[Exhibition Update]
Congratulations to the winners of The New York Center for Photographic Art’s online photography competition, Wandering Curves!
- Grand Prize: Jeff Larason “Luna’s Escape – Walden Pond”
- 1st Place: Ellen Gaube “Canfield Lace 5”
- 1st Place: Judy Hancock Holland “Celebration”
- 1st Place: Darrell Staggs “Swim With The Herd”
See the exhibition and all the winners online at https://www.nyc4pa.com/wandering-curves-1
[Side Arts Certified Sponsored Listing] The New York Center for Photographic Art (NYC4PA) announces a call for artists for Wandering Curves, an online photography competition.
The word curve has a broad spectrum of meanings from throwing a curve ball to slowing down for the curve on a country road, and let’s not forget the curves associated with the human body. For this call the focus is on images where a curve or curves is an important element of the composition. No matter where you photograph the possibilities are endless. It can be that winding road. It can also be a stack of old tires, curved windows in a city building, or, in fact, the shape of the building itself. Do you see the curvaceous form of an elephant’s trunk when feeding, the curl of a giant wave or even a closer view of a head full of curls. Curves are all around us. Capture wandering curves as a dominant element of your images and send them in.
Click here for the application / registration (Closed)
Enter by: 25 August 2024
Images awarded an NYC4PA prize within the past 2 years are not eligible. Images submitted that were not selected for a prize may be submitted at any time. NYC4PA uses a blind jury process. No signatures or watermarks on your submitted images.
NYC4PA offers opportunities to participate in themed calls for photographers. Each call has a different theme and 50 images win. The prizes total $4000. There is a grand prize, 3 first prizes, 3 second prizes, 3 third prizes, 20 juror’s selections, and 20 honorable mentions. All 50 winners are posted in a gallery on the NYC4PA website and included in an exhibition gallery. The call is open to any photographers worldwide and of any age, amateurs or professional. A professional photographer, gallery owner, or photography teacher is the juror.
About New York Center for Photographic Art
The mission of the New York Center for Photographic Art is to provide exhibition opportunities in the vibrant New York City gallery world to photographers around the globe. NYC4PA offers international, themed, open call competitions juried by recognized experts in the field of photography. Prizes include cash awards, online gallery, catalog, and New York City gallery exhibits.
For more information, contact nyc4pa@gmail.com
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Pricing your artwork is an important component of your strategy for marketing art. Artwork pricing should not be an over-complicated procedure in the primary market. (Secondary market sales can be much more complicated.) If you are new to pricing your artwork, there is a formula to determine where to start.
Artwork Pricing Formula
- Start with the total costs of the materials used. Use the relative cost of only the materials used.
- Track the amount of time you actually spent creating the artwork.
- Multiply the number of hours by the rate you would charge per hour as a professional art consultant.
- Add the cost of materials and time.
- Multiply the result by a multiple based on your overall experience. This is typically between 2 (just starting out) and 10 (top of your field).
Price of Original Artwork = [Materials + (Time)(Hourly Rate)] (Experience)
For example, [$100 materials + (20 hours of work)($25/hr)] (5 years of experience adds a multiplier of 3) = $1800.
Pricing reproductions
- Highest quality (limited edition giclee prints or high-end reproductions) = 50% of the original price
- Mid-grade quality (limited edition reproductions) = 30% of the original price
- Low quality (one-off prints or open-ended reproductions) = 10% of the original price
Next Step
Are you ready to invest in yourself and showcase your artwork? Apply to become represented by Side Arts, a leading agency connecting artists with exhibition opportunities. With limited capacity and a rigorous jury review, Side Arts ensures that your work gets the attention it deserves. Click here to learn more about how Side Arts can elevate your art career and provide you with exciting opportunities to display your talent to a wider audience.
Take the leap and step into a world of endless possibilities for your artistic journey with Side Arts. Don’t miss out on this incredible chance to share your passion and creativity with the world. Apply now and open doors to a bright future as a recognized visual artist. Click here to apply.
