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Art Galleries, Exhibitions, Publications

Where Artists Pay to Participate

If you receive offers or invitations to participate in for-profit exhibitions, galleries, publications, websites, contests or competitions where you have to pay to be included (or even offers where you don't pay but rather have to invest time, labor, art and incidental expenses), and you'd like to know more, read this first: How to Research Artist Offers to Pay for Shows or Exposure . The article shows you how to research and better understand any offer BEFORE you fill anything out, pay, or agree to participate. Most importantly, it explains step-by-step how to evaluate any offer on its own merits.

Do not shortcut the research process. No matter what the offer is, how great it sounds, whether you have to fill out submission or entry or application forms, be approved, or simply pay fees-- get the facts, get informed and then make your decision. Get those facts not only from the entities making the offers, but more importantly, from past participants and unbiased third party sources not directly connected to or involved with the offers, but who are familiar with them. You want to be reasonably sure that you'll see positive results from your participation, particularly in terms of return on investment, BEFORE signing on.

Artists often find out about these offers through various forms of online advertising, PR websites, calls for artists, mass emailings, and increasingly via DMs or invites on social media. Among other things, artists can receive many different offers from single sources, be asked to enter contests with prizes or awards, receive invitations to be included in books or publications or listed on websites, and even be pressured to participate if they express interest. Costs to enter or participate can range anywhere from under $100 to thousands of dollars, especially if you factor in incidental expenses like shipping, travel, insurance or accommodations that may be involved. Whatever the circumstance, make sure you are aware of all costs and potential benefits or drawbacks in advance. Does everyone benefit including you? That's the key.

For those of you who may be interested in these types of offers, here is a partial list (by no means complete) of publications, venues, websites and other circumstances where artists can pay to expose their art. Regarding names on this list or any other offer you receive to pay to show or get exposure for your art, no matter where the offer originates, fully research before you pay in order to understand exactly what you're getting for your money. Once you've done your due diligence, if an offer or opportunity seems worthwhile, go for it. If not, then it may be best to wait. Either way, get educated, get informed and then make the decision that's right for you.

ONLINE:

