Celebration is the judged competition division of The Exemplary and is open to any embroidery done by the entrant. The categories are listed below; within each category non-professional and professional works are judged separately. A professional is a person who is trained through continuous years of experience and education in the field of needlework. This includes designing and/or teaching, holding certification, teaching needlework on a regular basis for monetary remuneration, or those who consider themselves professionals.

• Original: The entrant has taken control of responsibility for all aspects of the entry, from initial concept, through development of the design (which may include the entrant’s own photography or other medium), to its final execution and presentation. An Artist Statement is required.
• Adaptation: The entrant has taken inspiration from another source, such as a painting, illustration or photograph, that is not their own. An Artist Statement, which provides appropriate credit and source, is required.
• Non-original with Instruction: This includes class projects, kits, charted designs, and pieces with stitch guides or other instruction, including embellishment classes. Entrant must provide source of instruction. An Artist Statement is not required, but is recommended especially if any change has been made by the entrant. 
• Non-original without Instruction: This includes painted canvases or pieces without a stitch guide, class instructions, or writen instructions by another person. An Artist Statement is required and should include a description of choices made by the entrant.
• Mixed Media: The entrant has combined embroidery with another art form thereby stretching the boundaries of both. The piece must display proficiency in both the embroidery and the non-embroidery mediums. An Artist Statement is required.
• Japanese Embroidery: An entrant has adhered to the traditional techniques and materials of Japanese Embroidery. The entries are stitched with Japanese Flat Silk and/or Japanese gold/silver or colorful metal (not metallic) threads. Works may be original or class pieces. Entrant must provide source of design. An Artist Statement is not required, but is recommended.
• Challenge: Periodically, NAN issues a challenge to needleartists to create a design based on a theme. Only pieces in the Original or Adaptation categories are eligible for the Challenge award. If there is a current challenge, information about it can be found on The Exemplary page.