Handcrafted: RAM Community Art Show

June 10 – November 21, 2026
at RAM’s Wustum Museum

Entry Drop-off: May 15 and 16, 10:00 am – 4:00 pm

Handcrafted: RAM Community Art Show celebrates the connection between artist, process, and material. From ceramics and carved wood to woven textiles and metalwork, each piece reflects the unique hands that created it. Artists are invited to share work that explores the relationship between maker and material, whether rooted in tradition, inspired by cultural heritage, or born from experimentation with new techniques or media.

Artists are encouraged to explore how creating can build community, inspire collaboration, create dialogues, or honor skills passed down through generations. In celebration of 250 years of handcraft in America, Handcrafted appreciates and acknowledges the way that these traditions have evolved and grown over time.

Artists might also consider how craft intersects with technology. How does the handmade evolve alongside digital tools or machines? How might recent innovations interact with age-old practices?

Ultimately, Handcrafted acknowledges how we shape materials and how they shape us.

Wustum Stained Glass 2025
Class taker crafting a stained glass piece at RAM’s Wustum Museum
Photography: RAM Staff

Questions? Please contact Ashley Bohne, RAM Exhibition Support/Production Assistant, via email at abohne@ramart.org or by calling 262.619.3536.

Handcrafted: RAM Community Art Show

June 10 – November 21, 2026
at RAM’s Wustum Museum

Entry Drop-off: May 15 and 16, 10:00 am – 4:00 pm

Wustum Stained Glass 2025
Class taker crafting a stained glass piece at RAM’s Wustum Museum
Photography: RAM Staff

Handcrafted: RAM Community Art Show celebrates the connection between artist, process, and material. From ceramics and carved wood to woven textiles and metalwork, each piece reflects the unique hands that created it. Artists are invited to share work that explores the relationship between maker and material, whether rooted in tradition, inspired by cultural heritage, or born from experimentation with new techniques or media.

Artists are encouraged to explore how creating can build community, inspire collaboration, create dialogues, or honor skills passed down through generations. In celebration of 250 years of handcraft in America, Handcrafted appreciates and acknowledges the way that these traditions have evolved and grown over time.

Artists might also consider how craft intersects with technology. How does the handmade evolve alongside digital tools or machines? How might recent innovations interact with age-old practices?

Ultimately, Handcrafted acknowledges how we shape materials and how they shape us.

Questions? Please contact Ashley Bohne, RAM Exhibition Support/Production Assistant, via email at abohne@ramart.org or by calling 262.619.3536.

What to Expect

This exhibition will be on display only on the first floor of RAM’s Wustum Museum. The exhibition runs concurrently with Stitched Stories: Narrative Quilts and Textiles from RAM’s Collection, on display in the museum’s second-floor galleries.

The hallway leading into this gallery will offer an interactive installation produced by RAM Education Staff.

Entry Requirements

  • Artists of any age may submit a single work either as an individual or a group. At least one participant per work submitted must have taken or taught a class at RAM’s Wustum Museum after May 1, 2021, or be currently enrolled or teaching. Entry is also open to Racine Art Guild members, Racine school teachers, and current RAM members, staff, and volunteers. There is no fee for entry.

  • Your entry must have been created after May 2023, and may be either two- or three-dimensional.

  • All works must be no larger than 72 inches high x 72 inches wide x 48 inches deep. Wall-hanging works must be wired for hanging—no sawtooth hangers—and not weigh more than 25 pounds. Audiovisual submissions must be 15 minutes or less. Sizes outside these requirements are unacceptable.

  • No food, liquids, dirt, sand, loose glitter, or living organisms allowed. Any other medium may be used—clay, wood, paper, metal, polymer, wax, paint, textile, photography, printmaking, collage, assemblage, etc.

  • All entries must be ready for display upon delivery. Works should not require construction from RAM staff members, including creating, building, attaching, or painting elements.

  • If audiovisual equipment (monitors, speakers, etc.) is needed to display the work, this must be provided by the artist along with written instructions on how to operate the piece. Submissions cannot containing strobe lighting. Volume must be adjustable by museum staff. Artists must provide a transcript of all spoken words or a description of any sounds included in their work—subtitles preferred for video work but not required.

  • Works with multiple components should include a diagram. Works should not require construction by RAM Staff, including creating, building, attaching, or painting elements. If artwork is not properly prepared for display, it will not be included.

  • Works must not have been previously exhibited at Racine Art Museum or RAM’s Wustum Museum. Due to space and display limitations, final selections will be at the discretion of RAM staff.

  • Artists will be asked to fill out an identification label upon drop-off. RAM reserves the right to alter media lines for clarification and to adhere to branding guidelines.

