Celebration is the competition division of The Exemplary. Within Celebration categories, there are three types of awards:
- Ribbons awarded by professional judges
- Special awards selected by the NAN Board of Directors
- Awards selected by others
Ribbons awarded by professional judges:
Within each competition category, judges may present ribbons to works for First, Second, and Third Places and Honorable Mention. Placement is determined by a point system that evaluates the entries for design, execution, techniques, presentation, and suitability of purpose. In addition, the following special awards are presented by judges:
- Best of Show (Jean Taggart Award) selected from First Place winners in all categories except Japanese Embroidery
- Best of Show for Japanese Embroidery (The Beverly Booker Award) selected by the Japanese Embroidery judge from First Place winners in that category
- Judge’s Choice selected by each judge based solely on the judge’s opinion and not on a point system
Special awards selected by the NAN Board of Directors:
- The Academy Heart (Jody Adams Award) given for the piece that best evokes a quality symbolically associated with heart such as beauty, wisdom, passion, or courage
- The Betsy Robb Award given for excellence in predominantly silk and/or metal work
- The Exemplary Award presented to the entry that demonstrates outstanding technical skill
- The Linda Calsing Award given to the piece best reflecting Linda’s love of travel and history
- The Muse’s Kiss (Peg Laflam Award) given for innovation or imagination
Awards selected by others:
- Popular Choice selected by visitors to The Exemplary. Each visitor is eligible to cast one vote, and the piece receiving the most votes receives this award.
- Best Flower (Gail Sirna Award) selected by Gail Sirna. This award goes to the piece that portrays a flower or floral theme in the most artistic and/or technically excellent way.
- The Dolores Andrew Award selected by Dolores Andrew. This award is presented to an original entry that demonstrates creative use of color and design in any medium.