Get Ready To Apply Tips To Stand Out in the Process
My tips for artists when they apply to a show include reviewing the guidelines closely, even if they have applied before. Festival organizers are consistently updating guidelines.
Artists who have questions should reach out to the organizer before they apply. They should ensure they have updated, high-quality photographs of their art and booth, and their contact information is up to date and accurate.
To make their application stand out from others, artists should include updated, high-quality images of their art and booth. The art in their individual photos should be reflected in the booth. It is a red flag if the art shown is not in the booth. It looks inconsistent, unorganized, and unprofessional.
When selecting which images to include in the application, artists should make them cohesive and interesting. Pick the image where you tried something new or the one that has extra bright colors on it.
Try to pick new images for your application each year as well. New images are exciting to jurors and organizers. If an artist has been submitting the same images for the last 10 years, it is concerning. They do not feel fresh and inviting anymore, and even if they have been getting in every year, that will not continue forever, as processes are innovated and new ideas happen.
Make it easy for organizers to answer questions about your application. Include your website and/or social media pages.
Festival Requirements
Artists who want to participate in the East Lansing Art Festival must apply through ZAPP. They must submit an artist statement, four images of art, and one image of their booth.
Emerging artists also apply through ZAPP. However, instead of submitting a booth photo, they include a fifth image of art.
The Jurying Process
We recruit seven to nine local art professionals (artists and those who work and teach in the arts) to review the applications. The jurors are divided into three groups depending on their area of expertise. This ensures each juror can focus and only review about 100 applications each instead of jurying all 300.
The jurors score each application on a scale from one to seven (one is worst; seven is best). Staff then average the scores and decide where the invitation cut off is. The score is different for each category depending on how many people apply and the quality of work.
Mistakes To Avoid
Among the most common mistakes seen on applications are chaotic booths that do not have the art from the art images reflected in them. When applying to a fine art festival, it is important that the artists apply as if they are applying for a gallery exhibit.
The art shared should be a cohesive body of art. If the artist took new booth photos but forgot to update their art photos (or vice versa), it often raises an alarm that the artist is unorganized or even not being honest about who is making the art.
Art photos that are not just of the art but include a frame or background (or someone’s foot) should not be used. These photos are used to reflect the artist in any website or social media advertising that the festival does, and photos that include more than the art will likely not be used. It is worth the time to set up a light box and take professional photos.
Artist statements that go around in circles and do not actually talk about the art process are another big mistake. Artist statements should talk about why the artist uses the medium they selected and what inspires their subject matter. These statements are used to help the organizers clarify what they are seeing in front of them.
There are always applicants who do not qualify for the festival. I am referring to soap makers, authors, and those who sell jerky.
Save everyone some time and yourself some money by closely reviewing the guidelines. If there are any questions about whether your art qualifies, reach out.
I am always happy to look at it and tell an artist what I think. If I am on the fence, I will bring in the festival assistant to look. We love innovation and blurring artistic lines, but it still needs to be fine art.
The biggest piece of advice I can give to applicants is to be kind to the organizers. If an artist is waitlisted or not invited, it is perfectly acceptable to reach out and ask why. Organizers will often give helpful feedback if they can. It is not OK to harass the organizers. That is a guaranteed block.