Awakening the Senses: Art that Invites Interaction

June 11 – August 9, 2025
at RAM’s Wustum Museum

Entry Deadline: Saturday, May 17, at 4:00 pm 

While traditional museum etiquette expects visitors to observe from a distance, RAM’s 2025 community art show invites guests to break from convention by interacting with the art directly. Activating the senses beyond sight alone, museum-goers are encouraged to make emotional—and physical—connections by getting up close and personal with community-created pieces. Explore the galleries by feeling, trying on, adding to or subtracting from, listening to, or smelling works specifically created to awaken the senses.

For this unique exhibition, artists are invited to share work that promotes engagement in unexpected or unconventional ways, redefining how visitors participate with art. Adjusted prospectus rules allow artists to push boundaries by inviting the public into a multi-sensory world.

This exhibition aims to challenge perceptions and spark new dialogues about the role of sensory interaction in art—whether that be through textures that beg to be touched, scents that evoke memories, or sounds that immerse the body.

Questions? Please contact RAM Curatorial Assistant Katelyn Mitchell via email at [email protected] or by calling 262.619.3541.

Ram Showcase Focus On Adornment Tactile Samples
Supplementary tactile samples in the Wustum exhibition RAM Showcase: Focus on Adornment
Photography: Emily Brownell

Awakening the Senses: Art that Invites Interaction

June 11 – August 9, 2025
at RAM’s Wustum Museum

Entry Deadline: Saturday, May 17, at 4:00 pm 

While traditional museum etiquette expects visitors to observe from a distance, RAM’s 2025 community art show invites guests to break from convention by interacting with the art directly. Activating the senses beyond sight alone, museum-goers are encouraged to make emotional—and physical—connections by getting up close and personal with community-created pieces. Explore the galleries by feeling, trying on, adding to or subtracting from, listening to, or smelling works specifically created to awaken the senses.

For this unique exhibition, artists are invited to share work that promotes engagement in unexpected or unconventional ways, redefining how visitors participate with art. Adjusted prospectus rules allow artists to push boundaries by inviting the public into a multi-sensory world.

This exhibition aims to challenge perceptions and spark new dialogues about the role of sensory interaction in art—whether that be through textures that beg to be touched, scents that evoke memories, or sounds that immerse the body.

Ram Showcase Focus On Adornment Tactile Samples
Supplementary tactile samples in the Wustum exhibition RAM Showcase: Focus on Adornment
Photography: Emily Brownell

Questions? Please contact RAM Curatorial Assistant Katelyn Mitchell via email at [email protected] or by calling 262.619.3541.

What to Expect

Museum visitors are invited to touch, handle, and otherwise experience all works in this exhibition beyond just visual engagement. As a result, works may be returned in a condition different from how they were submitted. Artwork submitted for this exhibition will not be insured by the Racine Art Museum. RAM is not responsible for damage incurred to any piece in this exhibition and will not perform repairs to work.

Due to the nature of this exhibition, no works will be for sale.

This exhibition runs concurrently with the Racine Art Guild Juried Exhibition 2025, on display in the museum’s second-floor galleries.

Entry Requirements

  • Each participant must have taken or taught a class at RAM’s Wustum Museum after May 1, 2020, or is currently enrolled or teaching. Entry is also open to Racine Art Guild members, Racine school teachers, and current RAM members, staff, and volunteers. There is no fee for entry.

  • Your entry must have been created after May 2022, and may be either two- or three-dimensional. All works must be no larger than 72 inches high x 72 inches wide x 48 inches deep. Wall-hanging works must not weigh more than 25 pounds. Audiovisual submissions must be 15 minutes or less. Sizes outside these requirements are unacceptable. Works must not have been previously exhibited at Racine Art Museum or RAM’s Wustum Museum. Due to space and display limitations, final selections will be at the discretion of RAM staff.

