Tag Archives: application fees

Art Competition Odds

Twelve Months in Art Competitions, 2019-2020

Stats on my art competition applications from July 2019 through June 2020.

Goals

My goals this past ‘goal-year’ included applying to:

  • 2 grants. 
  • 6 residencies or studio programs in NYC.
  • 4 exhibitions in NYC.
  • 2 residencies, commissions, or projects in the S.F. Bay Area. 

This adds up to 14 applications.

Progress

I submitted 13 applications.

Of course, this was an exceptional year. I had other extenuating circumstances, and COVID changed everything. Not only were health, safety, travel, and finances endangered, existing projects were postponed and extended. Open calls were sometimes paused by the organizations. Some programs were canceled when organizations restructured due to the recession. Given all this, I was surprised to learn that I nearly reached my goal of 14 applications.

Here’s how much progress I made:

  • Grants.
    • [√] [√] √  √ 
    • I set out to apply to 2 grants, and I did.
    • I also applied to a fellowship and an award whose primary benefits were funding. If you count these towards my grants goal, then I exceeded this goal.
  • Residencies or studio programs in NYC.
    • [√] [√] [√] [√] [√] [_]
    • I aimed to submit 6 applications, and I completed 5 (3 residencies, 2 studio programs).
  • Exhibitions in NYC.
    • [√] [√] [_] [_]
    • My goal was to apply to 4 exhibition opportunities. I completed 2 applications.
  • Residencies, commissions, or projects in the S.F. Bay Area.
    • [√] [_]
    • I submitted 1 application, though I aimed for 2. 
    • However, I was invited to do a project in the Bay Area, which leapfrogged the application goal to serve the greater goal.

Rejections

I received responses for 12 out of 13 applications. One program has been put on indefinite hold due to COVID.

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Of the 12 responses I received, all were rejections.

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Three of my 13 applications (23%) made it to a second round, or semi-finalist or finalist round.

I’ve enjoyed at least one or two successful applications each goal-year for the previous six years (the years most easy to look up), so garnering zero successful applications is a surprise. The sting of these ‘no’s’ is ameliorated by a more recent ‘yes,’ as well as invitations which arose from existing partnerships or past work.  

See my stats from 2018–2019, 2017-2018, 2015-2016, 2014, and 2013.

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Art Competition Odds

Twelve Months in Art Competitions, 2018-2019

Stats on my art competition applications from July 2018 through June 2019.*

Goals

My goals this past ‘goal-year’ included applying to:

  • Ten residency, studio programs or public projects to get support in NYC
  • Six exhibitions in NYC
  • Two grants ($3k minimum)

This adds up to 18 applications, which was too many. I’d set goals totaling 18 applications in prior years, and I need to be more strategic and deliberate moving forward.

Progress

I submitted 8 applications.

Some of these applications fulfilled multiple goals. For example, some residencies included exhibitions or stipends over $3k, so I counted those towards multiple goals.

Here’s how much progress I made towards my goals:

  • I submitted 7 out of 10 applications towards residency, studio programs or public projects in NYC:
    • 4 residencies
    • 2 studio programs
    • 0 public projects
    • 1 purchase program (It was located outside of NYC, but funds could support my work in NYC, so I counted it towards this goal.)
  • I submitted 3 out of 6 applications for exhibitions in NYC.
  • I submitted 2 out of 2 applications for competitions that included over $3k of financial support, which I applied towards my grants goal.

There were two primary reasons for a low rate of applications. First, I was awarded a six-month residency, and I couldn’t apply to anything else that conflicted with those dates. Second, when application deadlines overlapped with the residency period, I chose to prioritize the residency. I just didn’t have the bandwidth to submit killer proposals. I chose quality over quantity.

Successes

I have received notifications for 6 of 8 applications submitted.

Of these six applications, I received 1 residency and 1 studio program. My success rate was 2/6, or 33%, of the 6 entries that have responded to date.

If the remaining two applications are unsuccessful, my success rate would be 2/8 or 25%.

See my stats from 2017-2018, 2015-2016, 2014, and 2013.

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Meta-Practice

An Eye-popping Application Fee

I don’t think I’ve ever seen a $50 application fee for an open call for a group exhibition until now.

