Finding good quality juried art exhibits to build ones resume.

[john22]

Has anyone found a nice site to find good quality juried art exhibits to build ones resume. I have used Art Deadlines but there is so much information to look through there.

[truarts]

I use artshow.com and you may want to check out your local drawing centers, galleries, museums for oppurtunities to show your work. Here in Cincinnati, Ohio one of our local drawing center shows through out the year are juried and highly competitive. You should check them out @ www.manifestgallery.org

[truarts]

Regardless of what site you go to you are going to have to take the time to read through the opp to make sure your art is a fit and to make sure you understand all the rules that apply to submitting work.

[mame]

Ditto truarts
A simple search = 400 million hits - give or take a few million that probably have no application re calls to artists. It's a gold mine!
The hardest thing you have to do is the research i.e., narrow it down to location/time frame/specific criteria and requirements/cost/best fit for your work.

P.S. - If a particular competition names the juror(s), = more research!

P.P.S. - Create a spread sheet listing all those competitions that interest you with soonest date of submission first. You can easily keep track of deadlines and ones you've applied to, works submitted, etc. If you get rejected to one you can move on to another one and you won't have to go internet searching each time.

[john22]

Thanks for the help!

[RobinZ]

I'd also suggest putting annual ones that you think you would like to do but that have already passed this year on your radar for next year.

[chewie]

how does doing this (entering these things) help one's art career? I have been thinking to send in to a few, but not sure what it will gain me?

[RobinZ]

1. You can make some money if you win/something sells.
2. You are judged as being worthy by at least one juror.
3. You prove that you are interested in exhibiting, and can meet deadlines.

I'm sure there are a ton of other reasons.

[truarts]

But fully understand that it cost money to apply for both juried and non-juried shows. So the fees can definitely add up. And if you do get into a show that is not local you will have to pay for shipping cost and insurance cost.

[Davkin]

I kind of wonder though, if your main marketing efforts are online does it really help to pad your resume with awards from shows? I know galleries want to see that stuff on your resume, but how many people that buy art online, (especially at the lower end of the market) really care?

Also, the financial motive may not be there, you need to be careful about assuming that even if you sell you'll come out ahead overall. Unless a competition is all digital submission only it can get quite expensive to compete in non-local exhibitions. I know most juried shows require submission initially by mail or email but if they decide to accept your work you then need to ship it to the exhibition....framed! Shipping a framed 18x24 (for example) painting ain't cheap! And if it doesn't sell you have to pay the return shipping as well! Say you get accepted into ten non-local shows, one painting each. You'll spend in the neighborhood of $2000-$3000 on shipping plus entry fees that can get as high as $150, not to mention the framing cost itself. If you only sell 2 or 3 of those paintings you're definately running at a loss, you might not even break even selling half of them. I think all that fuss and expense is not worth it unless you are aiming for high end gallery representation some day.

David