ArtsWorcester engages artists and the public to advance and celebrate contemporary art. Through exhibitions and workshops, we advance the careers of contemporary artists in all traditions and mediums, and cultivate excellence through competitive opportunities and prizes. Our exhibiting artists include those just beginning their practice, those with established reputations, and those in between. Public openings, artist talks, events, outreach, and education grow the audiences for art in our region. All are welcome.
ArtsWorcester membership is required to submit work and exhibit through our galleries. Membership is open to all, and is free to students enrolled in Assumption University, Clark University, the College of the Holy Cross, and Worcester State University
Call for the Art@Work Lookbook
ArtsWorcester calls for submissions to the Art@Work Lookbook. The Art@Work program connects area businesses with artist members through curated corporate art exhibitions. In addition to inspiring creativity in workspaces and engaging employees, clients, and visitors, the Art@Work program supports artist members with a stipend for each artwork on loan. Clients range from real estate developers to biotech companies and insurance firms. The lookbook offers clients a sampling of the type of work available for installations in their offices.
Artwork
We serve a variety of clients with varying interests. Client favorites tend towards bold abstractions, colorful landscapes, collages, and photographs of natural and urban landscapes, particularly those in Worcester County.
Artwork that contains nudity, political messaging, or suggestions of violence and pain is never placed through Art@Work. Portraiture is typically not desired by clients.
We are able to place both two-dimensional work and three-dimensional free-standing floor sculpture. We do not place sculptures that require pedestals or plinths.
Two-dimensional artwork should be at least 18” inches tall.
Framing
All works on paper must be framed and matted. Your framing for all pieces does not need to be identical, but should be complementary. Frames should be sturdy, simple, and not distracting from your work.
Canvases and panels that are at least ¾” thick may not need frames.
Most Art@Work clients invest in an Arakawa rail-and-cable hanging system, which requires specific placement of D-rings. Sawtooth hangers will not be accepted.
Framing is the responsibility of the artist, though ArtsWorcester can offer guidance on framing and hardware options.
Compensation
Artists receive $150 per artwork placed in a year-long corporate loan. Support is available for transport of large artworks.
Artwork may be sold while on loan. ArtsWorcester processes all sales, and artists receive a 60% commission of their sale price.
Submitting to the Lookbook
All submissions to the lookbook must go through this Submittable form. We do not accept applications via email.
Submitted images should represent your artwork in general, and what might be available at any given time. You may exhibit or sell artworks representing your practice in the Look Book at any time. Our clients understand that if they select your artwork, they are likely to have something like the work you’ve submitted, and not necessarily that work itself.
You will be asked to submit the following materials:
- Five artwork images (one image per artwork, five artworks)
- Up to one detail image per artwork
- Title, medium, size, and price or insurance value of each artwork
- One to three images of your typical framing style or installation views of your floor sculpture
- Headshot
- Artist Bio (written in the third person, no more than 120 words)
The call for additions to the lookbook will open twice a year, once in the fall and once in the spring. You will receive a notification of whether or not the submitted artwork will be included in the lookbook within three weeks of the deadline. If you are not selected for the lookbook, you are welcome to submit another body of work when the call reopens.
Inclusion in the lookbook does not guarantee placement in a corporate venue. You will be notified if a client is considering your work for a corporate exhibition.
CALL FOR ART
Scaled Down: A Members’ Exhibition
ArtsWorcester
Registration Deadline: October 19
Drop off period: November 2 - November 5, or earlier by appointment
Exhibition run: November 16 - December 17
Reception: November 17, 6:30 - 9:30
To round out the year, ArtsWorcester members are invited to participate in Scaled Down, a non-juried members’ exhibition of small work. All wall-hanging artworks, including sculptures that go on the wall, may not exceed 10” in any direction, including frame. Artworks that go on a pedestal may be no larger than 12” in height and 10” at the widest point.
