Call for Submissions
It's Touching: Art You Can Feel Exhibition
2026 Iowa Competition & Exhibition
Submission Dates: March 1-April 17, 2026 by 5:00 p.m.
Selected Artists Notified: By May 1, 2026
Artwork Delivery to Hearst Center: May 22 by 5:00 p.m.
Exhibition Dates: June 4-August 2, 2026
down for further details on this one!
Press Release: View the official It's Touching press release online.
We invite visitors to experience art through their fingertips. It’s Touching is a tactile exhibition featuring 12 works by regional artists meant to be explored by touch. Challenging the usual “do not touch” rule, the show celebrates accessibility and the sensory richness of texture, form, and material. Designed to engage audiences of all abilities—including those with limited vision—It’s Touching creates a new way to connect with art. Visitors can vote for their favorite piece, for a Community & Accessibility Best In Show. Funding for this project is made possible in part by the Cedar Falls Community Foundation and Friends of the Hearst.
CALL FOR ART SUBMISSIONS begins March 1, 2026. Artist submissions are due April 17, 2026 by 5:00 p.m. Selected artists will receive a $250 stipend to complete their artwork. Additional details and guidelines here.
*Submissions submitted via Hearst social media will not be accepted.
Funding for this exhibition is provided in part by the Cedar Falls Community Foundation and Friends of the Hearst.