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[Side Arts Certified Sponsored Listing] The New York Center for Photographic Art (NYC4PA) announces a call for artists for Primary Colors 2024, an online photography competition.
Red, yellow, and blue are the three basic paint colors an artist needs to create all the colors they use on their palate. Although most of what we see in our daily life is the world of color generated from the infinite number of combinations of these elements, each stands out on its own as an important visual element. This competition is about images in which one of these colors is a critical component.
Click here for the application / registration
Enter by: 20 October 2024
For Primary Colors, submit each image into one of the categories: Red, Yellow, or Blue. Do you have a monochrome image with a red car parked at the curb, a portrait with a funky pair of yellow sunglasses, or a city image with a blue bench as the major element? Have you modified a print to be all shades of red? Essentially any image where red, yellow, or blue stands out as an important part of the composition fits the bill. Be creative and send your best!
NYC4PA offers opportunities to participate in themed calls for photographers. Each call has a different theme and 50 images win. The prizes total $4000. There is a grand prize, 3 first prizes, 3 second prizes, 3 third prizes, 20 juror’s selections, and 20 honorable mentions. All 50 winners are posted in a gallery on the NYC4PA website and included in an exhibition gallery. The call is open to any photographers worldwide and of any age, amateurs or professional. A professional photographer, gallery owner, or photography teacher is the juror.
About New York Center for Photographic Art
The mission of the New York Center for Photographic Art is to provide exhibition opportunities in the vibrant New York City gallery world to photographers around the globe. NYC4PA offers international, themed, open call competitions juried by recognized experts in the field of photography. Prizes include cash awards, online gallery, catalog, and New York City gallery exhibits.
For more information, contact nyc4pa@gmail.com
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Agreed, it’s much more fun to do almost anything than write a resume. How can you summarize what you do all day long into a short phrases? It’s not easy to see all your hard work in concise bullets with no context. It’s even harder for artists who strive to be creative and tell a story. And yet, you need one to apply for a job, to network with peers and colleagues, and to apply for your next award.
Ultimately, the objective of the resume is to highlight your strengths. It gives you the opportunity to move on to the next step.
Resume Tips From Jessica Saragovi
Before you start your resume, I suggest beginning with these questions. Taking the time to answer these questions will ultimately help you with your resume, the interview process and other aspects of the job search process. Write these answers down, revisit them, it’s an ongoing list and will be adapted as needed.
- What do you WANT? Is this for a grant application or for a bridge job? A different job will require a different focus and sections. This includes EVERYTHING from commute, salary (what salary structure – base, bonus and / or commission), hours, responsibilities, manager style, office set up. What’s your perfect day like?
- More importantly, what do you NOT want in your next role?
- What are your skills? These are things you know HOW to do, abilities, expertise, talents, competencies. These include both hard skills (measured, teachable and defined) and soft skills (not-measured, personality based and subjective).
- More importantly, what are your STRENGTHS? From the skills above, which ones do you LOVE to do? Strengths are skills that include an element of passion. What lights you when you talk about it? What comes easy to you and you enjoy doing?
The good news is that once you have a good foundation, it’s easy to update with your awards, exhibitions, and additional work experience. It’s important to have clear, legible fonts, the right amount of white space, and eye-friendly headings. A well-crafted, easy to read resume will help you open doors to jobs. It shows that you’re ready to be submitted for the next juried exhibition, grant, award, gallery show, commission, and residency program.
Free Resume Support
For Side Arts members, I offer a 20 minute complimentary conversation to answer questions and provide support for exactly where you are in the job search process. Request an appointment via email at systemichr@gmail.com.
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Jessica Saragovi is a Human Resources professional with more than two decades of experience across various industries and companies across New York, Miami, and Philadelphia. Jessica’s deep insight into how organizations hire, train, manage, and develop employees allows her to be a skilled resume writer. Jessica partners with clients in developing a resume that fully encompasses who they are, what they’ve done, and where they want to go with their next role. View my profile on LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/in/jsaragovi.
