Notes on Juried Shows
Entering a juried show can be a both exciting and nerve-racking experience. When entering, be sure to:
Read the prospectus thoroughly and make sure your work fits the theme. It’s easy to overlook small (or large!) requirements. If something’s not clear, contact the show organizers.
Follow the submission guidelines to the letter. Put all the information requested on your slide and on the entry form. Good work may be eliminated simply for not following the entry criteria.
Send in your entry on time and give yourself plenty of time to meet the deadline. Last-minute entries can get lost in the mail.
Always enter your best work. Enter something your’re excited about – a painting you love. If you can’t bear to part with it permanently, mark it NFS (Not For Sale).
Be philosophical. It’s not a reflection on you or your talent if you don’t get into a show or don’t win a top prize. It’s the luck of the draw, and depends largely on what the judge is looking for. Sulk if you need to, but only for 24 hours. Then get right back into the studio and paint!Top Ten Tips for Getting Into a Juried Exhibit, Craft Show, Book or Magazine
Introduction
This Professional Guidelines document provides information that can improve an artist’s or craftsperson’s chances of being accepted into exhibits, craft shows, books and magazines—anywhere that inclusion is decided by a jury.
By its very nature, the jury process is exclusionary. Juried venues allow you to test your technical, design or conceptual abilities in a competitive environment, subject to the (hopefully) informed and objective opinions of the jurors. Juried venues can raise your professional visibility within your field and are an excellent means for emerging artists—including students—to build an exhibition track record independent of any commercial or academic activities. But who gets in and who does not, in the end, it boils down to the consensus of the jury. A basic understanding of how this process works, some strategic thinking and a little extra preparation can improve your chances.
Remember that juried opportunities can be quite competitive. Exhibit space is often limited and the number of square inches available on the printed page are precious. The same holds true for the number of booth spaces available in a craft fair. It is the jury’s job to eliminate weaker entries. Don’t let sloppy documentation, incomplete paper work, or poor visuals become the reason that a jury rejects your work. Be sure to put your best foot forward.
Below is a summary list of the Top Ten Tips. A more thorough and comprehensive explanation of each Tip and the rationalization behind it follows the list. If there were only one Tip, however, which the Professional Guidelines Committee could offer, it would be Tip #1. Dazzle The Juror With Amazing Images.
Other Professional Guidelines documents, titled Juried Exhibits and the Artist Checklist: Exhibits, may also be helpful in reviewing a show’s prospectus before you decide to enter a juried show. Success is within your grasp with careful planning and preparation.
Tip #1. Dazzle The Jury With Amazing Images!
Tip #2. Dynamic Detail Images Are Key.
Tip #3. Do Not Send A Bad Slide Under Any Circumstances.
Tip #4. Carefully Consider The Arrangement Or Order Of The Slides Chosen.
Tip #5. Avoid Ambiguity In Your Images, Descriptions And Application
Tip #6. Consider Your Entry Thoughtfully And Strategically.
Tip #7. Fill Out The Application Neatly And Completely.
Tip #8. Always Label Your Slides.
Tip #9. Plan Carefully To Meet All Deadlines.
Tip #10. Booth Slides Need To Be Fantastic!
For a complete list of these tips, download the document.