apexart's Unsolicited Proposal program is an opportunity for anyone, from anywhere, to submit an exhibition proposal to us. From mid-January to mid-February, apexart accepts 500-word, idea-based exhibition proposals online for consideration by an international group of more than 100 individuals composed of artists, curators, writers, professionals, and people from other fields.
Our system of crowd-sourced jurying, where each person reads at least a certain number of proposals and each submission is voted on by more than 25 jurors is the most objective and fair processes of evaluation that we have found. Submissions are reviewed anonymously and solely on the strength of their idea and previous curatorial experience is no way required. Supplemental materials are not accepted to further level the "playing field."
This year, three proposals with the highest ratings will be presented the following season at apexart in NYC, and the full tally of results (where your proposal ranked) will be available online to all submitters. We appreciate your interest in our programs.
Applications are welcomed and encouraged from around the world.
Please feel free to contact
us prior to submission if you have any questions.
Previous year's jurors:
Desiree Adams, Eva Aguila, Greg Allen, Blanka Amezkua, Silvina Arismendi, Montse Badia, Logan Bay, Eric Bees, Georges Berges, Sidhant Bhagchandani, Lyndsey Boekenkamp, George Bolster, Adam Burthom, Charlotte Caldwell, Juanli Carrion, Lindsey Cash, Sophie Castonguay, Jean Cooney, Zoe Croser, Valerie Crosswhite, Jill Dawsey, Joshua Decter, Rodney Dickson, Marianna Dobkowska, Petko Dourmana, Andrew Duggan, Rifky Effendy, Renaud Ego, Thomas Eller, Anthony Elms, CM Evans, Franklin Evans, Michele Faguet, Courtenay Finn, Gary Fogelson, Gijs Frieling, Aaron Garretson, Yoi Tanaka Gayler, Matthew Geller, Coco Gordon, Shalom Gorewitz, Sofija Grandakovska, Zoe Gray, Lucy Hermes Griesbach, Andrea Grover, Ivan Grubanov, Marina Grzinic, Paul Ha, Pablo Helguera, Brooke Hine, Alexandra Hodkowski, Richard Holland, Antony Hudek, Ryan Inouye, Mary Jones, Fassih Keiso, Casey Kelbaugh, Dorota Kenderova, Breda Kennedy, Won-Seok Koh, Alice Lang, Juanita Lanzo, Leonard Lehrer, Pablo Leon de la Barra, Benjamin Liu, Isabel Lofgren, Sarah Lohman, Cyriaco Lopes, Phil Lubliner, Kenneth Lum, Molly MacFadden, Duncan MacKenzie, Christina Mallie, Orietta Marquina, Nat May, Park McArthur, Syreeta McFadden, Sara Meltzer, Naomi Miller, Susette Min, Naeem Mohaiemen, HollyMorrison, Aram Moshayedi, Barry Neuman, Rosemary O'Neill, Ahmet Ogut, Corina Oprea, Maria Ozcoidi, Renee Padt, Alka Pande, Jin-kang Park, Rachel Peddersen, Sheila Pepe, Milena Placentile, Barbara Pollack, Stephane Querrec, Vicente Razo, Mario Rizzi, Julie Rodrigues, Martin Rosengaard, Sebastien Sanz de Santamaria, Jessica Scherlag, Kerri Schlottman, Jeremy Schwartz, Daniel Seiple, Elizabeth Serlenga, Keelie Shaw, Danya Sherman, Steve Shoffner, Sandra Skurvida, Henk Slager, Giulia Smith, Judith Souriau, Leena Stowell, Martine Syms, Irene Tsatsos, Dana Turkovic, Gabriela Vainsencher, Sarah Valdez, Miranda Varela, Billie Rae Vinson, Jessica Wallen, Olav Westphalen, Jocko Weyland, Paul David Young
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• Exhibition proposals were accepted from January 17 to February 17, 2012.
• Submissions are limited to 500 words
maximum, emphasizing and explaining the idea behind the show, and up to four images.
