UPcycle 2026 Artist Guidelines
Presented by Slonina ARTSpace in partnership with Goodwill of Southern Nevada
UPcycle is a juried exhibition celebrating creativity, reuse, and transformation. Participating artists are invited to take a thrifted, reclaimed, or secondhand item and reimagine it as an original work of art.
Eligibility
UPcycle 2026 is open to artists working in a wide range of mediums, including painting, sculpture, assemblage, mixed media, fiber and wearable art, and other forms of 2D or 3D artwork.
All submitted work must begin with a thrifted, reclaimed, or secondhand item. The original source material should remain identifiable as part of the finished artwork.
Entry Fee
Entry Fee: $10
The $10 entry fee is non-refundable and helps cover the time and administrative costs of processing and reviewing applications.
UPcycle 2026 is a juried exhibition, and payment of the entry fee does not guarantee acceptance into the show.
If you are in financial need and the entry fee represents a barrier to your submission, please contact info@sloninaartspace.com so we can assist you.
What to Submit
Applicants will be asked to provide:
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Artist / display name
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Legal first and last name
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Email address
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Phone number
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Instagram or website, if applicable
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The type of artwork you plan to create
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A brief description of your proposed UPcycle project
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At least one and up to three images to help us understand your work, concept, or artistic style
Your proposal does not need to represent the exact finished artwork, but it should give us a clear understanding of what you intend to create.
Selection Process
UPcycle 2026 is a juried exhibition.
Submitting an application does not guarantee acceptance into UPcycle 2026. Selected artists will be notified by Wednesday, September 30, 2026.
Completed artwork by accepted artists will later be judged as part of the juried exhibition.
Accepted Artists
Each accepted artist will receive either a thrifted object provided for the project or a $25 Goodwill gift card to use toward sourcing secondhand materials.
Additional pickup instructions and exhibition details will be provided directly to accepted artists.
Artwork Requirements
All artistic mediums and approaches are welcome, provided the finished work incorporates a thrifted, reclaimed, or secondhand item as its foundation.
Artists are encouraged to transform, reinterpret, embellish, reconstruct, combine, alter, or otherwise creatively reinvent their source material.
The finished work must include substantial original artistic contribution by the participating artist.
The original thrifted or secondhand source material should remain identifiable within the completed artwork.
Content Restrictions
Slonina ARTSpace is an inclusive, family-friendly environment.
Artwork containing hate speech, racism, homophobia, cultural appropriation, copyright infringement, or other content deemed inappropriate for the exhibition may be refused.
Slonina ARTSpace reserves the right to decline or remove artwork that does not meet the exhibition guidelines or content standards.
Key Dates
Artist Call Opens
Tuesday, September 1
Submission Deadline
Friday, September 25 at 11:59 PM
Notifications Sent
Wednesday, September 30
Thrifted Object/Gift Card Pickup at ARTSpace
Friday, October 3 & Saturday, October 4, Noon–6 PM
Art Creation Period: Through Sunday, November 8
Artwork Drop-off: Monday, November 9 & Tuesday, November 10, Noon–6 PM
Second Saturday Art Party & Opening: Saturday, November 14, 2–6 PM
Artwork Pickup: Friday, November 20 and Saturday, November 21, Noon–6 PM
Accepted artists are responsible for meeting all artwork delivery and pickup deadlines unless other arrangements have been approved in advance by Slonina ARTSpace.
Judging and Prizes
UPcycle 2026 is a juried exhibition. Completed artwork will be judged for prizes as part of the exhibition.
1st Place
$300 VISA gift card + prizes
2nd Place
$150 VISA gift card + prizes
3rd Place
$100 VISA gift card + prizes
Honorable Mention
$50 VISA gift card + prizes
Honorable Mention
$50 VISA gift card + prizes
Total VISA gift card awards: $650
Additional prizes may also be provided by Slonina ARTSpace and participating sponsors.
Exhibition and Sales
Accepted artwork will be exhibited at Slonina ARTSpace as part of UPcycle 2026.
Artists will determine the retail price of their work.
If artwork is sold, proceeds will be divided:
50% to the artist
50% to Slonina ARTSpace
Unsold artwork remains the property of the artist and must be picked up during the scheduled artwork pickup period unless other arrangements have been approved.
Artist Responsibilities
By participating in UPcycle 2026, artists agree to:
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Submit original artwork created by the participating artist
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Follow the UPcycle theme and artwork requirements
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Deliver completed artwork by the stated deadline
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Provide accurate artwork information and pricing
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Allow Slonina ARTSpace to exhibit and offer the artwork for sale during the exhibition
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Pick up unsold artwork during the designated pickup period
Photography and Promotion
By participating in UPcycle 2026, artists grant Slonina ARTSpace and its exhibition partners permission to photograph and reproduce images of submitted artwork for promotional, editorial, social media, website, press, archival, and exhibition-related purposes.
Artists retain copyright and ownership of their original artwork.
Questions
Questions about UPcycle 2026 or the application process may be directed to:
Application deadline: Friday, September 25, 2026 at 11:59 PM.