<< Back to Articles for Artists

Artist Pay-to-Play Galleries, Exhibitions, Publications

If you receive offerings to participate in any for-profit exhibitions, galleries, publications, websites, contests or competitions where you have to pay to be included, first read the article Art Contests, Competitions, Shows and More Where You Pay Up Front... Will They Get You Anywhere? Then thoroughly research any such offer-- BEFORE you pay-- and evaluate it on its own merits. The article explains how to do this research right. No matter how marvelous an opportunity sounds, whether you have to qualify to participate or not, get the facts, get informed, and then make your decision-- not only from those offering the opportunities but more importantly, from third party sources not directly connected to or involved with the offers. 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 advertising, particularly mass emailings. The more agressive senders relentlessly bombard artists with emails, regularly contrive new offers and opportunities, sometimes offer prizes and awards, and may even apply pressure to participate. 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 accomodations. 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 question. Here is a partial list of publications, venues, and other situations where you have to pay to expose your art, and that you should fully research-- BEFORE you pay-- in order to understand exactly what you're getting for your money. If an opportunity sounds worthwhile, go for it. If not, then it may be better to wait...

NEW YORK CITY AREA:

* A. Jain Marunouchi Gallery
* Agora Gallery (related offerings: Chelsea International Fine Art Competition)
* Amsterdam Whitney Gallery
* Artists Wanted (related offerings: 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)
* Contemporary Art Network (CAN)
* Ico (aka Icosahedron) Gallery
* NY Art Marathon
* 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:

* Art LA (.com)
* James Gray Gallery (related offerings: Art LA)
* Laguna Art (.com)
* Gallery Godo, Glendale, CA
* NorbertEllen Gallery
* Townley Gallery, Laguna Beach, CA (related offerings: Laguna Art)
* World Art Foundation (related offerings: Umbrella Publishing, Jojo Marengo)

SAN FRANCISCO / NORTHERN CALIFORNIA:

* ArtPeople Gallery (San Francisco, CA)
* Galiara, San Francisco, CA (formerly The Artists' Alley, also known as Gallery 4N5)

MIAMI / SOUTH FLORIDA:

* Artists Haven Gallery, Ft. Lauderdale, FL
* Miami Solo, Miami FL
* Nina Torres Fine Art, Miami, FL

OTHER USA:

* American Art Awards
* Art Show Productions, Rochester & Pittsford, NY (related offerings: Artisan Direct, ARTISANworks)
* Art With a Heart, An inclusive Gallery, Seattle, WA
* Artist Advocate Magazine (related offerings: American Forum for Realism, Plein Air Convention)
* RAW - Natural Born Artists
* Xanadu Gallery, Scottsdale, AZ (related offerings: Art Catalogue)

CANADA:

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

LONDON, UK:

* The Brick Lane Gallery
* Camden Art Gallery (related offerings: Galerie 64 Atelier)
* La Galleria
* Printspace Gallery
* Whitepeaks Fine Art

EUROPE:

* Arte Laguna Art Prize
* Artoteque (related offerings: Artists of Today - 100 Contemporary Artists, aBIENNIAL, iBIENNIAL 2011 2012, Art Time - The 2nd Contemporary Art Annual Exhibition, Fine Artist's Bibliophile Limited Edition Catalogues, Art for Collectors 2012, aBIENNIAL2)
* ArtworkX of Mann
* Florence Biennale
* IUGTE, Austria
* Marziart Internationale Galerie (Hamburg, Germany)
* Palm Art Award
* Primo Piano LivinGallery, Italy

ONLINE:

* American Art Collector published by Alcove Books
* Art & Beyond Publications (online Magazine)
* Art-Exchange (.com)
* Artavita (.com)
* Artspecifier (related offerings: Photospecifier)
* Artist Portfolio Magazine (related offerings: MyArtContest.com)
* ArtNetwork (ArtNetwork Press)
* 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)
* Everythingisart.cc Magazine
* International Contemporary Artists
* Manu Sol Publications
* Masters of Today (related offerings: Art Addiction, World of Art Magazine, 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, ART BOX)
* Modern Art Community (Featured Artists Volume III, modernartcom dot com)
* Show Artists (.com) International Art Competitions
* Working Artist Org.
* World Art Vision (related offerings: Open Art Code)
* World Wide Art Books (related offerings: International Contemporary Masters, International Masters of Photography, Artavita Contemporary Master Award)

>>>>>>>>>>>>>

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