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[Side Arts Certified Sponsored Listing] The Visual Artists Association (VAA) announces a call for artists for the International Exhibition and Scholarship Prize, an exciting initiative designed to support and elevate emerging and re-emerging artists. Announced in Summer 2022, the Prize is a comprehensive programme worth £20,000. It aims to provide artists with crucial resources to develop their arts businesses and enhance their international exposure while contributing to the VAA artist education programmes.
Click here for the application / registration
Enter by: 19 September 2024
Artist Benefits
- Exhibition in Central London: Winners will exhibit their artwork in a London venue.
- Mentorship Package: The four-week Artists Momentum course features weekly online sessions with industry experts, offering personalized guidance to help artists unlock their potential.
- Art Portfolio Review: Winners will have an exclusive one-on-one session to discuss their current practice, gain insights, identify new opportunities, and overcome challenges.
- Monthly Online Group Support Sessions: These drop-in sessions offer a collaborative environment for artists to share experiences, knowledge, and receive support to fuel their artistic growth.
- Networking Opportunities: Winners can build lifelong connections with fellow artists through exclusive networking events and activities.
- Access to VAA Resources Vault: Unlimited access to a wealth of resources
Artfinder Benefits
For the VAA’s International Exhibition and Scholarship Prize, Artfinder would like to welcome the winner to their platform, with a prize comprising a free Homepage Placement and a free six month Professional Plan, which includes unlimited artworks upload, a reduced commission rate, and many other features such as in-depth reports.
Artfinder will contact selected participants who have entered the competition with an offer to join the platform to help them expand their sales potential to an international database of art collectors. They will provide help through a faster application process, support to get their shop live, and promotion on site and email.
About Visual Artists Association
The Visaul Artists Association champions artists at all stages of their careers to succeed in the business of art. VAA assists artists in building their businesses by generating sales via marketing and distribution channels (self-representation, galleries, publishers) as well as advising on personal brand creation, alongside the practicalities of managing your arts business.
The VAA offers members the right tools to succeed including access to a range of training, business advice services, online resources, events, and access to a supportive and progressive community.
For more information, contact hello@visual-artists.org
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[Side Arts Certified Sponsored Listing] Annmarie Sculpture Garden and Arts Center announces a call for artists to submit original artworks to the Holiday Gift Show and Sale exhibition to take place November 1, 2024, through January 1, 2025, in the Main Gallery of the Murray Arts Building.
Set your sights on holiday shoppers, as the exhibit will coincide with Annmarie’s annual Ornament Show, as well as everyone’s favorite festive event, Annmarie Garden in Lights! Attendance during the holiday season is more than 35,000 guests!
Click here for the application / registration
Enter by: 30 September 2024
All media will be considered, including painting, printmaking, ceramics, sculpture, jewelry, glass, fiber, digital, photography, and mixed media. Price of works cannot exceed $300. Artworks do not have to be holiday themed.
This is a show and sale style exhibit, meaning artworks will be removed as they sell. Artists will be contacted upon sale of work and invited to replace the sold piece with another artwork. Annmarie retains a 35% commission on all works sold.
Holiday Gift Show and Sale Artists will benefit heavily from reduced commission fees (35%), extended gallery hours (10am-9pm), as well as increased foot traffic. This show will be installed in a spacious main gallery and will run concurrently with the annual lights festival. The holiday season includes other small events such as a model train exhibition, a Lego exhibition, food trucks, and pictures with Santa. The timing for this exhibition is advantageous, seeing as it is during the holiday shopping season.