* A' Design Award & Competition, A' World Design Award, World Design Awards, A' Design Award & Competition SRL, (an increasing number of different websites appear to point to this same event, direct link, entry form, and/or advertise for A' Design), designinsights.net, designawardmuseum.com, premio-idea.com, worlddesigner.org, designaward.com, adesignaward.com, design-quotes.com, world-designers.com, worlddesigners.net, world-designer-award.com, latestdesignnews.net, onproductreviews.com, 2px.org
* All About Photo, all-about-photo.com (repeated emails announcing new and current open calls for various broadly themed shows, competitions, awards, extended deadlines, etc) - Women, AAP Magazine, In the Street, Photographer of the Year, An Expression of Faith, Portrait, Shadows, Street, Streets, Solo Exhibition, Mono-Kromatik, B&W, All About Photo Awards 2023, Colors, Travels, Shapes, Faces, Mirrors of the Mind, Light, Water, Black and White, The Tipping Point, The Mind's Eye
* American Art Collector published by Alcove Books
* Art Addiction, Photo Planet, 3rd Media Art Biennial (MAB3, media 3.art biennial), World of Art Magazine, Guggenheim Museum issue, WOA, worldofartmagazine.com, Creative Genius, Art in Vogue, Art Connoisseurs, Art Connoisseur - 100 Contemporary Artists, Female Artist's Art Annual, Artist's World - 100 Contemporary Artists, Nude de Nude online art annual, Bibliophile Limited Edition art book, 21st Century Jewish Artists Connecting Art, ART BOX, swimming pool- 100 contemporary art profiles, World of Contemporary Jewish Artists, ART UNLIMITED, New 100 Contemporary Artists, ARS FEMINA, Illustrated Collectors Guide
* Art & Beyond Publications (online Magazine)
* Art & Object ( artandobject.com ), Online Art Fair, Contemporary Art Show
* Art-Competition, Gallery 25N, Studio 25N LLC, G25N, Art Market News, art-competition.net, internationalartistdirectory.com, drawingandpaintinglessons.com, art-competition.online, art-contest.online, photo-contest.online, art-sale.online, artcall.online, photo-competition.online, photo-contest.online, artcalls.online, Artist Website Pro, artistwebsitepro.com, artmarketnews.net (frequent emails announcing new and ongoing open calls for various broadly themed shows, competitions; some from recently registered domain names. At times running multiple calls from multiple websites simultaneously. Calls for artists, students 18 and under, graduate students and beyond, college students, etc.) - Power of Color 2019, Solo Exhibit 2019, Solo Exhibit Flora, Reflections 2019 Local Views, Art Contests for Students and Beginners, Winter Imagination, Photo Competition Online, Portraits, Students and Beginners Portraits, Animal Life, Light of Day, Moment in Time, Open 2018, International Artist Directory, The Human Condition, Inspired by Nature, Red, Shades of Green, Seeing Blue, Blue, Emotion and Energy of Color; Nature, Land & Seascapes; Cultural Diversity; Scapes III; The Human Form; Drawing; Semi-Annual Open II; Abstract II; Pets We Love; Light & Shadow (photography); Landscapes; Flowers of Spring; Pure Abstraction; Dreams; Faces of Humanity; Semi-Annual Open Group Exhibit; The Figure Revealed; Still Life; Still Life II; Mind Spirit & Emotion; Emotion & Energy of Color; Emotion & Energy of Color, I, II & 3; Seeing The Land - Landscape Photography; Animals - Wild or Domestic; All Watercolors; Flowers, Plants & Gardens; Black & White (photography)
* 1340Gallery (also 1340 Gallery, 1340gallery.com, @1340art, 1340art International Art Magazine, 1340art.com)
* ArtCertificate, artcertificate.eu, art4competition.com, Great Abstract Art Competition, art4any magazine, International Competition for Artists, International Contemporary Artists Catalog
* Art-Exchange.com
* Art Rights Prize 2020 - il primo premio digitale per artisti - first virtual art prize for artists (artrightsprize.com)
* Art Storefronts (artstorefronts.com) - multiple repeated emails
* Artavita, artavita.com (repeated emails of various offerings for contests, art book inclusions, being in group booths at art fairs) World Wide Art Books, World Wide Art Magazine, wwab.us, artavita.com, Artist of the Year 2022, Virtual Exhibitions, COVID Dreams, Hope - Online Contest, Current Masters, International Contemporary Masters, Important World Artists, International Masters of Photography, Artavita Contemporary Master Award, Online Art Contest, WorldWide Art LA, World Wide Art Los Angeles)
* Art Dealer Street - artdealerstreet.com, hydraartproject.com, Hydra Art Project, The Colors of Change
* ARTERY (arterynyc.com)
* Arte y Joya (arteyjoya.com) - Contemporary Jewellery Yearbook (Anuario Joyería Contemporánea
* Artists Info (artistsinfo.co.uk Global Art Directory)
* artmarketpublications.net (related offerings: Art Market Publications, Art Nation Worldwide, artnationgallery.com, artnationww.com )
* Artmobia, artmobia.com
* Artoteque (Art Limited, aBIENNIAL OF CONTEMPORARY ART, 3.aBIENNIAL OF CONTEMPORARY ART)
* ARTslant Prize
* Artspecifier, artspecifier.com (related offerings: Art Specifier, Photospecifier, Photo Specifier)
* Artist Portfolio Magazine (related offerings: MyArtContest.com)
* ArtNetwork (ArtNetwork Press)
* Artreion International
* Arttour International (ATIM Masters Awards, ATIM Top 60 Masters Of Contemporary Art)
* arttravelguide.info
* artweek (.com) - lists a number of fee-based exhibitions and calls for artists, among other art world coverage
* ARTWORKinternational Inc.
