CALL—Outside the Box | Tuolumne County Arts

Fundraising Art Show & Auction

Tuolumne County Arts is proud to present
Outside the Box—a fundraising art show and auction!

Explore creations that break physical boundaries and challenge art’s traditionally flat plane through our brand new fundraising exhibition, Outside the Box.

Artists are invited to transform 5"x8" wooden boxes into anything they can imagine—dioramas, curios, portals, whimsical assemblages, reliquaries that set your creativity ablaze, and more!

Outside the Box provides an opportunity for participating artists to earn money through sales of their works, while simultaneously helping to raise funds for Tuolumne County Arts. The show opens its entry period November 2025, and is scheduled to exhibit and auction February through March of 2026.

Fundraising and Sales

Replacing the annual Small Works Show, Outside the Box is TCA's new, main fundraising art show endeavor, coinciding with our yearly Hearts for the Arts donation drive. Participating in this show and auction will not only support the artists exhibiting and selling their works, but will also support the local arts by helping to keep our organization alive. All profits will be divided between the show’s artists and Tuolumne County Arts.

Every penny raised for TCA goes towards our operational costs—funding crucial necessities such as staffing and supplies—and in turn helping us continue to host events and workshops for the community, distribute grants to artists to support their projects, facilitate arts education in schools, provide sustainable & low-cost art supplies, and much more!

Your support for Tuolumne County Arts is essential to our survival. We immensely appreciate the generosity and talents of our community, and thank you from the bottom of our heARTs! ♥

APPLICATIONS OPEN
Nov. 17, 2025 – Jan. 31, 2026

STEP 1: ACQUIRE A STARTING A BOX
Starting boxes can be paid for either in our shop or online (linked below), but all boxes must be picked-up in person from our main studio office.

Starting Box

STEP 2: COMPLETE YOUR ENTRY FORM
Complete one of the entry forms linked below, and then submit your entry photos by following the instructions sent to your email.

Standard Entry

Additional / Reduced-fee Entry

STEP 3: DELIVER YOUR PIECE
Once your entry form and entry photos have been submitted, drop-off your finished work at TCA's main studio office downtown, located at 21 N. Washington St, Sonora, CA. Finished pieces must be dropped off by February 2, 2026.

Rules, Guidelines, & Important Details

Please make sure to carefully read through all of our rules, guidelines, and show details by clicking through the information tabs below! These can also be downloaded and viewed in our Information Packet PDF, along with a sample bidding and pricing breakdown.

— Entry Fees and Limits

Total cost of entry is $25 per person.* This includes one required starting box ($5) and one specially-discounted, one-year TCA membership ($20). *Please check out our reduced-fee option if this entry cost is not feasible for you!

Additional entries can be made for $5 each—the cost of the required box(es)—and individual artists may enter up to a maximum of three (3) pieces total to the show. Families or groups wishing to enter together can also submit their additional entries for $5 each, up to a maximum of 5 total entries OR, if there are more than 5 pieces/artists, a limit of one (1) entry piece per person in the group. We suggest at least one individual in the family/group pay the standard entry price. Only individuals who pay the full $25 entry price will receive a discounted TCA membership.

In the case that a submission is unable to be accepted to the show, TCA will refund the artist their $20 membership portion of the standard entry fee. The $5 box fees are non-refundable.

— Entry Forms

The Outside the Box entry period is open from 12:00am November 17, 2025 through 11:59pm January 31, 2026. Artists will first need to obtain a starting box, which can be paid for either online or in our shop but must be picked-up in person from our main studio office (21 N. Washington St. Sonora, CA). After completing your piece, the Outside the Box entry form can be completed online through the links on this web page.

Artists should be prepared to upload 1–3 photos of their work(s) at the time of submission, in JPG or PNG format. Photos can be simple, but must show the work clearly, preferably with as plain a background as possible (a solid black background is ideal). At least one photo should show the entire piece clearly from the front, at a straightforward angle. For additional photos TCA suggests something from the side (45º or full side profile) and/or a detailed closeup.

Instructions on how to submit photos will be emailed to the artist upon completing their entry form. If NO photos are submitted before the drop-off deadline, your piece will NOT be accepted to the show.

— Entry Drop-off

Finished pieces need to be delivered in-person to TCA's main studio office. They can be dropped-off throughout the entire entry period, but must be delivered before closing on February 2, 2026 at the latest. If you need to make alternative drop-off arrangements please contact us in advance!

— Physical Requirements

SIZE: The recommended size limit for entries is 30” x 30” or smaller.

WEIGHT: The preferred maximum weight is 5 lbs or less for entries meant to be hung. Entries that are not designed to hang must be light enough to lift easily.