About Annmarie Sculpture Garden and Arts Center
Annmarie Sculpture Garden and Arts Center is located in scenic Solomons, Maryland, where the Patuxent River meets the Chesapeake Bay. The sculpture garden features a shady walking path that meanders through the woods past permanent and loaned sculpture, including over thirty works on loan from the Smithsonian Institution and the National Gallery of Art. Artists in the collection include Antonio Tobias Mendez, Barbara Hepworth, Cesar, Robert Engman, Jean Arp, Kenneth Snelson, and Fransisco Zuniga. Young guests can frolic in the Fairy Lolly Creative Play Space and explore the many trails, including the Tree-mendous Trail.
The award-winning Arts Building includes rotating exhibition space, the Nature Nook, the artLAB Creative Reuse Studio, the Annmarie Gift Shop, and lovely wrap around patios. Annmarie presents a variety of popular annual festivals, rotating exhibitions, family activities, and creative public programs. The Studio School offers classes for all ages and abilities – from pottery to dance – taught by professional artists and arts educators. Come explore this special place where art and nature meet!
For more information, contact exhibits@annmariegarden.org
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Calling cards, takeaways, handouts, exclusives – no matter what you call them, they help your patrons understand your identity and keep them coming back. They are an important part of your strategy for marketing art. It’s all in the details, the signature things that your supporters find surprising and endearing. Whether you are preparing for a vendor event, exhibition, or an online storefront, try to think about the extras that would make it special for your supporters.
Ideas for Calling Cards
- Packaging: Consider how you can elevate your packaging and delivery – customize the box (something patrons can use in case they need to move or ship the item), add a personalized and signed thank you note, emboss, gold leaf, and detail the package.
- Business cards: If you are going to go the extra mile and spend more on business cards, make sure that the concept aligns with your art. Typically, a basic card size is all you need. Include your name, phone number, email address, and website. Remember to include white space to write additional details.
- Signage: Banners, flags, and table covers are always important. Consider the height, having things at eye-level can catch the patron’s eyes more frequently. Draw the attention to your art.
- Postcards: Believe it or not, some folks just don’t use the internet or email, use postcards to reach them. You want to be inclusive in your marketing. Even for those that are digital natives, receiving something of value in the snail mail can be a special occasion.
- Gift tags: Most art is purchased as a gift for others. Make it easy for them by not having to also have to purchase a gift tag, card, box, or bag.
- Return address labels: If you are mailing marketing or shipping artwork, add a unique identifier to the item. That way, the person doesn’t have to guess who or what they have received before needing to open it.
- Certificates of Authenticity: Your art is special. Show patrons how special it is with a letter of provenance. It elevates the art and provides another means for patrons to remember you. Remember to include the item’s description and story, your contact information, and personalized signature.
It is especially important to think about things that have value beyond one use items. For example, stamp a business card with a unique qualifier for an online storefront discount. Gift bags and totes can be re-used. Certificates of authenticity can be saved and framed with the artwork.
Vistaprint
You already have your artwork and know your details. Try incorporating them into your takeaways. Vistaprint has a range of products and services that can help you do just that. Business cards, banners, flyers, and printing services are available. All products have a wide possibility of standard formats to customization. Wizards take you through the process and you can save details for later use and second print runs. Often, there are discounts for return users and special sales throughout the year.
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[Exhibition Update]
Congratulations to the winners of New York Center for Photographi Art’s online photogrpahy Competition, Portals!
- Grand Prize: Nancy Gesimondo “Seeing”
- 1st Place: Steve Anderson “Knot Face”
- 1st Place: Liu Tao Free “Window on the Great Wall”
- 1st Place: Joan Tortorici Ruppert “Last Train”
See the exhibition and all winners online at https://www.nyc4pa.com/copy-of-got-the-shot-now
Side Arts Certified Sponsored Listing] The New York Center for Photographic Art (NYC4PA) announces a call for artists for Portals, an online photography competition.
Portals is one of NYC4PA’s favorite themes. It allows for so much creativity capturing things that are all around wherever we may be.
Doors, windows, arches, frames, and tunnels are so much a part of our lives. There are so many ways to think about them. We can look at or through them. We can poke our hand out the window to test the weather, or see a wonderful scene a little differently when framed by an arch or array of tree limbs in a park.
