The Artists Guide: Juried Art Shows

“The Mrs.” by Heather Arenas, oil on birch

So you've made some art and you are considering showing the world your beautiful creation, but you don't know where to start. In this blog I will explain the process of key parts of entering group juried shows, what to expect and my take on how to win! Read on to learn more about juried art shows.

First of all, what is a juried art show? A juried art show is a showing of artworks by a group of people who were hand selected by one or more judges. This is in congruent with a curator that feels that the selected artwork fit the theme and/or showed strength among other entered works of art.

Typically, but not always, the artist who is entering in a juried show must pay a fee ranging $10-30 or more to enter the show.The fee is non-refundable even if you do not make the cut to be in the actual show. The money typically gets funneled back into the organization or is used to pay for the judges time, food & wine, the ribbons, a monetary award for the winners of the show etc.

There is usually a maximum amount of works you can enter in the show. Sometimes it is possible to submit online through various application processes or you may even have to drop off your original work. Again, if your work does not make it in the show you will be notified and have to pick up your artwork before the opening of the show. It can be daunting to enter, lose money and not be accepted but it happens to every artist, trust me I had to learn the hard way. The best thing to do is set a budget for art show entries and limit yourself to one or two strong works to enter per show so you're not breaking the bank.

Where can I find out where to enter juried art shows? It all depends on where you live. My best luck in Cleveland, Ohio was to check on community artist facebook pages, MyCreativeCompass.org, ArtCall, EntryThingy and checking in with your local art galleries.

Next how do judges determine artwork that is worthy of a prize? Well, thats pretty tricky. It depends on a series of circumstances. For example, the gallery may have a layout of rules that the judges may follow to determine the winners. Another way might be very loose. Judges may determine winners by how they "feel' about the piece. It may not be a determination of technical skill entirely. It may be because the judge or judges thought that the work was different, stood out or may not have seen anything like it before. It all depends on personal preferences really.

Keep in mind that every judge is different and have different likes and dislikes. Judges typically possess an artistic strength and likeness to certain works of art, those possessions may or may not influence the way the show is juried. You may not always agree with the outcome of the show winners but it is good practice to congratulate all winners and have positive conversation with the jury so that you keep those healthy relationships among the artist community. You may even ask the jury about their process of selection and they may or may not indulge that conversation.

It's an art competition, can it get ugly like any competition? My answer is YES. I have learned that in any type of competition where money and prizes are at stake, it can get a little hairy out there. If you read my last blog Toxicity in the Art World, I touch on some of my experiences and advice about artist juried shows. My advice to the novice artist or even seasoned artists out there entering juried art competitions is to not expect much. It's best to go in to a show with an open mind and open heart. If you happen to win a juried show it's a wonderful feeling and experience. Cherish that experience and stay humble. In the end it's not all about winning, it's about connecting with your community through your art and that is a win in its self!

For more information about past juried shows I have entered see my News & Updates page!