MATERIALS: Materials must not be of a type or state that would be disruptive to the show—i.e. still wet/sticky/unfinished, creating a mess, smelly, hazardous, etc.

CONSTRUCTION: Entries MUST use at least one TCA box, purchased with entry. Artists may purchase additional boxes for $5 to combine into one creation if they wish.

DISPLAY: Entries must be stable and secure enough to display and move safely! For example: glue should be fully dried, pieces should not be loose, and the structure should not be too delicate. Hanging entries must be prepared with a proper wire-hanging attachment (please see the 2023 Small Works Show hanging guidelines for reference). Hooks, sawtooth backings, and other types of hanging hardware are not acceptable for our venue, and pieces that do not meet the hanging requirements may be adjusted by TCA staff in order to be hung properly. Non-hanging entries must be sturdy enough to stand securely on their own.

— Content Requirements

This is a family-friendly show and will be displayed in an active workspace. Please do not submit a piece that would be too inappropriate for all-ages or for an office environment (for example: highly graphic depictions of gore).

— Important Disclaimers

It is possible that some entries may not be admitted to the show, particularly if, for example, they are unable to be safely, appropriately, or easily displayed—or if they are not submitted properly or on time. All submissions are accepted or rejected at TCA’s discretion.

TCA is experienced in handling artworks and will handle all entries with the utmost care, but is not liable for any potential damage to submitted pieces.

All entries will be made available for sale during the Outside the Box exhibition period through an online, silent auction format. The auction web page will be active on our website throughout the extent of the show. Profits from auction sales will be divided and distributed to artists as payment for their work(s) and to TCA as fundraising for our operational costs.

— Starting Bids & Artist Profits

At the time of entry, artists will set their own Artist Profit Value, which will be the exact amount that the artist is paid upon the sale of their work. This will account for 70% of the Starting Bid Price, and will be used to determine that value using the formula below:

Artist Profit Value ÷ 70% (0.7) = Starting Bid Price (rounded to the nearest $)

Artist Profit Values must start at a minimum of at least $28, which would then equal a Starting Bid Price of $40.

— Distribution of Profits

Sale profits of all works will be split between TCA and the respective artists after the completion of the show. The value of the Starting Bid Price will be distributed as such: 70% to the artist, 30% to TCA. All Additional Bid profits beyond the Starting Bid Price are to be donated to TCA. Bidding will occur in $10 increments and Additional Bids include any amount above the Starting Bid Price.

— Payments

Artists will be paid their portion of sales via check within 2–4 weeks from the end of the show. Checks will be delivered by mail, so please make sure the address and contact information in your entry form is correct and up-to-date.

— Pick-ups

Winning bidders for SOLD works will need to pick up their purchased pieces from TCA within
2 weeks from the end of the show. UNSOLD works may be reclaimed by the artist also within 2 weeks from the end of the show. All winning bidders and artists with unsold works will be contacted by TCA once the show and auction are complete.

— Unsold/Unclaimed Works

UNCLAIMED works will become the full property of TCA to display, sell, or give away at our discretion. An unsold work will be deemed unclaimed if it is not picked up within 2 weeks from the show’s end and the artist has not made alternative pick-up arrangements with TCA. If a winning bidder does not pick up a sold work and has made no alternative pick-up arrangements within 2 weeks from the end of the show, those works will also be deemed unclaimed. In this case the winning bid amount will remain a donation to TCA and will not be refunded.

ENTRY PERIOD: November 17, 2025 – January 31, 2026

Box pick-up location: Tuolumne County Arts — 21 N. Washington St. Sonora, CA

SUBMISSION DROP-OFF DEADLINE: February 2, 2026

Drop-off location: Tuolumne County Arts — 21 N. Washington St. Sonora, CA

SHOW & AUCTION DATES: February 14, 2026 – March 14, 2026

OPENING RECEPTION: February 14, 2026 • 5:30 pm – 8:00 pm

CLOSING RECEPTION: March 14, 2026 • 5:30 pm – 8:00 pm

Venue: Sonora Chamber of Commerce — 47 N. Washington St. Sonora, CA

PICK-UP DEADLINE: 2 Weeks from End of Show

Both winning bidders and artists claiming unsold works must pick up their pieces within this time or make alternate arrangements.

Pick-up location: Tuolumne County Arts — 21 N. Washington St. Sonora, CA

ARTIST PAYMENTS: 2–4 weeks from end of show, via mail

Samples and Inspiration

Looking for ideas? Check out some of these fantastic early entries from our talented, creative community!

Or consider visiting Gallery Route One's web page for The Box Show to see how a similar, inspiring event takes place!