I’ve encountered $45 to 65 application fees for residencies, and $35 fees for open calls for three slides and $5-10 extra for additional slides, which could add up to more than $50 if the artist chooses. In any case, paying $45 for any fee seems expensive to me.

In principle, I think it’s an organization’s job to review slides of artists who are being considered for their programs. Reviewing entries is part of the cost of running the program. For galleries, looking for artists and viewing their artworks is part of the work of curation.

I get that the amount of entries can be overwhelming, that a lot of labor goes in, that jurors should be compensated, and that organizations want to offset those costs. (I’ve been a juror and I have worked at a gallery organizing submissions.) I also get that NYC is an expensive city to live in, and that open calls are a way small organizations generate income.

But, I also know that jurors may spend only a few minutes reviewing each entry. It’s up to individual artists to decide if having their work reviewed by unnamed jurors for the chance to exhibit in a group show is worth it.

Criteria I consider:

  • Who is the gallery? Where is it located? What is its programming like? What is their track record or reputation? What is their level of professionalism?
    • Will they handle my work with care? Will they properly care for, install, invigilate, deinstall, and pack my work?
    • Is the website well-designed, well-organized, and up-to-date, with a useful archive of past shows? Do captions properly credit artists and link to their websites? Or is there only a Facebook album of snapshots from the opening, where the primary message is “Look how many guests attended” rather than “Here are the artworks that form the content of the exhibition”?
    • Are past shows well-conceived, consistently high in quality, well-staged, and well-lit? Is the gallery in good, well-maintained condition?
    • Does the gallery double as an events space, increasing the chance that the work will be damaged?
  • What is the potential benefit of participating? What is the gallery’s location? Who is its audience? What are their hours? In other words, who will see the show and will they be interested and likely to support my work? What else is included in the exhibition? Will the make a catalog, host an artist’s talk, etc.? What is the value of that amplification?
    • Who are the jurors? What is their track record? Are they ethical? How aligned are their interests with my work? What is their institutional affiliation (sorry to have the institution validate the individual; it’s one consideration), and how aligned is that institution with my exhibition goals?
  • What is the potential cost of participating? What is the fine print? Do I have to frame unframed artwork? Do I have to pay for outbound and return shipping? Will I have to travel to install the work, attend the opening, and pick up the work? Will they assume any liability for damaged artwork? What is the split in any sales?
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Art Competition Odds

Eleven Months in Art Competitions, 2017-2018

Stats on my art competition applications from August 2017 through June 2018.*

In the past, I have set a goal of applying to 18 competitions. Eleven months ago, I decided to set more quantifiable and focused goals, specifying how many art competitions I’d apply to across different categories. My goals this past ‘goal-year’ included applying to:

  1. Six residency or studio programs in NYC
  2. Three public art open calls/registries
  3. Six exhibitions in NYC
  4. Three grants ($3k minimum)

…for a total of 18 competitions.

I also wrote in a lower-priority option of applying to residencies elsewhere. I decided not to specifically pursue:

  • fellowships
  • professional development programs

In the past twelve months, I actually applied to:

  1. Two residencies + two studio programs = 4/6
  2. Three public art open calls/registries = 3/3
  3. Four exhibitions + (one fellowship + one professional development program due to the solo show opportunities involved) = 6/6
  4. One grant = 1/3

I also applied to two residencies outside of NYC, bringing the total up to 16 out of 18 applications.

Applications submitted:
RRRR   SS   PPP   EEEE    F   D   G

Awards received (highlighted in color):
RRRR   S?   PP?   EEEE   F   D   G

I was a finalist, but not recipient, of one residency. One exhibition application is leading towards inclusion in a show. One public art registry has not responded, as is the nature of these things. One studio program is delaying their program and subsequent announcement of recipients.

Of the 16 total entries, my overall success rate was 1/16, or 6%. Of the 14 entries that have responded to date, my success rate was 1/14, or 7%.*

I paid $45 for two application fees ($10 and $35 respectively). The other 14 applications were free.

000$   00   000   0$00   0   0   0

See my stats from 2015-2016, 2014, and 2013.

*I can do what I want. 🙂 It was just a good time for me to revisit my goals today. I’m excited and energized to start fresh right now. Some resources that were helpful for me to review:

**These odds align with a 1:15 rule of thumb I learned in a Creative Capital professional development workshop. I’m pleasantly surprised, since I believe that focusing on NYC competitions means worse odds due to larger applicant pools. As I found in 2011, “seven of the nine New York programs ranked among the top 11 most competitive” in an analysis of 26 competitions on Temporary Art Review.

