As an artist, you must be aware of the importance of participating in online juried shows to amp up your career. These shows not only help you gain more exposure on international platforms, but they also help you build a reputation for your work as an artist. Irrespective of the choice of your medium, they can provide a significant boost to your career and help you advance further.
However, irrespective of the advantages of participating in such international art competitions, artists often fail to reap the full benefits of these shows. Depending on an individual there could be several reasons as to why it happens and how artists can overcome such hurdles. With some research, I have understood that the reasons often range from a lack of knowledge to failure to meet the regulations, etc. Here are some tips that can help you solve your problems.
- Carefully Search for Genuine International Art Galleries
The most important step in trying to find the right online juried shows for you is to start by looking for genuine international galleries. In this era of the internet and rapidly evolving technologies, anyone can open up an art gallery.
However, not every gallery claiming to be an international art gallery is actually what it claims to be. Most of them lack reach, whereas many of them fail to stand true to their promises. On the other hand, genuine fine art galleries will help you find the right path and also guide you in choosing the right course of action for you. These galleries also organize competitions that can serve your purpose.
- Explore the Different Online Juried Shows
Not every show running out there is for you. Different art competitions are meant to help artists in different ways and you need to choose wisely. The small diligent action on your part will help you save both your time and money that you might otherwise waste on different competitions, that don’t serve your needs. It will also prevent you from losing hope and staying focused on your goals.
Exploring the different international art competitions will help you understand their reach, the jury they invite, and also the types of artists who participate in them. When I say the types of artists, I mean, artists using different media. For example, some contests are more popular among painters than sculptures and vice versa. Then there are also dedicated competitions that stick to a particular theme or medium instead of keeping no bars. It is up to you to decide what works best for you.
- Compare the Price Factor
Another important factor to consider here is the price point. A lot of these online juried shows are free but a lot of them charge a small fee against your participation. What you need to understand here is that you cannot judge the quality of a show based on its price point. However, you still need to take into consideration this factor to ensure you don’t tip off your budget.
Make a careful analysis of your options, including the purpose of the show as well as the price factor. You might be tempted to pick the free art shows, but they might probably not do much for your career. On the other hand, paid shows from reputed international art galleries charge a fee to ensure they maintain the quality of their shows which can actually help you achieve your goals faster.
- Read the Rules Properly
Before you decide to jump the gun and participate in any online juried show, make sure to read and carefully re-read the rules. This will not only give you an idea of the entire process but also help you be prepared in advance. You can also avoid silly mistakes that many artists often commit because they don’t read the rules properly.
For example, a competition organizer might ask you to submit artwork with no watermark or signature. Some of them also expect you to submit a small artwork description with your submission whereas others don’t. In such cases, you need to stick to the requirements and provide only what has been asked for.
Going the extra mile to submit more than what’s asked for, or making improper submissions due to ignorance, can both prove to be detrimental for you. It also creates a bad impression on the jury and can make you appear too desperate or not serious about the competition.
- Google the Jury
If the competition organizer has announced their jury, it might be a good idea to search them up. This will give you an idea of their preferences, the type of shows they have judged, and the kind of artists who won that online juried show. Such information will assist you in deciding on a suitable artwork that you can submit for the competition. While this may not always work, it can still give you a start.
Final Word
Everything that we have discussed so far may appear to be quite basic, but it is extremely crucial for every interested artist to know and follow these guidelines. Remember, it is always these minor details that help you prepare for any online juried show and keep you a step ahead of your peers. So now get ready and start looking for the best international art competition where you can become the star of the show.