* Best of Artists (related offerings: Kennedy Publishing, Visual Art Guide, Best of Worldwide Landscape Artists, Best of Worldwide Portrait & Figurative Artists, Best of Worldwide Abstract and Still Life Artists, Best of Worldwide Wildlife & Animal Artists)
* Biancoscuro Art Magazine (biancoscuro.it)
* CENTER Santa Fe (visitcenter.org): Launch Grant, Development Grant, Me & Eve Award, Multimedia Award, Choice Awards, Center Advancing the Photographic Arts, Review Santa Fe
* Contemporary Art Curator Magazine (Contemporary Art Curator Artist Directory, contemporaryartcurator.com)
* FOCUS photo l.a., focusphotola.com, Winter 2023 Competition, Exposure Like Never Before, Critical Mass, Top 20 Summer 2020, Top 20 2021
* Everythingisart.cc Magazine (related offerings: EIA Magazine, everythingisart.us, eiamagazine.com)
* The Gala Awards: www.thegalaawards.co.uk (related offerings: Julia Margaret Cameron Award, Jacob Riis Editorial and Documentary Award, Charles Dodgson Black & White Award, Pollux Awards, Berlin Foto Biennale, The Biennial's Grant, Biennial of Fine Art & Documentary Photography)
* The Genius of Art (Genio dell'Arte): www.ilcuratore.it
* Global Creative Technology Design Award 2021 (www.globalcreatechaward.com)
* Inspiration- International Art Book: www.inspirationartbook.us, www.inspirationartbook.net, www.inspirationartbook.com
* International Prize Canaletto - Artistic Career Award
* International Contemporary Artists (ICA Publishing)
* ITSLIQUID GROUP (repeated emails announcing new and current open calls for various broadly themed shows, competitions, awards, etc) itsliquid.com, Supernatural, Contemporary Venice, Consciousness, Rome Experimental Video and Performing Art Festival, Venice Experimental Video and Performing Art Festival, Partnership Program, Venice International Art Fair, Bodyspaces, Rituals, Anima Mundi, Rome International Art Fair, Itsliquid International Art Fair, Itsliquid Art Space, Solo Exhibition Project, Solo Exhibition Project Rome, Partnership Program, Solo Exhibition Project Venice, Alchemic Body Fire . Air . Water . Earth, Partnership Program, London Contemporary Art Fair, Barcelona Contemporary, Canvas International Art Fair, Mixing Identities, Artist of the Year, Artist of the Month, Photographer of the Month, London International Art Fair, Contemporary Venice International Art Fair, The Body Language, Out of Balance, Future Landscapes, Christmas Photography Contest, International Contest, Borders Festival, Borders Art Fair, Borders Venice, Fragmented Identities, International Art and Architecture Festival, The Extended Body, etc.
* LarkGallery Online
* M.A.D.S Gallery ( madsgallery.art ) International Art Exhibition Orizzonti Trasversali, Brain Cake International Art Exhibition (Barcelona),
* Manu Sol Publications
* Masters of Today (Contemporary Jewish Art, ART UNLIMITED 100 Contemporary Artists, Collective Art Book Series at World of Art, MUSEUM - 100 Contemporary Art Showcase, MUSEUM - Artists Showcase, mastersoftoday.com)
* Modern Art Community (Featured Artists Volume III, modernartcom dot com)
* MvVO Art, Ad Art Show, mvvoart.com
* The New Collectors Book
* Singulart (singulart.com)
* See | Me (see.me)-- formerly Artists Wanted (related offerings: Art Takes Miami, Creatives Rising, The Power of Self, Art Takes London, 3rd Ward Open Call, Art Interview Online Magazine, One Life - An International Photography Competition, Art Takes Miami, 3rd annual photography competition - EXPOSURE, SELF 2012, One Life International Photography Competition)
* Show Artists (.com) International Art Competitions
* Offers in Russian from many different email addresses and websites, none with any follow-up, all appearing to use the same basic format and templates, at times illustrated with images that appear to have been "borrowed" from various other websites. Websites and offers include worldartrussia.com, izoacademy.ru, russiacup.ru, russianartawards.com, artbiennale.com, Art Fair in Greece, russianartawards.ru, Art Week in China, Russian Art Awards, nationalartweek.com, nextartfair.ru, artrussia.site, fundforkids.ru, Russian Art Week, artfestivals.ru, artforum.su, artweek.ru, artweek.su, arttoday.club, artmuseums.ru, artweeks.ru, moscowartweek.com, moscowartweek.ru, artfestival.moscow, Artweek Italy, Art Week in Italy and Cyprus, Talant (Talent) Art Festival, talentfestival.ru, Love Art Festival, loveartfestival.ru, Euroartweek, Art Love International Festival of Erotic Arts, Abstraction Arts Festival, Art Portret Festival, portretfestival.com, abstractartfestival.com, artlovefestival.eu, artlovefestival.com, nextartforum.com, nextart.biz , nextart.online , nextarts.info , Art Festival, Izo Art Festival, izofestival.ru, unionarts.ru, artweek.eu, Art Assembly Festival, Art Poetry Festival, Zoo Arts Exhibition, Festival of Abstraction Arts, Art Geography Award, Art Geo Award, euroartforum.com, euroartforum.eu, Art Ankara, Aqua Arts Festival, Visionary Art Award, Fedors Filkovs, artweek.org.uk, italianartweek.com, Art Portrait Festival, Art Portrait Awards, europeanartunion.com, euroartunion.eu, artcommune.ru, Fashion Festival, Art Week International, Kazan Art Week, tartarstanartweek.ru, artassembly.com, artopenair.com, and more.)
* Tagsmart (tagsmart.com)
* Urban Photo Awards (urbanphotoawards.com)
* UFOFABRIK Contemporary Art Gallery, Arte Vicenza, Vicenza Art Prize, Premio Labora, ufofabrik.co.uk
* VIDA & Co. (shopvida.com)
* VIFAF - Vifaf Virtual International Art Fair
* Working Artist Org.
* World Art Vision (related offerings: Open Art Code)
* Zenith Art & Fashion - zenithartandfashion.com

