Milestones: Finding Our Way

ABOUT THIS REGIONAL JURIED EXHIBITION

This 2026 FotoFocus Biennial exhibition, supported by FotoFocus, will be displayed in the Fitton Center for Creative Arts galleries in Fall 2026.

The Fitton Center for Creative Arts is excited to be one of numerous regional participating venues in the 2026 FotoFocus Biennial.  Its theme, "The Long View," encourages artists and audiences to think about both distance and time through imagery and the use of lens-based process.

The Fitton Center responds to this theme in the regional juried exhibition Milestones: Finding Our Way, an opportunity for adult artists living within 150 miles of Hamilton, Ohio who work in lens-based media.

The Fitton Center anticipates selecting 10 to 20 artists to present thought-provoking works addressing the concept of "milestone" while utilizing a range of approaches to lens-based artmaking. 

Selected artists and/or studios will be asked to provide a series (three to ten artworks) and/or a substantial single piece such as video, projected image or installation art for display.  Quantities will be dependent on scale of finished work and curatorial decisions.  

Selected artists/studio collectives will receive a minimum $250 project honorarium and will have the opportunity to engage with the community during multiple gallery events.

There is no fee to submit a proposal.

Proposal requirements: completed online entry form and upload of 10 sample artwork jpegs, image list, theme statement up to 150 words, install specs up to 150 words, CV.

Note:  After seven informational pages, you will find the area of the entry form where you upload your info and documents  - click "next" at the bottom of each page.

Image credits: Scott Kissell

 

ABOUT THE FITTON CENTER and FOTOFOCUS

This 2026 FotoFocus Biennial exhibition, supported by FotoFocus will be displayed at the Fitton Center for Creative Arts in Fall 2026.

FITTON CENTER FOR CREATIVE ARTS, a community arts center in the active downtown of Hamilton, Ohio, offers exhibitions, performances, classes, rentals and more to thousands of people monthly. The galleries offer professional exhibitions to the public free of charge. Exhibitions programming includes artist receptions, artist talks, guided field trips and event rentals. All exhibition openings are followed by Fitton Center ticketed performance events and are typically attended by over 250 people.

2026 FOTOFOCUS BIENNIAL An ambitious collaboration between FotoFocus and the region’s museums, galleries, universities, and non-traditional spaces, the FotoFocus Biennial is a month-long celebration of photography and lens-based art that unites artists, curators, and educators from around the world. Now in its eighth iteration, the Biennial encompasses projects at venues across Greater Cincinnati, Dayton, Columbus, and Northern Kentucky—the largest of its kind in America. This year’s Biennial showcases a wide range of original exhibitions, events, and projects, all centered around the theme, The Long View.

The region-wide Biennial Opening Program takes place October 1-3, 2026.

https://www.fittoncenter.org/

https://www.fotofocus.org/biennial/2026/

ABOUT THE FITTON CENTER EXHIBITION THEME:

Milestones: Finding Our Way

A milestone is a wayfinding device, a roadside stone that marks distances between destinations.  Figuratively, the word milestone signifies a noteworthy step or stage in the course of history or a person’s life.  Either way, a milestone lets us pause to consider “The Long View,” where we have been and where we are going.

This regional juried exhibition lets an anticipated 10 to 20 selected photographers present thought-provoking new works addressing the concept of "milestones" utilizing the lens-based method and media of their choosing.

The "milestone" theme allows a broad approach by artists working in various styles and processes who wish to explore ideas around significant events, turning points, discoveries, breakthroughs, landmarks or occasions - whether the highlighted milestone/s be personal, cultural, natural or historical.

As the United States approaches its milestone 250th anniversary year, its people and cultural institutions face coordinated attempts to diminish, negate and erase diverse ways of seeing and ways of being.  “Milestones: Finding Our Way”, including multiple artistic visions, inspires a broader perspective of our place and time.  It asks both artists and audiences to consider “The Long View,” as we note the landmarks along our shared road.

 

ABOUT THE 2026 FOTOFOCUS BIENNIAL THEME: 

The Long View

Each FotoFocus Biennial is structured around a unifying theme. The 2026 FotoFocus Biennial theme, "The Long View", considers aspects of time and perspective in photography and film, and how these mediums shape our understanding of the world. The long view describes in literal terms two primary functions of photography; photographic lenses both enable long-distance vision and long-duration viewing. The Long View theme considers photography as a metaphor for our attempt to grasp our place within the durational sweep of history.

For an expanded description of "The Long View" theme, visit the FotoFocus website:

https://www.fotofocus.org/biennial/2026/

Image credit: Kent Krugh

 

THE GALLERIES

The Fitton Center galleries feature hardwood and terrazzo floors, light gray painted walls, wood grid drop ceilings, contemporary museum LED track lighting and ceiling suspension load up to 200 lbs. Display walls are backed with ¾-inch plywood to support weighty works. Four gallery rooms on two floors consist of a total of 2,600 square feet of exhibition space. A corridor gallery can be used to extend wall display space as needed.  

Thousands of visitors experience the galleries monthly during artist receptions, field trips, rental and performance series events and while attending classes and other community-related activities.

