A whimsical thing is playful. It is unserious in the best way, shrugging off gravitas to remain unencumbered by serious concerns. Whimsy embraces play and forgoes responsibility; whimsy makes light.
Capricious and cruel, curious and joyful, whimsy is a result of instinct, a spasmodic reaction to an itch. If you do something on a whim, you didn’t think about why you’re doing it, but you permit yourself to follow an impulse. Following that desire leads to unconventional results and embraces unpredicted ends. Whimsy builds to the wonderful and the surreal, inspired by flights of fantasy.
WHIM is a call for works of art about play, impulse, the fantastic, the fanciful, the mercurial, and the flighty.
Organization: Manifest Gallery
Location: 2727 Woodburn Avenue, Cincinnati, Ohio 45206
Exhibition Dates: July 11 – August 8, 2025
Contact: i[email protected]
Application Deadline: March 29, 2025
Application Fee: $45 for up to three entries. $5 per each additional entry
Eligibility: WHIM is open to everyone internationally. The only limitation is that entries must represent original works which address the broad theme described above. Open to all traditional and non-traditional genre and media.
Submission Guidelines: Apply online.
- Manifest accepts only digital images/files for consideration.
- All entry files (regardless of type or media) must be named LAST NAME_FIRST NAME_ENTRY NUMBER (for example: Jones_Mike_1.jpg). Detail, installation, or alternate view images must include the word ‘detail’ in the filename (for example:Jones_Mike_1detail1.jpg). If you do NOT include the term DETAIL as part of the filename for any additional, extra, installation, or closeup images supporting your entry these will be counted as additional separate entries and the system will expect a corresponding fee for them.
- Image files should be in HIGH QUALITY JPEG format, images should be no smaller than 1,000 pixels in any direction and be 72 DPI.
Application Requirements:
- Completed online entry form
Fee paid by check (mail) payable to Manifest, or via PayPal using the payment button provided after form submission.
Digital images formatted as directed, loaded to the project Dropbox, or linked for video/interactive work referenced on the entry form.
Learn more and apply: WHIM Prospectus