Open Calls

Competitions & Exhibitions

Winter 2026

Poetry Exhibition

Theme: Tomorrow

The Arts Initiative and MESA are seeking student poems for a Student Poetry Exhibition at the Michigan Union! Submissions should be 10 lines or fewer. Students may submit up to two poems that represent this theme. A selection committee will review the submitted poems and choose poems to be displayed in the Michigan Union from April 3–17.

Questions? Email arts-submissions@umich.edu

White ribbon with the order Open Call repeated
Submit Your Poetry

Entries are due Thursday, March 12!

  • Deadline to submit:
    Thursday, March 12, 11:00pm

    Theme:
    Tomorrow

    Selection Process:
    A selection committee will review the submissions and choose poems to be displayed in the Michigan Union from April 3–17.

    • All students enrolled at the University of Michigan during the Winter 2026 semester are eligible.

    • Students of all majors are encouraged to submit.

    • Students may submit up to two works for consideration.

    • Poems must be 10 lines or fewer.

    • All entries must be submitted through the submission form before the deadline.

    • Limit two poems per student.

    • If your work has specific formatting that needs to be preserved, upload a PDF using the form’s upload button. Please title the file with the title of the poem.

  • NOTICE: By submitting this form, you agree that the poem you are submitting is your creative work and you have the legal rights to distribute your submitted poem. Once submitted, the Arts Initiative and MESA reserve the right to use your poem in marketing materials or on the website, yet you always maintain copyright over the images and can request removal of the image from our website(s) whenever you choose.

Winter 2026

Photography Competition

Theme: Glow in the Dark

Voting will open soon!  

Questions? Email arts-submissions@umich.edu

  • Deadline to submit:

    • Thursday, February 5, 11:00pm

    Finalists exhibited online and in-person for voting:

    • TBA

    • Finalists will be exhibited for voting both online and in-person on all 3 campuses.

    • Students with U-M IDs can vote online for two submissions.

    Winners announced:

    • Late February.

    • Finalists will be notified before the official announcement.

    • All applicants will be notified when the finalists are posted.

    • First Place will receive $200.

    • Second Place will receive $100.

    • Third Place will receive $50.

    Winners will be announced via our weekly email, Arts Info.

    • All students enrolled at the University of Michigan during the Winter 2026 semester are eligible.

    • Students do not need to be enrolled in a photography class or studying photography.

    • Students may submit up to two photos for consideration.

    • All entries must be submitted through the submission form before the deadline.

    • One completed entry form per student.

    • Limit two submissions per student.

    • Photos must be submitted as a png or jpeg.

    • Please title the file with the name of the drawing.

    • Submissions missing information will not be considered by the judges.

  • By submitting work to the competition, you agree that you have the legal rights to distribute your submitted image. Once submitted, the Arts Initiative reserves the right to present your work in print materials and on our website, yet you always maintain copyright over the images and can request removal of the image from our website whenever you choose.

View Past Exhibitions