Beyond the size limit, there is no medium or theme requirement. All media are welcome, including but not limited to painting, sculpture, photography, fiber, fine craft, digital art, and video.
This exhibition will draw many holiday shoppers, as small gifts of art make wonderful presents (your piece does not have to be for sale, of course). Pieces available for purchase must have a minimum price of at least $100.
$500 in prizes will be awarded at the public reception.
SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS
Please read this list thoroughly before registering your work. Any works that do not meet these requirements will not be considered.
- Current ArtsWorcester membership is required to submit. If membership fees are a financial obstacle to participation, please write alice@artsworcester.org or ask in the galleries about the Pay It Forward Fund.
- Each artist may submit one artwork.
- All work must be original, created within the last five years, and not previously exhibited at ArtsWorcester. For example, a monoprint or screen print is permitted, but a giclee print of a painting is not.
- Two-dimensional or wall-hanging artworks must not exceed 10” in any direction, including frame.
- Three-dimensional artworks are limited to 12” in height and 10” at the widest point.
- Artworks suspended from the ceiling are limited to 25 pounds.
- Works must be exhibition-ready with framing and wire as appropriate. Alternative hanging methods (suspended from the ceiling, installed with magnets, etc.) must be tested prior to submission to ensure successful installation, and additional required hardware must be provided.
- All artwork submissions must include one high-quality image to be included on the exhibition website.
- Artwork must be brought to ArtsWorcester, 44 Portland Street, Worcester, MA during the designated drop off period. ArtsWorcester cannot accept or return artworks by mail.
- Artists receive sixty percent of each sale made through our galleries.
- Artworks for sale may not be priced lower than $100. Artwork is not required to be for sale.
CALL FOR ART
The Twentieth Annual College Show
A juried, in-person exhibition
ArtsWorcester, Worcester, MA
Submission Deadline: December 20, 2023
Notifications: by January 12, 2024
Drop off at 44 Portland Street, Worcester, MA: February 1 - 4, 2024, or earlier by appointment
Exhibition Dates: February 15 - April 21, 2024
Opening Reception: February 16, 2024, 6-9 PM
A crowd favorite is turning twenty! The Twentieth Annual College Show at ArtsWorcester is a juried exhibition open to all undergraduate college students studying or residing in Massachusetts, in any major. The deadline to submit is December 20 at midnight. Notifications will be made by January 12, 2024.
The College Show has no theme. Bring us your favorite piece from your art class or your personal artistic practice, or show off your latest experiment. You do not need to be an art student or in an art class to submit.
Students may submit a maximum of three pieces for consideration, and must complete a separate form for each piece. When submitting more than one piece, please return to the original link to make additional submissions.
Submission is free to students of our institutional partners: Anna Maria College, Assumption University, Clark University, College of the Holy Cross, Quinsigamond Community College, and Worcester State University. There is a nonrefundable $5 submission fee per submission for students of any other school.
This is a juried exhibition, meaning that the juror will consider all eligible submissions and select certain artworks to be shown at ArtsWorcester. All media are welcome, including but not limited to fine craft, painting, photography, sculpture, digital, and video. Have a question about the call, or want to share what you’re thinking of submitting? Email alice@artsworcester.org or call the gallery at 508-755-5142.
Cash prizes will be awarded and announced at the opening reception. This year’s juror is Chloe Zaug, Associate Director of the MassArt Art Museum. Learn more about the juror here.
SUBMISSION GUIDELINES
- Students must be studying or residing in Massachusetts and must be working towards an undergraduate degree in any department in a college or university.
- All artwork must be original, completed within the last two years (2021 onward), and not previously exhibited at ArtsWorcester.
- Students may submit up to three artworks.
- Two-dimensional or wall-hanging artworks must not exceed 60” in any direction, including frame.
- Three-dimensional artworks that do not hang on the wall are limited to 90” in height and 48” at the widest point.
