Warning: this is an unedited rant. ~ Part of being a PROFESSIONAL ARTIST is developing a portfolio. I do not know about other kids of art, but in the visual arts arena this includes participation in art competitions at different levels. Sometimes for the right to put the work in an exhibit, other times for grants, residencies, etc. To the artist this means hard work and money. All the artists calls include an entry fee $$ or $$$. This kind of practice, accepted as industry standard, is meant to create exposure and development opportunities for the artists. When the process is MANAGED CORRECTLY it does exactly that. However, the practice can also be mismanaged and manipulated by all kinds of unprofessional, SHADY, and GREEDY individuals. Here are some warning signs. Please hard working artists, stay away form these ones: 1) Artist calls where the jurors know nothing about art. Often than means that the jurors are NOT artists, collectors, EXPERIENCED gallerists, or someone with any kind of training and understanding of art. If someone has no art TRAINING AND KNOWLEDGE, they have NO BUSINESS JUDGING ART! Unfortunately this kind of ridiculous practice happens...more often than we care to admit. 2) Art calls from regular entities and non-profits where the SAME ARTISTS KEEP ON WINNING ALL THE AWARDS AND ALL THE NOMINATIONS ALL THE TIME. Before you submit your work and PAY to participate in any artist call, DO SOME RESEARCH. Who won the awards of the previous calls by the same entity? Do you see the same names over and over? This is a RED FLAG, particularly if the entity receives any kind of FEDERAL FUNDS. Let me explain- when an organization receives federal money (which is money that belongs to ALL of US) the organization probably was a awarded a grant. To get the grant, the organization probably wrote in the application that they will use the funds to SUPPORT THE ARTS and to create opportunities for local artists. This commitment is probably what helped them to get the money. Most likely they did not write in their application Please GIVE ME THE MONEY because I will use it incorrectly to promote the work of my beloved hubby, wife, lover, and best buddies only. I will mislead the whole world and do artists calls to let artists think they are participating in a fair and honest process, I will take their money, plus they money you are giving me and use if for my personal benefit, while I promote my hubby, wife, lover, and bodies because I truly support the arts. LOL. 3) Artists calls from serious organizations that simply take the money, reject the work and DO NOT GIVE ANY KIND OF FEEDBACK TO THE ARTIST. My message to all the pseudo curators of any kind of art: if you take $$$ from any artist as an entry or participating fee, and for any reason you do not take the work, you MUST give feedback to the artist. It is a matter of PROFESSIONALISM AND RESPECT. ~ Needles to say, dear artists, presenting your work to any entry also means you are professional and ready for criticism. Clearly you do not have to listen to any looser crossing the street, but constructive criticism from someone KNOWLEDGEABLE AND WELL INTENTIONED can help you to improve your trade.- If you made the effort to present your work and PAID your entry fee, that means you are trusting a professional process, therefore you deserve feedback. If you dont receive it, I suggest to never work with that organization again. You and your work deserve respect. This is a business, not a joke. With this said, there is a lot of shadiness and incompetence in the world of the arts, but once in a blue moon you can also find a few individuals and organizations that are professional, have better VALUES, and truly appreciate the arts. Personally I have encountered and have learned from both. From the shady or incompetent, I have learned to be smarter and stay away from them, and from the good ones I have learned that PEOPLE WHO TRULY APPRECIATE THE ARTS WILL ALWAYS RESPECT THE ARTIST. I owe a lot of learning and encouragement to this good souls...so I keep on going...even though sometimes I rant. LOL. Thank you for reading. Namaste. #artist #TatianaCast
Posted on: Sun, 27 Jul 2014 17:08:13 +0000
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