Click here for the application / registration (Closed)
Enter by: 19 May 2024
For this call, your images can focus on the portal itself like a half closed door, wonderful windowsill, or view through an archway to the other side. Does it frame the main subject of the photograph or does it add another dimension, such as the distortions of old glass or reflections in windowpanes. Be creative and have fun in the process.
As with all NYC4PA calls, all 2D photographic art is accepted. Images awarded an NYC4PA prize within the past 2 years are not eligible. Images submitted that were not selected for a prize may be submitted at any time.
NYC4PA offers opportunities to participate in themed calls for photographers. Each call has a different theme and 50 images win. The prizes total $4000. There is a grand prize, 3 first prizes, 3 second prizes, 3 third prizes, 20 juror’s selections, and 20 honorable mentions. All 50 winners are posted in a gallery on the NYC4PA website and included in an exhibition gallery. The call is open to any photographers worldwide and of any age, amateurs or professional. A professional photographer, gallery owner, or photography teacher is the juror.
About New York Center for Photographic Art
The mission of the New York Center for Photographic Art is to provide exhibition opportunities in the vibrant New York City gallery world to photographers around the globe. NYC4PA offers international, themed, open call competitions juried by recognized experts in the field of photography. Prizes include cash awards, online gallery, catalog, and New York City gallery exhibits.
For more information, contact nyc4pa@gmail.com
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[Exhibition Update]
Congratulations to the winners of LibertyTown Arts Workshops exhibition, Joy! A Celebration of Queer Happiness!
“In this month’s exhibition, we wanted to present an exhibition to coincide with Pride Month as we celebrate and support our LGBTQIA2S+ community. We wanted a show that felt bright and cheerful, but didn’t want to candy coat anything, or be toxically positive to us, Pride Month is about the basic right to be safe and happy and while that’s simple in concept, it’s not so simple to achieve with all the hate that still poisons the well. And that’s exactly what makes Pride so moving: It’s an expression of effervescent joy; the kind of joy that only comes from emerging or being released from oppression. Joy in the face of oppression is defiant. It is both protest and a basic right.” – LibertyTown
See the exhibition online at https://libertytownarts.com/2024/06/05/joy-a-celebration-of-queer-happiness-a-national-juried-exhibition/
[Side Arts Certified Sponsored Listing] Libertytown Arts Workshop announces a call for artists for Joy! A Celebration of Queer Happiness, a national juried art exhibition.
LibertyTown doesn’t want to candy coat anything, or be toxically positive, but it seems like everything that everyone is working toward with Pride is about the basic right to be safe and happy. While that is simple in concept, it’s not so simple to achieve with all the hate that still poisons the well. That’s what makes Pride so moving for LibertyTown. It’s an expression of effervescent joy; the kind of joy that only comes from emerging or being released from oppression. Joy in the face of oppression is defiant. It is a protest. LibertyTown feels like that is the core of contemporary Pride. Show them your art that celebrates defiant joy, be it in the smallest moments of domesticity or the larger expressions of breaking free.
Click here for the application / registration (Closed)
Enter by: 20 May 2024
Application Fees:
- 1st piece (Non-member): $25
- 1st piece (Libertytown Member): $15
- Each additional piece: $ 5
All artists age 16 and older, working in any media, may apply to this show. Work previously exhibited in LibertyTown’s gallery is not eligible. Work must be original, not from kits, and completed in the last 5 years.
Work accepted into the show must be for sale. Applications must be submitted electronically; no physical pieces will be accepted at the gallery for jurying. Work that will be displayed must be ready to show, with no unfired media, and no wet paint or other unfinished surfaces. LibertyTown will provide pedestals and shelving as needed. LibertyTown reserves the right to reject works accepted by the juror due to content, space constraints, or inability to properly install the work.
