Top Tips for entering ART Competitions
Marine Costello is partner and head of communications at Parker Harris, one of the UK’s leading art consultancies. Alongside the Parker Harris team, she oversees art prizes in the UK and internationally, including the ING Discerning Eye Exhibition, the Trinity Buoy Wharf Drawing Prize, and the Derwent Art Prize. Marine sees artists use open opportunities to further their careers every day, and knows the do’s and don’ts of entering art competitions. Here she answers artists’ most frequently asked questions to help you navigate the world of open exhibitions.
What is an art competition?
Also called art opportunity, open call, open exhibition, art prize, etc., an art competition is an invitation for artists to enter works for exhibition. There will be a dedicated submission and selection process, through which a panel of judges shortlist a set number of works. The shortlisted works will then be shown in an exhibition – in person and/or online – and be eligible for awards ranging from cash prizes to mentoring, bursaries and residencies.
If you want to find open opportunities this four-page guide lists many of the most popular. There are some fantastic listing sites on our own opportunities portal www.artopps.co.uk or www.a-n.co.uk, www.artquest.org.uk, www.artjobs.com and www.artsthread.com
A best practice is to subscribe to their newsletters and regularly monitor what is upcoming.
Why enter an art competition?
Whether or not you get shortlisted, entering an art competition gives you a creative prompt to work on, a deadline to organise your studio
practice, an opportunity to sort through your portfolio, and to update your artist bio and statement.
It also gives you a chance to get your work seen by the selectors, usually established artists, critics, curators, or collectors. This opportunity shouldn’t be taken lightly. Many of our previous selectors have discovered new artists through the selection process, going on to following them and working with them. You never know what might happen if you show someone your work.
If you do get selected for the exhibition, it gives you a platform to exhibit in prestigious venues, reach new audiences, grow your confidence as an artist, raise your profile, receive recognition, exhibit alongside artists you admire, network with your peers and win generous prizes.
How do I know which competition to enter? The first, essential step in entering any art competition, is to do your research! Here are a few questions you might want to consider when looking at a prize. 1) What is the brief? Is this opportunity dedicated to certain subjects, styles or media? Some open calls will have a very precise definition of the type of work accepted. For instance, the Royal Society of Portrait Painters’ annual exhibition welcomes portraits – paintings, of course, but also drawings and prints. The Derwent Art Prize accepts works in pencil – all pencils, including graphite, colour, pastel, in 2D or 3D, representing all subjects. Others will leave more room for interpretation. The Trinity Buoy Wharf Drawing Prize, for example, doesn’t limit the definition of ‘drawing’ to pencil on paper. The Prize doesn’t specify what media drawings are made in or what constitutes a drawing.
Different prizes will have a different focus – just make sure you get to know about each prize before entering. This will help you decipher which opportunity is the right one for your work.
2) Who are the selectors? Are they experts in fields that pertain to your practice? Would you like them to consider your work?
3) What are the prizes? Some open calls will offer generous cash prizes, as well as residencies, mentoring or further exhibition opportunities. Have a look at the awards on offer to make sure the prize is worth your while.
4) Is there an entry fee? If so, how much? Are there any other costs to consider? For example, framing, shipping your work, or travelling to the exhibition venue. Putting a few minutes into doing your research will save you a lot of time and energy!
What should I check before entering?
Before completing your entry, make sure you go through the competition’s T&Cs.
Most open calls will have a size limit for the works exhibited. This can be anywhere from 20cm (the ING Discerning Eye exhibition, for example, is dedicated to small-scale works) to 2.4m (the Trinity Buoy Wharf Drawing Prize accepts drawings big and small). Make sure you check this before entering a work. It would be a shame to be disqualified on a technicality. Another very important thing is to write down the competition’s deadline. Make sure to write it in your calendar. Don’t leave it until the last day! This will only cause you stress. A lot of artists enter at the last minute. Most of them will be emailing the exhibition organisers with questions about logging in to the entry portal or submitting their work. This means if you enter at the last minute and you need to ask for assistance, you will not be the only one. I’d advise you to complete your entry form at least one week before the deadline. If you change your mind or need to clarify something, you can always come back and edit your submissions at a later date. But completing your entries in advance will at least give you some peace of mind.
How can I make sure my work stands out?
Put yourself in the position of the selectors who will be looking at your work. They have to go through hundreds of images, so you’ll want to make sure yours stands out for the right reasons.
The first thing you can do to stand out is to take good quality images of your work. This may sound basic, but it is crucial. Make sure your work is well lit and it isn’t askew. Make sure your photo is focused on your work, and if need be, crop it to focus solely on your work. The judges don’t need to see your studio in the background!
If the application requires any supporting information, make sure that you have provided a description or statement. Avoid abstract or metaphysical art talk. Start with the basics – what is the work made of and what does it represent – then move on to what it conveys and stands for. Be concise and clear. The judges will thank you!
What happens if I’m selected?
If you are accepted for exhibition, then congratulations! Make the most of being included. The first step is to network. Utilise events like the private view to meet fellow artists, but also collectors, curators, art consultants, etc. Next, use your social media channels, newsletter and website to tell people that you’ve been included. Don’t wait for the exhibition to open to start posting about it: give your followers the date in advance so they can mark their calendars.
Best of luck with your entries!