NEW YORK CITY AREA:

* A. Jain Marunouchi Gallery (related offerings: Ashok Jain Gallery)
* Agora Gallery (related offerings: Chelsea International Fine Art Competition)
* Alessandro Berni Gallery, ABG Artist Residency Award
* ARTIFACT (Artifact NYC, artifactnyc, Art UpCLOSE)
* Amsterdam Whitney Gallery
* Art Nation Gallery (Art Nation Worldwide)
* Art Productions NYC, Art Productions New York, artproductionsnyc.com
* Art Takes Manhattan
* Baboo Imaging Graphics (Baboo Gallery)
* Clio Art Fair (clioartfair.com) Art Dealer Street (artdealerstreet.com)
* Contemporary Art Network (CAN)
* Creative Concept Inc
* Ico (aka Icosahedron) Gallery
* New Art Center
* New York International Fine Art Competition, NYIFAC, newyorkifac.com
* NY Art Marathon
* Perseus Gallery ( recreationalenter.com ), Omnia Store
* Platform Art Fair
* World Art Media (related offerings: NY Arts Magazine, APW Gallery, Arts Hotline, Art Fairs Newspaper, Annual Artists' Web Directory, Beijing Arts Space, NY Arts Beijing, The Broadway Gallery NYC, Art Fairs International)

LOS ANGELES / SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA:
* Gallery Godo, Glendale, CA
* Global Art Foundation dot com (related offerings: 1st Annual Fine Art Competition and Exhibition, The Face Award, First Annual Fine Art Exposition, ArtPeople)
* James Gray Gallery (related offerings: Art LA)
* NorbertEllen Gallery
* TAG Gallery taggallery.net
* World Art Foundation (related offerings: Umbrella Publishing, Jojo Marengo)

MIAMI / SOUTH FLORIDA:

* Aldo Castillo Projects (ArtSpot Miami)
* Art Fusion Galleries, Miami FL* Artists Haven Gallery, Ft. Lauderdale, FL (related offerings: Artblend)
* Miami Solo, Miami FL