- Artworks suspended from the ceiling are limited to 25 pounds.
- Works must be exhibition-ready with framing and wire as appropriate. Alternative hanging methods (suspended from the ceiling, installed with magnets, etc.) must be tested prior to submission to ensure successful installation, and additional required hardware must be provided.
- ArtsWorcester has limited screening devices for video artworks. Video artists may be asked to provide their own screening device that fits the size requirements of two-dimensional artworks.
- All submissions must include a quality image or video file. If your artwork is accepted by the juror, this is the file that will be shown in the online exhibition.
- Submissions of three-dimensional artworks may include alternate view images.
- An artist statement is suggested but not required. Statements submitted with accepted works will be published with the online exhibition.
- Artists receive sixty percent of each sale made through our galleries.
CALL FOR PROPOSALS
Member-Curated exhibitions
ArtsWorcester, Worcester MA
Rolling submission deadline
Notifications: beginning early June, 4-6 weeks after submission
ArtsWorcester invites proposals for our 2023-24 gallery season. Member-Curated Exhibitions are an opportunity for artists to use their curatorial skills and gain independent, hands-on experience producing an exhibition. Located in ArtsWorcester’s Central Corridor, these shows include at least 3-4 artist members’ work, chosen by one curator. The curator may include their own artwork in the proposal.
Curators are responsible for communicating with participating artists, collecting, delivering, and retrieving artwork, providing an exhibition statement, and installing the exhibition in the Central Corridor. ArtsWorcester staff will be available for input on layout and to train the curator on the Arakawa hanging system.
Successful proposals should clearly state a curatorial vision for the space and the artists to be included. Curators should have experience working with ArtsWorcester and must demonstrate their capacity to fulfill this leadership role. Proposals are welcome on a rolling basis, and will be evaluated by ArtsWorcester staff and volunteers.
All work must be wall-hanging and may not extend more than 12” from the wall. Artworks are hung on a secured Arakawa hanging system (track and wire) and D-rings. This space cannot accommodate free-standing or pedestal artwork. Further questions about what type of artwork is feasible in this space may be directed to alice@artsworcester.org.
Submission requirements and guidelines
- Current ArtsWorcester membership is required for all artists at the time of submission. There is no geographic restriction on membership, but artists (or their proxy) must deliver and pick up all artwork. If membership fees are a financial obstacle to participation, please write alice@artsworcester.org or ask in the galleries about the Pay It Forward Fund.
- Artists must have exhibited in at least one members’ or juried exhibition at ArtsWorcester in the last two calendar years prior to submitting an exhibition proposal.
- All submissions must be made electronically using Submittable. Hard-copy and email submissions will not be accepted.
- Artists may submit different proposals to the different exhibition options available.
- The committee prioritizes proposals from artists who have not had a solo exhibition at ArtsWorcester in the past three years.
- Exhibited works must have been completed within the last five years and not previously shown at ArtsWorcester.
- Proposals must be original, and must not have been submitted to any prior exhibition calls at ArtsWorcester.
- Artists under final consideration for Member-Curated exhibitions may be asked to bring in examples of proposed works for in-person viewing.
- Artists earn 60% on sales made through our galleries. Artists exhibiting through our corporate art program also receive loan fees for their artwork.
- While on view through ArtsWorcester, all artwork is insured for its market value.
What we need from you:
- An exhibition proposal, not to exceed 175 words, that describes the scope of your proposed exhibition.
- A list of the artists you intend to include in the exhibition.
- Answers, each not to exceed 100 words, to the following questions: How complete is your proposed exhibition? What one to three ideas, concepts, or experiences does this body of work/ exhibition communicate? What inspirations or traditions guided or influenced this body of work/ exhibition? How are the methods or techniques used important to this body of work/ exhibition?
- A curriculum vitae or artist resumé. Click here for examples of CVs for both gallery-based and public artists.
- 5 .jpg images of works from the artists to be included