2025 National Juried Show
Call for Entry

Entry is open to all Canadian citizens and permanent residents. Non-residents of Canada can only enter if they are Individual or Professional members of the CQA/ACC.  No member of the CQA/ACC Board of Directors, its staff or contractors may enter a quilt in the NJS.

For an entry to be accepted please review the following:

• The online entry form must be filled in completely, including all the required photographs.
• If photographs do not conform to requirements by the entry deadline your entry will not be accepted.
• Once your entries are submitted, you will be prompted to proceed to our secure online payment page. Fees per entry: Individual and Professional Members $40.00 Non-Members $85.00. (GST/HST applies.)
• If you experience issues with online payment, the entry will be accepted as incomplete and assigned a “pending” status. In such cases, you will receive an email with instructions on how to complete the entry process.
• The Jury Coordinator may contact the entrant to discuss an entry that may be in the wrong category and, with the entrant’s permission, may move the entry into another category.
• There is no limit on the number of entries per entrant.
• All entries must be received and completed by noon EST February 17, 2025. Incomplete entry forms not finalized by noon EST February 17, 2025 will be refused.
• By completing the NJS Entry Form you are agreeing to allow your work to be displayed for the duration of the NJS. If your work is accepted into the NJS and then is not available for the exhibit, subsequent entries from you will not be considered for two consecutive National Juried Shows.
• Submissions will be juried/judged according to CQA/ACC NJS Quilting Standards.
• Entries will be selected based on the quality of the digital images you submit and the accompanying Artist’s Statement.
• Decisions of the jurors and judges are final; there is no appeal process.

NOTE: Failure to provide accurate information on an entry form will result in disqualification of the entry and should an award have been given, forfeiture of said award.

• Entries that are a direct copy or interpretation of another artist’s work are to be entered in the appropriate art categories as per Category descriptions.
• Entrants must give credit on the Entry Form if their entry features a “work of art” or utilizes an image or photograph created by someone other than the entrant(s).
• Acknowledgement must be given to everyone participating in the execution of the work.  Provide names on the application form where applicable
• Entrants are responsible for obtaining permission from the original artist and must be prepared to provide documentation should a challenge arise.
• Regarding Indigenous design, permission must be received from the artist, an Elder or other respected community member to ensure appropriate use of cultural symbols. Entrants must be prepared to provide documentation should a challenge arise.
• The Entrant represents and warrants to the CQA/ACC that their entry does not infringe upon, violate, or misappropriate any copyright or other intellectual property or proprietary right of a third party.
• Entries started in a workshop or resulting from a workshop are to be entered in the appropriate categories as per Category descriptions, with credit given.
• Entrants must acknowledge, on the Entry Form, if the entry was made from a pattern/book/magazine or social media and credit must be given. Both the name of the pattern and designer must be included.
• Historical blocks in the public domain may be used.
• Entries from kits will not be accepted.
• Commercially printed panels in their entirety may not be entered, but their use in piecing is permitted in any category.
• Group Entry:
  • Group quilts can be entered in any category.
  • Groups consist of three or more people, none receiving payment for any part of the work.
  • All group members must be individual or professional CQA/ACC Members in good standing at time of entry if they wish to have the quilt eligible for the Group Award of Excellence. If all members are not CQA/ACC members as above the quilt will be eligible for all awards EXCEPT the Group Award of Excellence and the Dorothy McMurdie award.
  • The entry may be either a single quilt or individual pieces arranged to hang as one item.

• Work must have been completed after January 1, 2023
• Work must not have been shown in a Canadian national-level juried/judged quilting exhibition/competition prior to June 2025.
• Wall Quilts must not exceed 300 inches in perimeter. All other quilts must not exceed 432 inches in perimeter. No one side may exceed 108”.
• All entries must be 3 layers held together with a stitch.
• Quilting stitches are not required to be visible on the back of framed or mounted art quilts.
• Framed or mounted art quilts must have clear assembly instructions included with the work.
• Work behind glass will not be accepted.
• Entries must be able to be displayed by hanging on pipe and drape.
• All Entries must include a 4” hanging sleeve. Split sleeves are acceptable.
• If a wall quilt requires a second sleeve to assure proper hanging, you must advise the NJS Jury Coordinator to ensure that arrangements can be made.
• Signatures or any other identifying mark on the front of your submission must be covered by the artist or the piece will be ineligible for judging.
• The Artist’s Statement is a maximum of 50 words with this limitation imbedded into the entry form. Do not include names or other information that would identify the maker(s).
• Attention: If your quilt is accepted into the NJS you are responsible for all shipping costs, to and from the Show.
• For international entries, US and other countries, you are also responsible for all customs arrangements and all shipping costs.
• Quilts for Sale:If you wish to take advantage of the option to sell your quilt at Quilt Canada, please note that CQA/ACC will retain 20% of the sale price as a commission.