  • No food, liquids, dirt, live plants, or other organisms allowed. Any other medium may be used—clay, wood, paper, metal, wax, paint, textile, photography, printmaking, collage, assemblage, etc. Works must be suitable to be touched and handled by visitors—no sharp, hazardous, or toxic materials that could potentially harm someone.

  • All entries must be ready for display upon delivery. Works should not require construction from RAM staff members, including creating, building, attaching, or painting elements. Framed works should be left unglazed or glazed in Plexiglas®—no glass allowed. Pieces must be wired for hanging. Sawtooth hangers are not acceptable.

  • If audiovisual equipment (monitors, speakers, etc.) is needed to display the work, this must be provided by the artist along with written instructions on how to operate the piece. Submissions cannot containing strobe lighting. Volume must be adjustable by museum staff. Artists must provide a transcript of all spoken words or a description of any sounds included in their work—subtitles preferred for video work but not required.

  • If works are additive, artists must supply the materials for others to add to the piece. Additive works are subject to the dimension requirements above—anything visitors add will need to stay within the bounds of the maximum dimensions. If works are subtractive, artists must supply the removeable elements and are responsible for re-stocking if the piece runs out.

  • Works with multiple components should include a diagram. If artwork is not properly prepared for display, it will not be included.

  • Artists will be asked to fill out an identification label upon drop-off. RAM reserves the right to alter media lines for clarification and to adhere to branding guidelines.

Important Dates

Entry Shipment

Mailed works must be received no earlier than Monday, May 5, and no later than Wednesday, May 14. Send entries prepaid, in sturdy, returnable, well-marked containers. Attach return shipping payment to the registration card.

Racine Art Museum, attn: Madison Zapata
441 Main Street, Racine, WI 53403

In-Person Delivery of Works

Designated drop off times at RAM’s Wustum Museum, 2519 Northwestern Avenue in Racine, are Friday, May 16, and Saturday, May 17, 10:00 am – 4:00 pm.

Exhibition Dates

June 11 – August 9, 2025 at RAM’s Wustum Museum

Opening Reception

Wednesday, June 11, 6:00 – 8:00 pm at RAM’s Wustum Museum. More information to come.

Pickup Dates

Artists must pick up accepted work at RAM’s Wustum Museum on either Monday, August 11, or Tuesday, August 12, 10:00 am – 4:00 pm.

Unless alternative pickup dates are arranged, works will become the sole and unrestricted property of the Racine Art Museum on September 13. Please claim your art.

Frequently Asked Questions

Museum visitors are invited to touch, handle, and otherwise experience all works in this exhibition beyond just visual engagement. We ask that artists create pieces that engage the senses of touch, sight, hearing, and/or smell. The more senses your work engages, the better!

Those in the RAM “community” may enter this exhibition. This includes:

  • Individuals who have taken or taught a class at RAM’s Wustum Museum after May 2020
  • Those currently taking or teaching a class at RAM’s Wustum Museum
  • Racine Art Guild members
  • Racine Art Museum members
  • School teachers in Racine County
  • RAM Staff and Volunteers

No. All eligible artists may enter one work for free.

This is an interactive exhibition—visitors will be asked to engage with submissions, so please refrain from using materials that could cause harm to museum guests. This may include, but is not limited to, sharp objects, toxic or hazardous materials, living organisms, food, liquids, or dirt.

Submissions may not include strobe lighting.

Any other medium may be used—clay, wood, paper, metal, wax, paint, textile, photography, audiovisual, printmaking, collage, assemblage, etc.

Artists may submit audiovisual work, but are responsible for providing all necessary display equipment, including monitors, speakers, remotes, extension cords, lights, batteries, etc.

Artists must include written instructions for how to operate all equipment, along with a written transcript of all spoken words or a description of any sounds included in the work. Subtitles are preferred for video work, but are not required.

Audiovisual submissions must be no longer than 15 minutes.

Volume level must be adjustable by museum staff.