Calendar
- 5/22: Notifications sent via Submittable Only
- 6/3: Accepted work due at LibertyTown by 8PM
- 6/7: Opening reception
- 6/30: Show closes, unsold work may be picked up/will be shipped back
Joy! A Celebration of Queer Happiness Awards:
- 1st Place: $400
- 2nd Place: $200
- 3rd Place: $100
LibertyTown keeps a commission of 40% on all show sales. Artists are responsible for any costs related to transporting accepted work to the gallery and transporting unsold work away at the end of the show. Artists applying to this show grant LibertyTown Arts Workshop unlimited non-exclusive right to use images of accepted work to promote the exhibit and the gallery.
About LibertyTown Arts Workshop
LibertyTown Arts Workshop is a 13,000 square foot art facility located in downtown, Fredericksburg, Virginia. LibertyTown is home to over 80 artists, working artists’ studios, and a full spectrum of art classes offered to the public. Main gallery Shows rotate monthly. This ensures that LibertyTown is always presenting new items for local patrons to enjoy and experience. LibertyTown features show items for viewing and sale on their website and features show items on Facebook and Instagram pages. Located downtown, the location is walkable, and they have many visitors local and visiting. LibertyTown participates in First Friday art receptions, which is a well-attended event that happens monthly.
For more information, contact info@libertytownarts.com
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A majority of art is sold through a variety of online store platforms. You can choose any sales methodology you like based on you strategy for marketing art. It depends on where and how you best reach your audience. You may have to experiment with several platforms and strategies before landing on the one that works best for you. There are many details and options to consider as well as new opportunities and platforms launching regularly.
Sales strategies
A consistent way to connect with your followers is by building a targeted email list. Try sending announcements of new works available to your email lists and provide them a means to buy (either by reply to the email or a payment processing form). Inform your audience about upcoming exhibitions, vendor events, and pop-up galleries.
Social
There are many ways to sell art through social network platforms. The challenging part is keeping up with the platforms’ ever changing features and algorithms. What may work today may not work tomorrow. Staying on top of the trends is important and can make a big difference with acquiring new patrons.
Try promoting new artwork for sale on Instagram. Provide a rich description including title, process, size, price, and inspiration. Add instructions for buyers – the first to comment with their email address will be sent a payment processing invoice (PayPal / Venmo). They have 24 hours to purchase the art. First come, first served after that. Update the description if the item is sold.
Web
You may want to consider selling through a web platform, using your own website, or integrating a web platform into your website. The benefit of having an online store sales platform that you manage is that patrons can purchase at any time. This can often make a difference between an acquisition and someone’s lost interest. Keep in mind, just because your art is on a website or web platform doesn’t mean that it’s the platform’s job to promote it. Promotion is still up to you. Utilize your email and social networks.
Things to plan in advance
Sometimes with an online store, it is best to jump in and learn as you go. Other times, a little bit of preparation goes a long way. You will rarely know everything you need to in advance because situations change from person to person. Here are a few things to consider:
Photography: A good photo of your work can inspire patrons to purchase. Most mobile devices have above-average photo capability, but stand-alone cameras and photo editing software can make your work stand out. Setting up a dedicated area or having a set process is helpful.
Pricing: Research can help. Knowing your costs and time associated with creating your work is important. The most important aspect is always valuing your artwork for what it is truly worth.
Description: Each piece of artwork should have a unique and rich description including keywords and hashtags. This takes time to develop. The story behind the artwork is just as important as the artwork itself.
Shipping: Visit your local shipping center in advance. Determine what materials you should always have on hand and what needs to be purchased on a one-off basis. If you anticipate bulk shipping, explore what discounted pricing is available.
Taxes and bookkeeping: Consult a certified public accountant to help understand what taxes to account for and how to do so. Determine if you need bookkeeping software to help keep track.
Shopify Online Store
Check out Shopify as an online store. It has eCommerce and point-0f-sales features including card-readers for when you are online or on the go. Set up your shop as a standalone or integrate it securely with your website. Ready made templates help your store look like it was designed by a professional. Run social media campaigns. Manage orders, shipping, and payments.