• Your submitted photographs will be used for the Jurying process and, if accepted, will be used on our website, magazine and social media.
• All photos are to be taken of the front of the FINISHED quilt.  
• Ensure all images are in focus.
• Do not crop or edit your photos. All accepted NJS quilt photos will be professionally edited. 
• Images must be free from textual or other information revealing the identity of the artist.
• Newer model cameras or smart phones that can be set for high resolution photos are necessary.
• Photos from I-Pads do not have high enough resolution; please do not use them. 
• Images must be submitted in JPG format and be 3-5 MB in size. If you’re using a smartphone camera that has options for image size, be sure to use the largest setting. 

 

Required Photos:

• For all wall quilts, submit four (4) digital images: full view, quilting detail, construction detail, and binding detail showing front of the quilt and corner finish as defined below.

 

• For all bed quilts, submit five (5) digital images: full view, quilting detail, construction detail, binding detail showing front of the quilt and corner finish as defined below and a bed quilt photo.

 

Photo Definitions:

Full View:

• The full-view image must show the overall view of your work including all edges and be taken straight on (parallel to the quilt edges). See diagram above.
  • Ensure there are no fingers, clips or pins visible on the quilt front.
  • Hang the quilt on a flat surface or rod, not a clothesline.
  • If necessary, use a pressed white or light neutral sheet behind to avoid distracting clutter.
  • Use a tripod or ladder for your camera to rest on.

 

Quilting Detail:

• This is a close-up image of the quilting, taken approximately 10” to 15” away from the quilt.

Construction Detail:

• This is a close-up image of any technique or embellishment you’d like to feature.

Binding Detail:

• The binding detail shot should be a front view of the quilt’s edge and MUST include a corner or some other detail that illustrates how the quilt has been finished.

Bed Quilt Photo:

• Display the full quilt on an appropriately-sized bed.
• Ensure that the photo shows both the top and how the quilt hangs off the bed in relation to the floor.

Wearable Photo

The above photograph requirements apply and the wearable must be displayed on a hanger, rack or sewing form only.

           

Photo Labelling:

Label your photo files according to the following format:           

njs-categorycode-provincecode-name-of-quilt-full.jpg

njs-categorycode-provincecode-name-of-quilt-quiltingdetail.jpg

njs-categorycode-provincecode-name-of-quilt-constructiondetail.jpg

njs-categorycode-provincecode-name-of-quilt-bindingdetail.jpg

njs-categorycode-provincecode-name-of-quilt-bed.jpg

 

For example:

njs-TR-ON-white-feathers-on-snow-full.jpg

njs-TR-ON-white-feathers-on-snow-quiltingdetail.jpg

njs-TR-ON-white-feathers-on-snow-constructiondetail.jpg

njs-TR-ON-white-feathers-on-snow-bindingdetail.jpg

njs-TR-ON-white-feathers-on-snow-bed.jpg (for bed quilts only)

 

Select your category code:

AI – Art – Abstract and Improvisational

AD – Art – Depiction of Human or Animal Form

LS – Art – Landscapes and Still Life

MI – Miniatures

MO – Modern – Wall and Bed Quilts

PBW – Patterns/Books/ Magazines or Social Media – Wall Quilts

PBB- Patterns/Books/Magazines or Social Media – Bed Quilts

TR – Traditional – Wall and Bed Quilts

WR – Wearables

Select your province code/territory code:

AB – Alberta

BC – British Columbia

MB – Manitoba

NB – New Brunswick

NL – Newfoundland

NS – Nova Scotia

NT – Northwest Territories

NU – Nunavut

ON – Ontario

PE – Prince Edward Island

QC – Quebec

SK – Saskatchewan

YT – Yukon

• Each entered quilt can only receive one award with the exception of Viewers’ Choice award.
• (Prize amounts to be announced on Social Media closer to the NJS)

Category Awards:

• Each category may be awarded 1st, 2nd and 3rd place.
• The CQA/ACC Board of Directors and NJS Judges reserve the right to not award all prizes in a category.

Awards of Excellence:

• Machine Quilting Frameless: fabric is not held by a frame and is hand-guided under the needle
• Machine Quilting Framed: fabric is secured in a frame and the machine is moved over the fabric
• Hand Quilting: all styles of hand-quilting
• Workmanship for Applique: all styles of applique (ie. Machine and/or Hand)
• Workmanship for Piecing: all styles of piecing
• Workmanship by a First Time Exhibitor in the CQA/ACC NJS
• Innovation: original design using innovative techniques (Entries Using Innovative Techniques)
• Sustainability: entry must reflect at least one of the three pillars of sustainability (economic, social and environmental)
• Workmanship by an Ontario quilt maker.
• WonderFil Thread: majority of work using WonderFil Thread
• Aurifil Thread: majority of work using Aurifil Thread
• Group Quilt: 3 or more quilt makers, none receiving payment for any part of the work – please refer to Group Entry for detailed definition.

 

Special Awards:

• Best of Show: a work that reflects a consummate level of skill in design, workmanship and quilting
• Dorothy McMurdie Award: awarded to a CQA/ACC member. The quilt must be designed by the entrant, showing excellence in design, workmanship and quilting.
• Judges’ Choice Awards: the quilt that each judge wishes they had made themselves
• Viewers’ Choice: chosen by Quilt Canada attendee ballots.

 

August 2024