Yes! RAM encourages creating works that engage the community in new and exciting ways, including through additive or subtractive works. For example, artists may ask visitors to create an addition (additive) or remove an element (subtractive) to/from their pre-existing display.

If additive, artists are responsible for providing any necessary supplies, including adhesives required to attach them to the display.

If subtractive, artists must supply any removable elements and are responsible for re-stocking the piece as needed. Per the list of prohibited materials, removable elements may not be food-based.

Additive or subtractive works can be no larger than 72 inches high x 72 inches wide x 48 inches deep, including space intended for community use.

Please indicate on your entry form that you wish for visitors to add to or subtract from your piece so it can be labeled accordingly.

Submitted entries should be complete, ready to install, and include any necessary components or equipment.

“Display-ready” includes having wiring on all work expected to hang from a wall. Sawtooth hangers are not acceptable. Work does not need to be framed. If choosing to frame your work, it should remain unglazed (preferred) or glazed with Plexiglas®. Due to the tactile nature of this exhibition, RAM is unable to accept framed work glazed with glass.

If your work has multiple components, please include a diagram on how they should be arranged. Works should not require construction by RAM Staff Members, including creating, building, attaching, or painting elements.

For further clarification regarding how display requirements may pertain to more non-traditional artwork construction or alternative hanging methods, please contact RAM Curatorial Assistant Katelyn Mitchell before May 2, 2025.

Completely fill out the entry form included in the prospectus and bring to drop-off, or include with your mailed entry.

On the entry form, indicate which sense(s) your work activates and give a short description of how you intend your work to be interacted with. Please note that your work may be interacted with in ways other than you intended. For example, you might note that your work is meant to be tried on, or that viewers should use artist-provided headphones to listen to audio.

Be descriptive and specific when listing materials used. RAM will make every effort to list common allergens or sensitivities on labels, but can only do so if artists provide detailed information about their media.

When submitting a work in-person, RAM will provide identification labels which artists should fill out and attach to their work. RAM Staff will complete identification labels for any shipped works.

If you are unable to make it to the two in-person drop-off days, submissions may be shipped to arrive no earlier than Monday, May 5, and no later than Wednesday, May 14.

Ship works to Racine Art Museum, 441 Main Street, Racine, WI 53403, along with attached entry form. Please label any shipments to the attention of Madison Zapata. Prepaid postage must be included if you want return shipping.

No, this exhibition will not be juried. If necessary, due to space constraints, some works may not be displayed. RAM Staff will make an effort to fit all works into the gallery, but cannot guarantee every submission will be shown. If your work is not included in the exhibition, you will be notified prior to the exhibition’s opening.

As long as the work was made after May 1, 2022, has never been exhibited at RAM or RAM’s Wustum Museum, and follows all of the other guidelines for the exhibition, works that have previously not been displayed can be submitted.

Due to the interactive nature of this exhibition, and the potential for works to change over time, work may not be for sale.

Artists knowingly submit their work to this exhibition with the understanding that it will be interacted with and handled by individuals of all ages. As a result, works may be returned in a condition different from how they were submitted.

Artwork submitted for this exhibition will not be insured by the Racine Art Museum. RAM is not responsible or liable for damage incurred to any piece in this exhibition and will not perform repairs to work.

If you are unable to pick up your work in-person, arrange to have another person attend the pick-up days in your place—please email RAM Curatorial Assistant Katelyn Mitchell the name of your alternate pick-up person.

Work can also be shipped back to you—please provide a prepaid return shipping label and packaging materials during drop-off.

Work not picked up within 30 days of the designated pickup is considered abandoned and will be disposed of.

External view of RAM's Wustum Museum of Fine Arts
RAM’s Charles A. Wustum Museum of Fine Arts
Photography: Jessica Zalewski

Love Art?  You’ll Love RAM!

The mission of the Racine Art Museum is to exhibit, collect, preserve, and educate in the contemporary visual arts. Stay up-to-date about special events as well as support the mission of the largest contemporary craft collection in America: