Scott Hutchison

My Personal List

Scott Hutchison's painting Displaced can be seen in the background of a crowd of people. — Displaced amidst a crowd

As an artist without a gallery or agent, I am my own advocate. Hence, I have been applying to call for entries for over 20 years now and my resume is filled with a growing group of exhibitions. During that time, I have been fortunate to receive National and International exposure and sales, in part because of my continued efforts of self promotion. (No agent remember?)

With that said, I thought it was time to put a list of some of the websites I use to find some of those shows, grants, art fair calls, etc… Are you an artist looking for a comprehensive list of websites to help you find National (USA) and international call for entries? You are in the right place. The list below is by no means complete, however, I envision this often updated page as a solid list of websites that help me, and perhaps you as well, gain National and/or International exposure through a broader list of call for entry websites.

Why apply to juried Art Shows?

Before you apply, ask yourself what do you hope to get out of the show you are applying to, because most calls are not free. Also, what is the cost burden for showing when you add together the application fee, the cost of framing and shipping to and from the gallery? From one artist to another, the call for entry is primarily an opportunity to network and advertise. The rest is a bonus.

Advertising : Being in a show may get you some recognition in a publication or review. If you are actively promoting your work, then consistently showing your work is a must. Juried shows are one avenue to take.

Networking: Sometimes a show may lead to another show. You never know who will see your work on display. An attending curator or gallery owner might see your work and choose you for another show. This has happened to me on a number of occasions.

Publish or Perish: This may not apply to you, but essentially if you are a professor you may be required to show your work if you want that promotion. Read about it here.

Resume Building: Juried shows are a form of “peer review” and this can help validate your artistic endeavors to a potential collector, gallery owner or academic colleague that you are actively pursuing your craft. It can be an important line on your resume that shows you play an active roll in the community and that you and others believe in your work .

Sales: Though I have sold some artwork through juried shows, I would not recommend applying for a juried show if this is your main reason. Unless you know the exhibit is highly specific to your genre, a high profile gallery or museum, or the gallery has a large collector base.

The Award Money: Some payout awards. Don’t rely on this. I have been lucky a few times over the years, but most shows cost the artist money in application fees, shipping and framing.

The Fame: ?

Crowd at Trestle Art Space — Overlap on display at Trestle Art Space in Brooklyn

Increase Your Odds of Being Accepted to a Juried Show!

There are so many art call for entries out there, how do you choose?

Apply to shows with a theme or show title relating to your work.
Stay away from “All-Media” shows and general themed shows. This is too broad and even if your work is strong, it might not be what the juror is looking for. You will be accepted more often if you laser focus where and what you apply to.
Research the juror before you apply. You may get an idea what the juror is looking for with quick internet search.
Research the venue. Google is your friend. Find out where the show will be and the caliber of venue. You may even find photos of the space and what their openings look like.