• No catalogs, resumés, cv, or other
support materials will be accepted.
• You will receive an e-mail confirmation
upon submission. If you do not, please contact
us.
• Detailed floor plan:
Download floorplan in feet
Download floorplan in meters |
We have a wide range of TV monitors, flat screens, DVD and VHS players, sound equipment, headphones, and computers for use in exhibitions.
Download full list here.
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 Q: Can I send more than one proposal? |
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A: Unfortunately not. Please send your best one. We can only accept one proposal per person or group in an effort to respect our jurors.
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Q: When will the selected exhibitions be on view at apexart?
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A: The three exhibitions are pre-scheduled to take place in late 2012 and early January 2013.
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Q: Who can submit a group exhibition proposal? |
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A: Anyone from anywhere. We welcome and encourage proposals from all interested individuals, groups and collectives, however, submissions from commercial galleries will not be accepted.
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Q: Do I have to be a curator? |
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A: Absolutely not. Previous curatorial experience is in no way required, and the jury will not have any knowledge of your prior work. We will provide complete administrative support, hand holding and assistance.
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Q: Can I submit resumes catalogs or additional materials? |
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A: We do not accept catalogs, resumés, CV, or other support materials, however we will accept up to four images along with the 500-word submissions (online only), and the only direction given to the jurors is to select the show(s) they like best.
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Q: I am an artist, can I submit an exhibition of my own work? |
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A: We do not accept proposals for one person shows. All proposed exhibitions must be group shows of at least 3 people. Including yourself in an exhibition proposal is allowed but must be clearly stated. In addition, proposals will not be accepted for exhibitions where multiple people create a single artwork or artist project. These will be viewed as solo shows and disqualified.
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Q. Who juries the exhibition proposals? |
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A. A diverse group of up to 200 creative international professionals evaluate the proposals in a "blind" numerical, crowd-sourcing process online. They do not know who else is on the jury, and there is no discussion among them, and no input from apexart staff. The jury changes every year.
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Q: Should my proposal include artist names and descriptions of their work? |
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A: Include whatever you think is essential for others to understand your idea, however, your proposal should emphasize the idea of the show.
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Q: Do I need to contact and confirm artists
prior to submitting? |
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A: You do not need to contact artists prior to applying. We expect that the list may change while the context will not. Mentioning artists that jurors may not know may not be a good use of space.
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Q: Can curatorial teams apply together? |
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A: Yes.
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Q: How many submissions will be selected? |
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A: Three exhibitions will be selected.
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Q: Can I submit a traveling exhibition? |
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A: An exhibition must begin at apexart and subsequent venues cannot be commercial galleries. Traveling exhibitions will be expected to use the same apexart materials if they are associated with the show at apexart. Exhibitions that have been previously exhibited elsewhere will not be considered. All programming must be original.
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Q: What if I have a problem with the word count on the submission form? |
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A: Try using a simple text editing program such as NotePad, TextPad, or TextEdit, rather than a word processing program such as Word to copy and paste into the submission form. If problems persist, you may fill out the online form, make a note in the text box, and email the 500 word submission to us via email to include with your application.
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Q. What is the exhibition budget and what does Q
it cover? |
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A. apexart will provide a $5,000 budget for travel (curator/artists), transportation of artwork, and general expenses and a $2,000 curatorial honorarium for organizational activities and the brochure essay (approximately 1,400 words). apexart's exhibition space is modest at about 80 sq. m./900 sq. ft. The emphasis of your proposal should be on the idea behind the show and organizers/curators are encouraged to work within the size and budget limitations as part of the creative challenge. Additional funds will be pursued by apexart and we will work with the curator/organizer similarly to locate outside support for shipping, artists' travel and other miscellaneous, however the curator/organizer is under no obligation to raise funds.
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Q: Are there any costs to the curator or artists? |
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A: No, apexart covers all the exhibition related expenses (see budget above) and does not ask participants to pay to be involved.
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Q: I still have questions? |
A: Send an email to questions@apexart.org and we will generally respond within 24 hrs. Please do not call. |
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