of our members.

How to prepare...

From now through November 1, make sure your Wisconsin Craft membership is current and your piece is well underway. Finished artwork and photographs are required for jurying, so start preparing now!

Become A Member

IMPORTANT ARTIST DATES

• November 1, 2026 - Application Open
• December 31, 2026 - Application Deadline
• January 15, 2027 - Jury Results Available
• February 22, 2027 - Exhibition Open
• February 26, 2027, 5:30-7:30pm - Opening Reception
• Friday, April 2, 2027 - Exhibition Closes

Application Information

Application Details: Application Fee: $35 for up to three entries. The Exhibition is open to current Wisconsin Craft members as of the date of application. To renew your membership, or join, go to WisconsinCraft.org/Become-A-Member Only work juried from the entry process can be shown in the Exhibition, no substitutions will be allowed after acceptance. Art must NOT have been shown before in a Wisconsin Craft or a THELMA Exhibition.

AI Policy: Wisconsin Craft celebrates the beauty and skill of traditional and contemporary craft. We support artists and protect originality and craftsmanship. It is our expectation that every artist participating in our events will not use AI in their creative or physical processes.

Jury Process: The jury process will be blind and conducted virtually. There will be two total jurors.

Art Delivery: Work for the exhibition must be delivered to or shipped for arrival at the THELMA. Mail artwork to THELMA at 51 Sheboygan St, Fond du Lac, WI 54935. Shipped work must include a pre-paid return label. . Work must be picked up by April 9, 2027 or artists may prearrange return shipping of their artwork. Work left at THELMA 30 days after the exhibit ends or where no return shipping arrangements have been made will become the property of THELMA. 

Artwork Drop off Dates:

• February 6, 2027 11:00 am -3:00 pm
• February 9, 2027 - 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm
• February 11, 2027 - 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm
• Or by appointment - contact shannon@thelmaarts.org

Artwork Pick-Up: 

• Saturday, April 3, 2027 11:00 am -5:00 pm
• Or during the week of April 5-9, 2027

Artwork Carpool: An Artwork Carpool will be facilitated by the Wisconsin Craft Exhibition Committee after art work has been selected for the exhibition. We will do our best to try to connect artists to one another if you need assistance transporting your art to and/or from the THELMA. We cannot guarantee that we will be able to find a volunteer or another artist to transport your work.

Installation: All work must arrive ready for hanging or installation. Artwork should be able to hang from a wire, picture rings or other compatible hanging methods. Single nail clips or saw tooth hangers are NOT acceptable. Artwork received without appropriate hanging wire or D-rings will not be included in the exhibition. Check with the curator if unsure. If a covering is required such as glass, THELMA strongly prefers plexiglass. Jewelry artists must be prepared to provide appropriate display stands and protective coverings, such as plexiglass boxes.

Awards: First, Second and Third Place cash awards will be announced at the opening, along with Honorable Mention awards chosen at the judge’s discretion.

Sales and Commissions: THELMA will notify the artist or Exhibition Committee when a sale is made. The artist will receive 65% of the selling price, THELMA retains a 35% commission. Checks for any sales made will be sent via mail after the close of the exhibition. If the amount paid after THELMA commission is over $2,000, the artist will be required to submit a W9.

Liability: All works selected for the exhibit will be insured by THELMA against damage and threat while in the care of the gallery. The artist is responsible for insuring work while it is in transit to and from the exhibit. All work must remain in the gallery for the entirety of the show. The THELMA cannot insure any artwork for an amount in excess of 60% of its retail value to a maximum of $10,000. Any irregularities must be reported within 30 days of the return of the artwork.

Thelma Sadoff Center for the Arts or Wisconsin Craft shall not be liable for failure to appear or display in the event that such failure is caused by or due to the physical disability of the Artist or acts or regulations of public authorities, labor difficulties, civil tumult, strike, epidemic, interruption or delay of transportation service, or any other cause beyond the control of the involved parties.

History of the Biennial 

For over a century, what is now Wisconsin Craft has worked to promote crafts persons who design and produce work of their own hands. The long-running Biennial Exhibition is an opportunity for Wisconsin Craft members to showcase their most innovative work in a juried gallery setting.