  • Due to the historic nature of the Wustum galleries, RAM reserves the right to reject works which may cause excessive strain or damage to the gallery walls.

  • Submitted works must remain on display for the entire duration of the exhibition.

Important Dates

Shipped Entry Delivery

Shipped entries must arrive between May 11 – 15. Works received outside that time frame will be rejected and shipped back to the artist. Shipped entries must be sent using a shipping service (not USPS) to the following address:

Racine Art Museum, attn: Madison Zapata
441 Main Street, Racine, WI 53403

If you want your work returned after the exhibition, you must provide a pre-printed return shipping label.

In-Person Entry Drop-Off

Deliver your works in person to RAM’s Wustum Museum, 2519 Northwestern Avenue in Racine, on Friday, May 15, or Saturday, May 16, 10:00 am – 4:00 pm.

Exhibition Dates

June 10 – November 21, 2026, at RAM’s Wustum Museum

Opening Reception

Wednesday, June 10, 6:00 – 8:00 pm at RAM’s Wustum Museum. Light refreshments will be served.

Pickup of Work

Work must be picked up from RAM’s Wustum Museum on Monday, November 23, or Tuesday, November 24, 10:00 am – 4:00 pm.

Works should be claimed promptly. Unless alternative pickup dates are arranged, works are considered abandoned and become the sole and unrestricted property of the Racine Art Museum on January 9, 2027. Limited storage space may make it necessary to dispose of your work at this point.

Frequently Asked Questions

Those in the RAM “community” may enter this exhibition. This includes:

  • Individuals who have taken or taught a class at RAM’s Wustum Museum after May 2021
  • Those currently taking or teaching a class at RAM’s Wustum Museum
  • Racine Art Guild members
  • Racine Art Museum members
  • School teachers in Racine County
  • RAM Staff and Volunteers

No. All eligible artists may enter one work for free.

Artists may submit audiovisual work, but are responsible for providing all necessary display equipment, including monitors, speakers, remotes, extension cords, lights, batteries, etc.

Artists must include written instructions for how to operate all equipment, along with a written transcript of all spoken words or a description of any sounds included in the work. Subtitles are preferred for video work, but are not required.

Audiovisual submissions must be no longer than 15 minutes.

Volume level must be adjustable by museum staff.

Submitted entries should be complete, ready to install, and include any necessary components or equipment. “Display-ready” includes having wiring on all work expected to hang from a wall—sawtooth hangers are not acceptable. Work does not need to be framed.

If your work has multiple components, please include a diagram on how they should be arranged. Works should not require construction by RAM Staff, including creating, building, attaching, or painting elements.

Completely fill out the entry form near the top of this page and bring to drop-off, or include with your mailed entry.

Be descriptive and specific when listing materials used.

When submitting a work in-person, RAM will provide identification labels which artists should fill out and attach to their work. RAM Staff will complete identification labels for any shipped works.

If you are unable to make it to the two in-person drop-off days, submissions may be shipped to arrive no earlier than Monday, May 11, and no later than Wednesday, May 15. Works received outside that time frame will be rejected and shipped back to the artist.

Ship works using a shipping service (not USPS) to Racine Art Museum, 441 Main Street, Racine, WI 53403, along with an attached entry form. Please label any shipments to the attention of Madison Zapata. If you want your work returned after the exhibition, you must provide a pre-printed return shipping label.

No, this exhibition will not be juried. If necessary, due to space constraints, some works may not be displayed. RAM Staff will make an effort to fit all works into the gallery, but cannot guarantee every submission will be shown. If your work is not included in the exhibition, you will be notified prior to the exhibition’s opening.

As long as the work was made after May 1, 2023, has never been exhibited at RAM or RAM’s Wustum Museum, and follows all of the other guidelines for the exhibition, works that have previously not been displayed can be submitted.

No works in this exhibition will be available for sale.

Artwork submitted for this exhibition will not be insured by the Racine Art Museum. RAM is not responsible or liable for damage incurred to any piece in this exhibition and will not perform repairs to work.

If you are unable to pick up your work in person, you can email Exhibition Support/Production Assistant Ashley Bohne the name of a proxy who can pick up in your stead.

Work can also be shipped back to you—please provide a prepaid return shipping label and packaging materials during drop-off.

Typically, work not picked up within 30 days of the designated pickup is considered abandoned and will be disposed of. To accommodate the holiday season, this date has been extended to January 9, 2027.

External view of RAM's Wustum Museum of Fine Arts
RAM’s Charles A. Wustum Museum of Fine Arts
Photography: Jessica Zalewski

Stay in Touch

The Racine Art Museum and RAM’s Wustum Museum work together to serve as a community resource, with spaces for discovery, creation, and connection. Keep up to date on everything happening at both museum campuses—and beyond—by subscribing to our email newsletter:

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