Making Connections
Art, Engineering, and Community
Call for entries
Deadline: Thursday, October 15, 2026
In collaboration with curators, Sarah Zappe, Joseph Cusumano, and Benjamin Fehl and with support from the Leonhard Center for the Enhancement of Engineering Education at Penn State, the Bellefonte Art Museum is seeking artwork for its 2027 exhibition titled “Making Connections: Art, Engineering, and Community.”
Exhibition Dates: January 1 – February 28, 2027
Making Connections explores the deep and often overlooked intersections between art and engineering, highlighting how both disciplines rely on creativity, systems thinking, experimentation, and responsiveness to human and societal needs. While engineering is often perceived as technical and art as expressive, both are fundamentally about making meaning, solving problems, and shaping the world around us.
Artists, engineers, students, educators, and community members are invited to submit original works that reflect how art and engineering intersect in their own lives, practices, and communities. The exhibition will welcome a wide range of media, including painting, drawing, sculpture, mixed media, digital work, photography, textiles, design artifacts, and conceptual or process-based pieces.
The Bellefonte Art Museum celebrates the human spirit through the arts and acknowledges the importance of art in our lives. Through this exhibition, BAM continues its commitment to community engagement while partnering with Penn State to enhance engineering education through creative, reflective, and public-facing experiences.
The objectives of this exhibition are multifold. In partnership with Penn State and the broader community, the exhibition seeks to:
• Highlight the shared practices of art and engineering, including creativity, experimentation, and problem-solving
• Provide accessible opportunities for community members and first-time exhibitors to share their work
• Support students and faculty in exploring the human, ethical, and societal dimensions of engineering
• Foster dialogue between campus and community around how engineering shapes everyday life
WORK MEDIA
A juried exhibit of two- and three-dimensional visual artwork, including (but not limited to) painting, drawing, sculpture, mixed media, photography, digital media, textiles, and interdisciplinary or design-based work. Interactive artworks are especially encouraged.
Submissions will be judged by a jury consisting of artists, engineering educators, and engineering students.
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
• Two-dimensional artwork – maximum measurement of 24” on any given side • Three-dimensional artwork – maximum weight of 25 lbs
• Artists may submit up to three artworks for consideration
ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
This call is open to:
• Community members in Centre County and the surrounding region
• Students, faculty, and staff at Penn State
Faculty, staff, and students from the College of Engineering at Penn State are especially encouraged to submit. Small prizes will be provided for highest scoring entries from the Penn State College of Engineering community. No formal training in art or engineering is required. Artists of all experience levels are encouraged to apply.
STATEMENT ON AI-CREATED WORK
This exhibition invites thoughtful engagement with emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, as part of the broader conversation about art, engineering, creativity, and society. Artists may incorporate AI tools into their creative process; however, submissions must reflect substantial human agency, decision-making, and intentionality.
Works that rely primarily on generative AI without meaningful human intervention, such as prompt-only image generation, will not be accepted. Contributors using AI are expected to:
• Clearly disclose how AI tools were used
• Demonstrate human authorship through concept development, iteration, modification, or integration with other media
NOTIFICATION TO ARTISTS
All artists will be notified of entry results on or before Friday, October 30, 2026. Upon acceptance, a curator will follow up with additional information regarding:
• Delivery & Removal Dates
• Artist Honorarium
• Exhibition Guidelines
• Opening Reception Date
• Sales Information
HOW TO APPLY
Eligible artists may submit entries at the following link:
https://pennstate.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_5iNuH3Kv2hxOG2i.
All entries must include:
• Completed application form
• Artist statement (not exceeding 500 words)
• High-quality images of each artwork, including title, medium, dimensions, and year • A brief explanation of how the work connects to the theme of the exhibition • Installation requirements or any special considerations
WRITE TO US
The Bellefonte Art Museum continues to support exhibitions that center community voices and expand access to the arts. To explore past, current, and upcoming exhibitions, please visit www.bellefontemuseum.org. For information about the Leonhard Center, please visit https://www.leonhardcenter.psu.edu/ or contact Sarah Zappe at ser163@psu.edu.
If you have any questions about the exhibition, please contact
bellefontemuseum@gmail.com.