Artists are constantly courted by juried shows asking for their dollars in return for a chance at being included in an exhibition. Is it a good idea to cough up $15, $25, $50 for a chance to show your work?
It’s hard to say. There are many considerations, and sometimes juried exhibitions seem like the only way to get your work in front of people. However, they can be a really easy way to toss away your money with little return. Many people say you should never pay to show your work. In general, I agree. Today I’m writing about my exceptions.
But before you start, make sure that any show that you consider isn’t just flatly out to steal your cash.
Once you’ve reached the conclusion that the show is legitimate, consider your needs. A juried show worth paying to enter should give you something.
1. Exposure. You can tell yourself, “I want to enter this juried competition because it’s in a big city the next state over, and those people haven’t seen my work, so it’s totally worth it!” Wrong. The truth is, not very many people will see this show. Any of the shows. That’s the nature of art. Unless it’s the one-in-a-million exhibition with an outrageous record for selling out all the work (and I don’t think that a show like that exists), your work will be getting shipped back to you.
However. There is the possibility of one kind of desirable exposure, and it requires just a smidge of research. Check out who is curating the show. Is it a curator who has assembled other shows you admire? Who runs a gallery with works like yours? This may be a good opportunity to get your work and CV on their desk.
2. CV Fodder. Are you trying to build your CV? Look for a show with some clout. Does it typically attract the work of high quality artists? Maybe it has a big-name curator? Is it very exclusive, but visible, like New American Paintings? It might be worth giving a go, so that you can add it to your CV’s list of recognitions and showings.
3. An inspiring theme. There is nothing wrong with doing a show because it sounds fun. Not every opportunity has to give you back something tangible. I like the shows put on by Art House. The Sketchbook Project. The Self-Portrait Project. They do fun things that are inexpensive to enter and can force you to work in a new way. Think of it as professional development.
Maybe you’ve always been dying to get into video installations or Chinese beadery or the exhibition features the theme, “The Economical Impact of Teeth”, which just sparks your brain into a million places. If it’s going to force you to work with a new medium that you’ve been wanting to try, or it fires you up, do it.
If a show fills up one of these buckets, it might be worth the $10-$25-$60 to enter. Good luck! In order to assure you’ve got the best chance of a good experience, don’t forget to consider these things, too:
Who facilitates the exhibition? Is it facilitated by a museum, an arts center, a non profit, a women’s club, Ducks Unlimited?
Once you determine the face behind the show, think about what sort of audience this will be marketed to. Arts patrons, nannies, duck hunters? Do you think they will be interested in your work?
Think very long and very hard about any past experiences you may have had with the show or its organizers. Are they reliable? Is the quality of work going to be high? Will you be excited that your work is hanging along side it? Personally, I never want my work to be the best OR the worst in the room. I will either look like I’m not aiming high enough or as though I don’t understand art at all.
Similarly, is this a local show or a national show? Some calls for entry specify that shows may only be entered by local artists, some are local only because they don’t have a significant reach past the edges of the state. A national show isn’t necessarily better than a local show, but it is important to understand who the audience will be.
What are the outcomes of the show? Are there awards? You spent your $25 to apply, your accepted piece had better be hanging on a wall in a well-trafficked gallery, printed in a magazine, up on a website. Read very carefully about where the accepted pieces well be shown.
What are the odds of being accepted? This is where being honest with yourself becomes crucial. Consider the quality of your work, along with the quality of your entry (how good are your photos/slides/artist statements)? Find out about the jury, if possible. Is your work in line with what they historically like? Find out how many people typically enter vs. how many are typically accepted. Have you applied to this show for five years and always been accepted/denied? I’m not saying it’s a bad idea to shoot for the stars, here. I’m just saying, spend your money wisely.
And finally, do they waive the entry fee, only to charge a publishing/supportâ/acceptanceâ fee for winning artists? That isn’t a juried exhibition, folks. That’s advertising.
Did I miss anything? Are there other considerations to be had? I’d love to hear about how you judge shows.