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Art Competition Odds

Twelve Months in Art Competitions, 2016-2017

Stats on my art competition applications from the ‘goal-year’ before last: August 2016 through July 2017.*

At the end of July in 2016, I set a goal of applying to 18 competitions. In a modest effort to be strategic, I decided to focus on:

  1. Three “major” grants
  2. Solo exhibition opportunities
  3. Fellowships or residencies in places I wanted to travel to
  4. Supportive studio programs with funding

I actually applied to:

  1. Two grants = 2/3
  2. One exhibition open call = 1/?
  3. Two fellowships and six residencies  = 8/?
  4. One studio programs = 1/?

For a total of 12 applications out of the goal of 18.

Applications submitted:
GG   E   FF    RRRRRR   S   

Awards received (highlighted in color):
GG   E   FF   RRRRRR   S

I was awarded two residencies.

Of the 12 entries, my overall success rate was 2/12, or 16%.

I paid $50 for two application fees ($15 and $35 respectively). The other 10 applications were free.

$0   0   $0   000000   0

See my stats from 2015-2016, 2014, and 2013.

*Better late than never. 😉

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Art Competition Odds

Twelve Months in Art Competitions

Stats on my art competition applications from July 2015 to June 2016.

Though my goal was to apply to 18 competitions, I applied to only 6 in order to fulfill opportunities received in this period.

I applied to: 2 residencies, 0 fellowships, 1 exhibition/museum submissions, 1 studio program, 1 grant/award, 0 public art commissions, and 1 professional development programs.

++++++

I received: 1 residency.

++++++

One application was solicited following a recommendation from a fellow artist. Following another application, I received an inquiry for a studio visit with a curator.

++++++

Of the 6 entries, my overall success rate was 1 out of 6, or 16.6%.

I paid $15 for a single application fee. Five out of six applications were free.

0$0000

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Art Competition Odds

My 2014 in Art Competitions

Stats on my art competition applications in 2014.

In 2014, I applied to 21 art competitions.*

I applied to: 8 residencies, 4 fellowships, 3 exhibitions/museum submissions, 3 studio programs, 2 grants/awards, 1 public art commission, and 0 professional development programs.

+++++++++++++++++++++

Four out of 21 application results are still pending.

+++++++++++++++++++++

 

I received: 1 residency.

+++++++++++++++++++++

I was also informed that I was a finalist or alternate for 1 residency, 1 fellowship, and 1 award.

+++++++++++++++++++++

Of the 17 confirmed results, my overall success rate was 1 out of 17, or 1 in 17, or 5.8%.

I paid $195 in application fees for 6 applications.

$$$$$$00000000000000

The highest fees were $40–45, assessed by the three opportunities in California that I applied to. I sent submissions to 12 opportunities in NY state, where I paid two organizations a total of $30. Ten applications were free.

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(*I aspire to do 24 applications per “goal-year,” which starts in June. I did 15 in the first half of 2014, and only 6 in the second. To meet my goal of 24 by next June, I’d have to do 18 more. But after reviewing my commitments in 2015, I decided to target my efforts, and favor specific qualities over an arbitrary quantity.)

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Art Competition Odds

My 2013 in Art Competitions

Stats on my art competition applications in 2013.

Last year, I applied to 34 art competitions.*

I applied to: 11 residencies, 8 exhibitions/museum submissions, 6 fellowships, 4 studio programs, 3 grants & awards, and 2 professional development programs.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

I received: 1 residency, 1 grant, and 1 professional development program.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

I was also informed that I was a finalist for 2 residencies and 1 award.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

My overall success rate was 3 out of 34, or 1 in 11.3, or 8.8%.

I paid $280 in application fees for 9 applications.

$$$$$$$$$0000000000000000000000000

The most expensive was a residency at $45, followed by a residency and fellowship at $40 each. The lowest fee was $10 (to submit work for review to a museum). Twenty-five applications were free.

(*This amount of applications in one 12-month period is a quirk due to the fact that my “goal-year” starts in June. To meet my goal of 24 applications per year, I did 7 in the second half of 2012, and now I only need to do 10 more this spring.)

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