“If you don't go after what you want, you'll never have it. If you don't ask, the answer is always no. If you don't step forward, you're always in the same place.” - Nora Roberts

Cost and uncertainty discouraging you? Recently I sent in work to a gallery I admire. I chose two pieces from a series of four. At the last minute, I added the piece above -much simpler than the other two. That’s the piece that got in.

Yes, rejection stings, but wow it feels good when they choose your work to show. It’s worth the try.

three guarantees:

I’ve been juror, gallery crew, and applicant. Here are three things I guarantee:

Your work will be seen. When you apply, other artists see your best work. Even though brief, that attention can plant a seed for connection later on. If you do get in, your work will be seen by folks who care about the arts. Buyers. Artists. Gallery owners. Your application is a chance for connection. One way to choose shows is to look at the juror and/or the venue. Are these people who’s opinion you value? Is this a venue you’d like to work with? Does it draw an audience who’s appreciate your work? Compared to likely submissions, would you work stand out in a good way?
Your application supports the arts. Galleries pay rent, insurance, and electricity just like you. They also pay the juror and maybe even the staff. Especially now, with foot traffic so starkly reduced, your application votes “YES” for the venue’s continuation. If they are non-profits, you might even take your application fee as a tax deduction, if your work does not get in.
Your photos help you. Some folks document their work regularly. Me, I struggle with photography. A show application kicks me to take good photos and file them properly. So even if you don’t get in, you gain a record of your best work. These photos make you a stronger professional. Post them to your followers. Share them on Instagram. Make cards or print. Post the originals for sale. More power to you.

Three crucial Steps

Take your best shot. Every photo you submit should show the work at its best. No hot spots. No fuzzy focus. Shoot a lot of images, checking focus and shifting the lighting. Position 2-D work parallel to the camera lens. No frame, reflections, or backgrounds. After you shoots, check the results on your computer. Mine often need a tweak to square up or correct the lighting. If you are submitting 3-D work, you’ll need a neutral background.
Craft your application. When you can, submit multiple pieces. Present a strong visual story, and you increase the time the jury spends with your work. That added time increases the chances your work gets into their show. So assemble a set that coheres in subject and style.
Follow the instructions. You’d be amazed at how easy it is to slip up. I almost sent minuscule files the other week because I misread “larger than [size]” as “not larger than [size],” because that was the phrasing in an earlier application. All those details. So: your work must match the show’s theme. It must meet the venue’s requirements for size, materials, and display. Check your calendar: can you and your artwork meet the delivery and pickup dates? (I was with one curator when he learned that an artist had double-booked her accepted piece, and offered to send similar work. He was not pleased.) Finally, prepare your submission with the exact file size and file name specified. Send an email if something is unclear.

For a recent application I “auditioned” several painting. These three shared share size, structure, and color themes, so I chose them. Two got in.

Four things to remember

So off your application goes. What next?

Keep track. Note in your work calendar when the acceptance list is posted. You might also pencil in the show’s dates, so you can be sure to keep the work free until you hear if it is in.
Be on time. You could disqualify your work by missing the drop-off. Plus, showing up as promised is the just right thing to do.
Say thank you. Mom was right: politeness matters. The gallery is made up of people, who worked hard for you. Be nice when you meet them. Write your thanks down, afterward, on a real card, and put it in the mail.
Move on. Each show requires coordination of a many parts. Balance, variety, and tone all come into play. The cohesion of the whole outweighs the value of any one piece. If you get in, be glad you are part of an ensemble. Didn’t get in? Feel the sting and let it go. (You’ve got those good photos, now.) For extra credit: come to the reception. Say nice things about the show.

As Alice Sheridan would say, it’s all about leaving breadcrumbs. As a artist, you need to increase the odds someone who likes your work will find you. Each show application offers you the chance to make contact. It puts your work in front of a jury. Acceptance widens your audience. You want your work seen by others who care about the arts. So, create that potential. Reach out. Apply. And good luck.