How to Submit Your Artwork to a Museum

Well-nigh artists would walk miles for the adventure to show their work on Museum Mile. Luckily, that's non necessary because we have all the communication you need.

by A. Richard Langley

Mwhatever artists would walk miles, nether any conditions, to prove their piece of work in a venue on Museum Mile . If that isn't realistic, showing your work in any museum — major or small, big city or suburban — can be the ultimate validation of your talent and persistence.

Museums are the premier venue to showroom and receive feedback on your creations.
Countless millions in the public and art world visit museums to view works — recognized and new —and discover (or rediscover) artists across many mediums and periods.

Landing a museum show is a challenging endeavor. The proposal process is highly competitive and complex, and museums have limited space. Even existence an established, commercially successful artist is no guarantee that any museum will evidence your creations.

Hither, we discuss how to navigate this demanding process, the elements it includes, and its effect on your career.

The Proposal Process

Before preparing and submitting a proposal, you need to know the pros and cons of the process. Agreement these items tin can aid you determine if a museum testify is a proficient option for y'all.

Benefits

The proposal procedure can be daunting—and information technology's difficult work. You lot volition immerse yourself in researching the history and missions of museums, building connections in the community, and creating impassioned works. Everything yous learn and do volition help yous master the procedure, and with each 1 you lot do, the process becomes easier.

If y'all land a museum testify, know that it's a major delivery that can take away from your studio fourth dimension and pursuit of other projects. At that place are many rewards, notwithstanding. The recognition of you and your work typically increases subsequently the event. Accordingly, the price and demand for your pieces should rise—peculiarly if y'all proactively market the event online, on social media, and in the customs.

Issues

Be aware of creative, commercial, and fourth dimension concerns. Your creations will compete against countless works, unsolicited like yours and those from gallery representatives and dealers. To help your chances, yous may exist tempted to produce work in the museum's core areas of interest—even if they go against your artistic vision. This can stifle your inventiveness, and may even plough off your followers.

Useful Article: Planning A Marketing Strategy For Artists

Find a Suitable Museum

You lot must be honest with yourself about your career and achievements —and your CV and bio should reflect it . Research multiple museums and be realistic most which museums are right for your piece of work.

First, acquire the history and mission of each museum you're considering. When y'all submit a proposal, the reviewers will note your passion most the museum's focus
and mission.

You should besides know the museum'due south electric current and future schedules, the types of shows and exhibitions (solo or grouping), and their focus and themes. Most of this content should be on the museum'due south website. Over again, your submission must reflect your creative passion and strength.

Side by side, inquiry the contacts in the museum's Curatorial department. This grouping controls shows and exhibits. Contact and bio information about them should exist on the museum's website or on social media (e.g., Facebook or LinkedIn).  s content should be on the museum's website. Over again, your submission must reflect your creative passion and stren

Naturally, you want your piece of work to connect with an audience who appreciates and understands it. Below are common questions you should inquire yourself near the museum'due south audience.

  • How many people visit the museum annually?
  • What are the demographics of visitors?
  • What are their creative tastes?
  • How many people visit each show/exhibit?
  • What are the peak periods of attendance?

If a museum'southward website has informative and fresh content, most of this information should be on it.

Your final concern is location. Ideally, cull a museum within driving distance from your residence. You lot want to be nearby so y'all can consult with museum staff should they have any questions about your proposal or work.

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Make Personal Contact

Connect Directly

For a more personal connection, you lot should consider connecting straight —by telephone, e-mail, on social media, or in person— with the appropriate curator at the museum. Based on your inquiry, you can place a museum and pick a mid-level curator, or someone similar, who handles your specialty and isn't overly busy.

Ideally, you should have three proposals for projects of different sizes and themes.
This will appoint them with multiple options, and show them that you're proactive and confident in yourself and your work. If your proposals and creations align with the museum's needs, the curator will unremarkably listen and react.

Exist prepared when you initiate contact. Have brief talking points, in writing and chat, ready and rehearsed. Cardinal topics include your art background, your
area of specialty, and a loftier-level view of your proposals. You desire to get a
face-to-face coming together—it's your best chance to present your creations and show them your personality.

