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Practical information for visual artists
about the general selection guidelines and requirements:
This section
provides you with some useful information such as acceptable formats for
submissions, how to submit, what the different kinds of competitions are,
some general rules about competitions, about how to present an artist
statement, or the resume/bio, what the fees are paying for etc…
About
art competitions:
Art
competitions are very useful in the career of an artist.
The selection process conducted through curators and art
professionals guarantee the quality of chosen participants.
In our database
you will find many calls for art competitions. An art competition is a way
for a gallery to gain exposure to a broad range of new artists as well as
to raise operational funds from the entry fees (to edit invitations,
catalogues, press releases etc..) The competition is a lifesaver for many
art institutions.
There are
several kinds of competitions you can enter:
- competitions
held by an artist-owned, and alternative exhibition space, and artist-run
co-operative, or a non-profit organization or a museum.
- competitions held by privately-owned, profit-oriented galleries.
- competitions held by galleries that rent linear feet of wall space to
artists and/or charge the artist exhibition fees if he gets accepted to
exhibit.
If you
are selected for a “competition”:
Artists are in
most cases responsible for shipping and insurance during transit. The work
must be suitably framed if applicable, and ready for hanging or
installation.
About the
fees:
The entry fee
is not just a fee, it is a donation which contributes to the continuing
existence of the gallery/art center etc…. Most gallery owners are not
making large profits from art competitions.
About the
artist statement:
The purpose of
the artist statement is to introduce his work to the viewer. It is a
description of the artistic interest, intent for the body of work
presented, previous artistic history, and the context in which the work
should be considered. The artist statement should be written in the
first-person and not be an autobiography. It has to be concise and clear
and focused on one or two significant technical or conceptual aspects of
the work, making an obvious relationship to the slides/visuals submitted.
The idea is to discuss symbols and metaphors, materials and techniques,
themes and issues underlying the work (“this series is based on…”)
About the
artist bio:
The chosen form
for an artist bio should be to introduce the artist as if written by
another person. Information can include art studies and degrees, place of
birth and residency, exhibition exposure, travel if relevant, mediums, art
awards, fellowships, art-residencies, press coverage, publication of
articles or books related to art, art-related teaching. It should be
avoided to include personal information to keep the bio strictly
professional.
About the
"current resume":
The
“resume” is different to the artist bio. It introduces the complete
list of solo and group exhibitions performed by an artist in the past
years.
The
slides/transparencies:
The slides are
not transparencies. Slide formats for submission are always 35mm slides
and not transparencies. If there is a fee for a minimum number of slides
and a charge for additional slides, send only the minimum. Many artists
spend a lot of money to send whole sheets of slides thinking it will
increase their chances; in fact this has the opposite effect. The slides
are the only thing you have to represent your work. Slides must be
perfect.
Important: the
initial weeding-out phase of any competition jury is done with a light
box, not a projector. Make sure that your slides are of good quality and
easy to read.
About
submissions formats:
When you send
visuals on a CD-Rom, make sure that your CD-Rom is readable on PCs as well
as on Macs.
To see all the different subscription options,
whether you are an individual or an institution, please click on subscribe
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