 

AWARDS AND SUPPORT

• Selected artists will receive a minimum $250 project honorarium to be used for artwork production, framing/preparation and/or travel.
• Fitton Center gallery staff and interns will install artwork unless on-site assembly requires the presence of the artist. Fitton Center staff will design, produce and install signage associated with exhibition.
• Exhibiting artists may offer artwork for sale and will receive 70% of the listed retail price for each artwork sold.
• Artists can engage with the community during a free public reception, typically attended by over 250 guests,
• Artists can engage with groups attending gallery tours when schedules allow. 

Image credit: Scott Kissell

 

TIMELINE & SELECTION PROCESS 2026 & 2027

 

2026

Sunday February 8 at 11:59pm: DEADLINE FOR ENTRY

Early submissions are welcome!

By early March: NOTIFICATION

The Fitton Center will make every effort to notify applicants of committee decisions by early March. Committee decisions may be finalized over the course of several meetings. Artists will be notified of final decisions through email.
 

By April 15: LETTER OF AGREEMENT

signed and returned by artist
 

 June 21: PROGRESS REPORT

Selected artists will be asked to supply brief progress reports and three jpegs representing anticipated final works.
 

September 16 - 19: ART DELIVERY TO FITTON CENTER

Artists will be asked to schedule a delivery appointment with curator.

September 21– October 7: ART INSTALLED IN FITTON CENTER GALLERIES

Artists whose work requires them to be onsite for aspects of installation will be asked to schedule appropriate days/hours with curator.

 October 1-3: 2026 FOTOFOCUS BIENNIAL OPENING PROGRAM

region-wide at multiple venues, featuring lectures, tours, screenings, performances, receptions - https://www.fotofocus.org/biennial/2026/
 

October 9: EXHIBITION OPENS

Milestones: Finding Our Way is open for public viewing during gallery hours
 

Saturday October 17, 5:00 – 7:30pm: ARTIST RECEPTION, ARTIST TALK AT FITTON
 

October 17, 2026 – January 8, 2027: EXHIBITION ON VIEW
 

Group tours and field trips: ongoing through run of exhibition

 

2027
 

January 9, 11, 12: ART PICKUP

Selected art must remain on view at the Fitton Center through January 8, 2027. Artists will be asked to schedule a pickup appointment with the curator.

 

SELECTION PROCESS

• All lens-based media is acceptable for consideration.
• Artists are encouraged to let us know if they can supply equipment for multi-media work or projected image work.
• Proposals are selected based on originality, craft, presentation plans and how the artist's concepts and/or lens-based process responds to the 2026 FotoFocus Biennial theme "The Long View" in conjunction with the Fitton Center's "Milestones" theme.
• Selections are made by a committee of experienced lens-based artists, curators and others with knowledge of and enthusiasm for lens-based art.

Image credit: Amy Fisher

 

SUMMARY OF PROPOSAL REQUIREMENTS

• There is no fee to submit a proposal for this project.

• Artists must be 18 years of age or older.

• Artists must reside within 150 miles of Hamilton, Ohio.

• Artists must submit either individually OR as part of an established studio collective/ photography club/guild consisting of five or more members.

• Work should not be previously presented in a major exhibition in the greater Cincinnati region.
• Unframed prints are allowed, particularly in the case of large-scale work or when an unframed presentation method contributes to the conceptual qualities of the work.  Artists will be asked to provide installation hardware such as magnets or pins for unframed works.

• Artwork image files should be representative of the general content, process, print methods and display preparation that you anticipate utilizing in your proposed project.  For example, do you plan to focus on landscape, portraiture or abstraction (or something else) in your work?  Will the work utilize a particular photographic process such as cyanotype or photo transfer?  Show us that.  Changes in creative direction from proposed projects should be approved in consultation with curator, Cathy Mayhugh by the Progress Report deadline of June 21.  

• Artists must be available to complete and/or prepare their proposed project in 2026 and to deliver art by September 19, 2026.

• Artists who need assistance with the installation of their work must be available to install their proposed work in the Fitton Center galleries within two 8-hour days during the installation timeline of September 21 – October 7 on specific dates scheduled with Cathy Mayhugh.

  
  QUESTIONS? Contact: Director of Exhibitions, Cathy Mayhugh, cathy@fittoncenter.org, 513 863 8873 ext. 122

Art credits: Leslie Getz, Kent Krugh, Will Jones

 

BEFORE YOU BEGIN

Before you begin filling out the entry form, you'll need to create and format the files that you are required to upload when submitting your proposal.  PLEASE READ CAREFULLY because not following instructions may disqualify you from consideration. 

• Create a CODE NAME based on the first 3 letters of your last name followed by the first 3 letters of your first name. Example: John Smith = SMIJOH. Please capitalize all letters. This Code Name will help artists to remain anonymous to jurors and will be used in your file names, document titles and headers.

• Create a Concept Summary.  This single sentence (up to 25 words) summarizes the form, subject matter and meaning of your art.  You will type this sentence into the online form in the Proposal Specifications section.

