Should I enter jury shows? Words like "museum" and "juried" intimidate me.

Harriete...I have been asked to submit to a juried show. It's pretty exciting...but scary.  All the work and the shipping ...the prospectus is pretty daunting to a self-taught artist like me. 

  "21st Century Fusion" coat and 3 accessory
  ensemble (includes the woven boot spats.) 
 Materials: 98% recycled household trash
  Artist: Mary Anne Enriquez © 2009
  View information about her outfit on Flickr.

     Are juried shows worth the effort and trouble?  How can they help an up-and-coming artist?  Can you give some reasons for going through all the motions?  I guess I am scared off by the words "museum" and "juried" show. 
     Thanks.  Great things have been happening to me and my art career as I follow your advice! 
Mary Anne

Juried shows provide a great experience for you and exposure for your artwork.  A definite way to climb up the professional art ladder.  In addition, you never know who might see your work.  Such shows can launch your career forward, but even so, it usually takes years to establish a name and a reputation for your work.

Keep documentation of your participation in each show and update your resume. Shows held at non-profit exhibitions spaces and museums are definitely better resume boosts than shows held at galleries. This is not to say that galleries can't put together interesting shows. It's just that a gallery's focus on selling may influence the selection of work.  Museum and non-profit exhibitions seem to show more interesting and unusual work.

Most academic undergraduate or masters programs don't teach their students about entering juried shows, although they should. Consequently, being self-taught or inexperienced should not hold you back from applying and participating at this level of exhibition experience.

The Professional Guidelines offer several documents about how to enter juried opportunities with more confidence and success. My first recommendation is to use the TOP TEN TIPS for Getting Into a Juried Exhibition, Show, Book, or Magazine.

Here are the TOP TEN TIPS.
TIP #1.    DAZZLE THE JURY WITH AMAZING IMAGES!  
TIP #2.    DYNAMIC DETAIL IMAGES ARE KEY.
TIP #3.    DO NOT SEND A BAD IMAGE UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES.
TIP #4.    CAREFULLY CONSIDER THE ARRANGEMENT OR ORDER OF THE IMAGES 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 IMAGES.
TIP #9.    PLAN CAREFULLY TO MEET ALL DEADLINES. 
TIP #10.  BOOTH IMAGES NEED TO BE FANTASTIC! 

This document also includes an appendix with additional information:
Appendix I   Sample Contact Sheet
Appendix II  Where can artists learn about juried exhibitions, craft shows, books, or magazines to submit their work.
Appendix III  A word about publicity

Read the entire TOP TEN TIPS for Getting Into a Juried Exhibition, Show, Book, or Magazine for more comprehensive information.  

Additional Professional Guidelines documents titled, Juried Exhibitions and the Exhibitions: Artist Checklist, may also be helpful in reviewing a show’s prospectus before you decide to enter. Success is within your grasp with careful planning and preparation.

Stay tuned next week for more issues involved with entering juried opportunities.

Harriete

This post was updated on January 19, 2022.

 

Liquid Wrench Flower Brooch  by Harriete Estel Berman
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