OTHER USA:

* American Art Awards, americanartawards.com, World Art Awards
* Art Show Productions, Rochester & Pittsford, NY (related offerings: Artisan Direct, ARTISANworks, Artisan Direct, Ltd., Spectrum Miami solicited by Jayson, Artist Showcase Magazine)
* Art With a Heart, An inclusive Gallery, Seattle, WA
* Artist Advocate Magazine (related offerings: American Forum for Realism, Plein Air Convention)
* Conception Art Show (conceptionarts.com, conceptionevents.com)
* Artvoices Magazine - Untitled Projects (untitledartprojects.com)
* RAW - Natural Born Artists, rawartists.org
* T.I.N.A. Prize (TINA Prize, Convocatoria RADAR, convocatoriaradar.es, Convocatoria Para Artistas, radarmexico.com, This is Not an Art Prize)
* Xanadu Gallery, Scottsdale, AZ (related offerings: Art Catalogue)

CANADA:

* 3C Gallery, Montreal, Canada
* Gallery Gora, Montreal, Canada
* Queen Gallery, Toronto, ON

LONDON, UK:

* The Brick Lane Gallery
* Camden Art Gallery (related offerings: Galerie 64 Atelier)
* International Art Fair (IAF, internationalartfair.co.uk)
* La Galleria Pall Mall
* Parallax Art Fair
* Printspace Gallery
* Whitepeaks Fine Art
* Woolwich Contemporary Print Fair

EUROPE and UK:

* Arte Y Joya Contemporary Jewellery (Jewelry) / Jewellery Yearbook (artejoya.com) is now Contemporania High Craftsmanship Barcelona (contemporania.cat)
* Artiade World of Contemporary Art, Berlin 2020, Artiade Cultural Organisation (artiade.com)
* Salons Artoulouse Expo (related offerings: Art Sommieres)
* ArtworkX of Mann
* EAGL Gallery, Berlin (related offerings: quadriArt)
* First International Italian Biennale of Creativity
* Florence Biennale
* Global Art Agency aka GAA Publishing (related offerings include tokyoartfair.com, Sakura Group, sac28group.com, Crypto Art Island, cryptoartisland.com, First European NFT Art Fair, Madrid NFT Art Fair, The Rich List Art Weekend, therichlistartweekend.com, Shanghai International Art Fair, Singapore Art Week, Middle East Art Collectors Book, Art Al Ain, artalain.ae, Middle East Art Collector Association, artcollector.ae, globalartagency.com, theglobalartawards.com, Art Career Development Tools, Global Art Promotions, Global Art Awards, The Miami Art Expo, Tokyo International Art Fair, TIAF, Vienna Showcase, Amsterdam Showcase, Barcelona Showcase, Oxford International Art Fair, Rotterdam International Art Fair, Contemporary Art of Excellence, Investable Artists, Investable Artist Edition, BCN Art Barcelona International Art Fair)
* IUGTE, Austria, iugte.org, physicalityinacting.com
* Kreta Event, kretaevent.com, World of Crete, worldofcrete.com, VIFAF 2021 V2 (Virtual International Art Fair), Nama Exhibition, Fauna & Flora Dream Scapes, Select Art '22
* Marziart Internationale Galerie (Hamburg, Germany)
* New Artist Fair, newartistfair.com, Talented Art Fair, talentedartfair.com
* PAKS Gallery (related offering: MAMAG Modern Art Museum and Gallery GmbH)
* Palm Art Award
* Paris O15 - Carrousel du Louvre
* Primo Piano LivinGallery, Italy
* Sussex Art Fairs, UK, newartistfair.com, artworkportal.co.uk
* Trento Art Festival, trentoartfestival.com, trentoartfestival.it, Trento Art Festival Digital Edition

AUSTRALIA:

* New Art Awards (Temporary Gallery)

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If you have any additions or corrections, please email artbusiness@artbusiness.com