The Chocolate Meltdown Art Exhibition opens at the Oxford Community Arts Center on Saturday, January 10, 2026, and will be on view through February 7. Part of the annual Chocolate Meltdown event, this exhibit is presented by the Oxford Community Arts Center, the Richard and Carole Cocks Art Museum at Miami University, the City of Oxford, Enjoy Oxford, and the Oxford Chamber of Commerce.
The following prizes will be awarded to eligible participants:
♦ Adult: 1st prize $200 | 2nd prize $100 | 3rd prized $50
♦ Youth (under 18): 1st prize $100 | 2nd prize $50 | 3rd prize $25
We invite artists in the tri-state area to exhibit their work for the upcoming exhibition, titled Artful Indulgence. Artworks can be directly inspired by the sensory world of chocolate – its dark, rich colors, its velvety textures, its powerful role in celebration and comfort. Beyond the treat, you can explore the exquisite excess of beauty and the sensory feast of a perfect moment. Why not interpret or challenge this theme through dreams, escapism, or opulence that can be evoked within a creative work?
In the spirit of our event, artworks inspired by chocolate, as well as works inspired simply by the Artful Indulgence theme, will be considered for entry. This exhibit seeks artworks exploring the theme through various media including painting, drawing, print, sculpture, photography, poetry, ceramics, and digital art.
Works can be 2 or 3-dimensional and need not consist of chocolate. All media will be considered. Pieces exhibiting diverse concepts, materials, or media, and creativity will take precedence. Every effort will be made to display all entries; however, space or technical limitations may be an issue. The Art Exhibitions Committee reserves the right to reject artwork that is inappropriate for our audience. Works submitted made from chocolate or other perishable material may be exhibited for a shorter period of time at the discretion of the staff.
♦ Submission deadline is December 14, 2025.
♦ Selection notification & agreement will be sent by OCAC by December 22.
♦ Selected works delivered to OCAC by Tuesday, January 6, 2026, between 10am and 8pm
♦ Dates for pick-up following the close of the exhibition will be arranged by OCAC staff.
♦ Featured artworks will be insured while they are at the OCAC.
♦ Artists are responsible for transportation and insurance while the art is in transit.
♦ Prize winners will be announced during the event on January 10! **
** To avoid conflicts of interest, staff and board members of the Chocolate Meltdown 2026 partner organizations are ineligible to receive a cash prize in the competition. They are still encouraged to submit artwork and be recognised for their contribution.
Chocolate Meltdown and More is a multifaceted collaborative fundraiser for the Oxford Community Arts Center and RCCAM, with vendors featuring chocolate delicacies for tasting, coffee vendors, children’s activities, raffles, and educational materials. Nothing says decadence like chocolate, which, in its many forms, has become an obsession for people of all ages.