• Create a Theme Statement.   How does your proposed art respond to the Fitton Center's "Milestones" and 2026 FotoFocus Biennial "The Long View" themes? Describe the meaning and concepts behind the work. Use Microsoft Word or PDF for this document. At the top of the page, head the document CODE NAME Theme Statement (Example SMIJOH Theme Statement).  Rename your file using your CODE NAME (Example SMIJOH Theme Statement) Please leave all other contact info off of this document to remain anonymous to jurors. A Theme Statement over 150 words will disqualify your proposal from review.

• Create Install Specs.  Selected artists have the ability to choose the production and presentation/framing methods of their choice.  Your Install Specs describe the anticipated methods you will use to produce your work and the appearance of the finished series.  If your art will be framed, please include anticipated scale and frame material/color in this statement.  The Specs also describe the process, methods and equipment required to install your art in the gallery and whether or not you need/prefer to be onsite during installation. (i.e. Is your artwork framed or unframed? How is it attached to the wall?  Does it require suspension from the ceiling or electricity? Does it include sound or video equipment that you will provide?) Use Microsoft Word or PDF.  Head and name the document CODE NAME Install Specs. Please leave all other contact info off of this document to remain anonymous to jurors. An Install Specs over 150 words will disqualify your proposal from the review.

• CV/Resume List or describe your artistic training, activities and exhibition experience.
• Prepare your JPEGs.  Identify each JPEG with a file name that includes your CODE NAME, underscore, and the number of the image.  Example SMIJOH_01. Please submit 10 full view artwork JPEGS at 2 to 3MB each of a consistent body of work (required) and up to 5 additional detail, alternate view, installation JPEGS, (video or sound file links may be included in your INSTALL SPECS document)
• Create an Image List. Limit this document to two pages. Head the document CODE NAME Image List. (Example: SMIJOH Image List) and also rename this Word or PDF file. Please leave all other contact info off of this document to remain anonymous to jurors. All required JPEG (10) and any additional/optional file names (up to 5) should be included on your image list. Include for each image: JPEG file name (example SMIJOH_01), title of artwork, media details, dimensions (HxWxD in inches), year of completion. To help the committee understand your artwork, please be specific when listing media details. For example, do you use digital or film methods?  What is your printing process?  If your work utilizes mixed media, include all media.  (i.e.  photo transfer with graphite, watercolor)

• Your Theme Statement describes the nature of the lens-based artwork you propose to exhibit and how you anticipate it will relate to the 2026 FotoFocus theme "The Long View" in conjunction with the Fitton Center's "Milestones" theme.
• Use Microsoft Word or create a PDF for this document.
• Head the document and rename the file document as follows: CODE NAME Theme Statement (Example SMIJOH Theme Statement).  Please leave all other contact info off of this document to remain anonymous to jurors.
• A statement over 150 words will disqualify your proposal from the review.

• Your Install Specs (Specifications) describe your photographic process and the anticipated appearance of the framing/finishing of your finished series or project. The Specs also describe the methods and equipment required to install your art in the gallery and whether or not you need/prefer to be onsite during installation. (i.e. Is your artwork framed or unframed? How is it attached to the wall? Does it require suspension from the ceiling or electricity? Does it include sound or video equipment?)
• Use Microsoft Word or create a PDF for this document.
• Head the document and create a file name for this document as follows: CODENAME Install Specs. (Example SMIJOH Install Specs) Please leave all other contact info off of this document to remain anonymous to jurors.
• Install Specs over 150 words will disqualify your proposal from the review.

• Identify each JPEG with a file name that includes your CODENAME, underscore, and the number of the image as follows: SMIJOH_01
• Please submit 10 full view artwork JPEGS at 2 to 3MB each of a consistent body of work (required) and up to 5 additional detail (closeup), alternate view or installation view JPEGS, video or sound files (optional) 

• Detail images or alternate view file names should correspond to the image number of the artwork they represent.  For example, if you submit a detail or alternate view for SMIJOH_03, the detail's file name should be SMIJOH_03_detail, the alternate view file name should be SMIJOH_03_view2

• Head the document and create a file name for the document as follows: CODE NAME Image List.  Example: SMIJOH Image List.  Please leave all other contact info off of this document to remain anonymous to jurors.
• All required JPEG (10) and any additional/optional file names (up to 5) should be included on your image list.
• Include for each image: JPEG file name, title of artwork, media details, dimensions (HxWxD in inches), year of completion.  Please be specific when listing process and materials used in making your art.  

Note: The selection committee decides the appropriateness of all works, and reserves the right to refuse work that differs substantially from that proposed.  All work is insured to a reasonable extent while on the Fitton Center premises.  We cannot be responsible for artwork while in transit.  Delivery and/or shipment of artwork to and from the Fitton Center and subsequent costs are the responsibility of the artist.  The Fitton Center retains a 30% sales commission.  Participation in this submission process give the Fitton Center and FotoFocus permission to use submitted images by selected artists, royalty free, in promotional materials online and in print.

I agree to the conditions outlined in this submission form.  If accepted for exhibition, images of my works may be reproduced for promotional and educational purposes.