Face-to-face Meeting

If y'all secure an in-person meeting with the curator, keep it simple and respect their time and cognition. Ask for a cursory meeting (15 minutes is ideal) in the museum cafeteria. Bring iii to five images (hardcopy or on a device) of the work you desire
to exhibit.

Go on your presentation cursory—and pb the conversation, but always let the curator time to consider your information and comment on it. To guess their true feelings about you and your ideas, ask them a targeted question (e.g., Does the museum accept a special room for ane-off exhibits similar yours?). Their response and torso language are informative. If their deportment are positive, tell them y'all'll submit your proposal through a formal channel (U.Due south. Mail or online). If they're unclear, inquire them for contact information of individuals who can aid become your work shown at other venues.

No matter how the interview goes, send the curator a thoughtful give thanks-you lot electronic mail within one solar day. They may ultimately not accept your proposals for a myriad of reasons (eastward.g., timing, schedule changes , or funding), so don't accept rejection personally. You lot want them to have a positive impression of you, and to tell their peers the aforementioned.

Manage the Proposal Process

The proposal process is demanding and exacting. Along with your art, the proposal is your calling card for a museum. Ever follow submission instructions exactly, and know the deadlines and materials required.

Direct your questions to the museum's website or contact the Curatorial department.

Set up Proposal

No matter your condition — emerging or established artist — you lot will typically include the following items in your package. Ensure they're detailed, error-gratuitous, and easy-to-read.

  • High-quality digital photos of your piece of work
  • CV (art-related achievements only)
  • Short biography
  • Image listing
  • Statement

Yous must also customize the items above with each submission. The documentation should be as singled-out as your work and answer the questions below.

  • Your art education and professional background
  • What is the pregnant, theme, or purpose of your submission?
  • How did you make them?
  • Why do you lot want to exhibit them?
  • When will they be available for exhibit?

Useful Article: How to Write An Artist Statement: Tips From the Fine art Experts

Submit Proposal

If you do your due diligence researching and collecting information, the submission process should go smoothly. Be enlightened of deadlines, include all requested materials, and follow instructions exactly.

Direct contact—by telephone, e-mail, social media, or in person—with the museum's Curatorial department is best. This will evidence them your initiative and your interest in the museum. Once again, later a positive personal interaction, submit your proposal through a formal channel (U.S. Mail or online).

For submissions past U.South. Mail, assemble your proposal in a professional folder according to the museum's guidelines.

Online is fast condign the preferred method for many museums to receive proposal submissions. They can manage submissions more efficiently, and you take a quick, user-friendly manner to submit them. Pay close attending to brand sure you're entering data in the correct fields and answering questions completely.

Receive Response

Be patient for a response. Information technology may accept four months (or longer) before they contact you.
If you don't receive word after one calendar month, send a follow-up letter (e-mail or print) to inquire on the status of your submission. Understand that y'all may non hear back if your proposal isn't accustomed.

Other Submission Options

Social Media

If you want to avoid a formal submission procedure, you lot tin submit your work for posting to a dedicated page on the museum'south website or on social media channels (e.thou., Facebook, Tumblr, or Instagram).

The popularity of this choice is increasing. The approval process is less stringent, and yous receive quicker approval to post. Equally always, follow instructions exactly.

While this immediacy can assist attract new followers from within and outside the community, it also draws many submissions. Treat this option equally if you're hanging your work in a museum, and only post your best piece of work to help y'all stand out.

Every bit a promotional gallery, we take pride in the diverse group of artists from across the globe represented by united states of america. Want to give your art more fourth dimension, and leave the marketing and promotional hassles to someone else? Visit our Gallery Representation And Artist Promotion page for more information.

Managing the proposal procedure is highly competitive and fourth dimension-consuming. You must have the drive to consummate it—specially knowing that yous may not land a show—and the passion to piece of work with a museum. Take inspiration from Orhan Pamuk'due south The Museum of Innocence , in which he notes, "Real museums are places where Time is transformed into Space." Likewise, the time and energy you invest in the process may outcome in your work having space on a museum's walls.

Richard Langley is a freelance writer in Marietta, Ga. His byline has appeared in diverse consumer art and culture publications. Among them: Art & Antiques, Atlanta Citymag, Motion-picture show Threat, and BlackBook. He as well has experience in art sales. For three years, he co-managed and stocked a booth of European art, antiques, and piece of furniture at Scott Antique Markets in Atlanta.