Prospectus

American Women Artists
2016 National Juried Exhibition & Annual Members Show
Exhibit dates: September 23 – November 13, 2016
Hosted by: The Bennington Center for the Arts, Bennington, Vermont

Located in scenic Vermont, The Bennington Center for the Arts is a world-class visual and performing arts complex that is a source for collectors and connoisseurs of fine art from all across the country. The Bennington houses a stunning permanent collection and has hosted many national exhibitions since its opening in 1994.

INTENT

American Women Artists seeks to select an exhibition of representational fine art demonstrating excellence in terms of composition, technique, mastery of medium and quality of design. The final selection will be an exemplary showcase of a diverse group of representational artwork by artists who draw, paint or sculpt in contemporary or traditional style. Approximately 60 pieces of work by AWA Associate members will be chosen as the finalists to be exhibited in AWA’s 2016 National Juried Exhibition, to be shown alongside works by its Master and Signature membership in the Annual Member Show.

AWARDS

New this year- more than 20 award categories for entire exhibit, over $25,000 in cash and prizes, with two Grand Prize award packages of approximately $5000 value each (one for Best Painting/Drawing and one for Best Sculpture). New genre-based award categories (Best Landscape, Best Figurative, etc…)

Award packages are designed to support, encourage and inspire women in the visual fine arts.

JURORS

Six selection jurors for AWA’s National Juried Competition work independently to assess the entries for selection to finalists. Each year, a different group is put together for the selection process and is comprised of: an established museum curator, the host venue owner/director(s), two AWA Master Signature members (a 2D artist and a 3D artist), and two AWA Signature members (a 2D artist and a 3D artist).

Awards Jurors: to be announced

ELIGIBILITY – must be current member for 2016

Open to women at least 18 years of age, who are working in the fine arts and living in the United States, Canada or Mexico. Applicants MUST BE AN ASSOCIATE MEMBER of American Women Artists to submit work. If you were a member in 2015 and/or prior years but have not yet renewed, or if you would like to join as a new member, please email contact@americanwomenartists.org to complete the process to join or renew as an Associate member. If you do not pay for membership by the June 5 submission deadline, your entry will be disqualified. AWA Associate membership dues are $60 annually.

SUBMISSION

Only on-line entries will be accepted for this show. NO MAILED SUBMISSIONS ACCEPTED. Please submit all entries through www.juriedartservices.com starting March 30, 2016.

DEADLINE

Final acceptance of all submissions is June 5, 2016, midnight PST.

ENTRY GUIDELINES

Submissions must be representational artwork of original concept and design.

Acceptable mediums shall include painting (oil, acrylic, watercolor, gouache, pastel, colored ink, encaustic, batik) and drawing (conte crayon, colored pencil, graphite, charcoal, pen & ink, scratchboard) and sculpture (cast metal, fabricated metal, stone, fired terra cotta, glass, wood). Mixed medium pieces using the above-listed materials are acceptable as well.

Not Accepted craft, jewelry, photography, collage, any work containing computer generated elements of any kind, prints, textiles or fiber art.

Two-dimensional works and fabricated sculpture must have been executed within the last two years. Cast Sculpture must have been executed within the last four years. All works entered must not have been accepted for a previous AWA National Juried Exhibition.

Maximum entries: six (6)

Maximum size Paintings & Drawings : up to 48” in either dimension, unframed.

Maximum size Sculpture: Combined dimensions may not exceed a total of 120 inches (height + width + depth), Weight limit of 300 lbs.

All works submitted for the juried exhibition must be for sale.

Maximum of one (1) piece of artwork per accepted artist will be juried into the show.

All works submitted for the competition must be available for sale after acceptance into show upon receipt of artist exhibition agreement form due to AWA by July 15.

Artists retain copyright to their image(s). However, accepted images do become part of AWA archives and may be used for this and future AWA event promotion.

FEES

All membership and jury fees are non-refundable; overpayment of any fee will be considered a donation and will not be refunded.

JURYING FEE: $45.00 for up to TWO (2) ENTRIES. Each additional entry $10.00 up to maximum of 6 entries.

MUST BE A CURRENT (OR NEW) ASSOCIATE MEMBER OF AWA TO ENTER JURIED EXHIBITION. ASSOCIATE MEMBERSHIP DUES: $60.00 MUST BE PAID BY JUNE 5, 2016 OR SUBMISSION IS DISQUALIFIED.

Electronic payment for jury fees should be made through Juried Art Services via PayPal at time of application. Membership dues can be paid separately by emailing contact@americanwomenartists.org for invoice that can be paid directly with credit card or PayPal account or by mailing a check of $60 to: AWA, PO Box 4125, Queensbury, NY 12804.

JURYING NOTIFICATION

All jury status notifications will be emailed by Juried Art Services by July 1, 2016. A list of accepted artists and their works will be posted at www.americanwomenartists.org by July 1, 2016.

Up to 60 artists will be selected as exhibition finalists. One piece per finalist will be selected to exhibit at the Bennington Center for the Arts. Gallery slideshows of AWA’s 2016 National Juried Exhibition Annual Members Show will also be posted onwww.americanwomenartists.org and the host venue website www.thebennington.org.

Accepted Works:

The decision of the jurors is final. All accepted artists will be provided with a consignment form to be completed, signed and returned to AWA by July 15, 2016

Once accepted, works may be pre-sold but must hang in gallery for duration of show and proceeds must be shared with Bennington Center for the Arts and AWA under Commission terms outlined below.

All accepted Paintings & Drawings must be framed or gallery-wrapped (if gallery wrapped-completely finished, painted around edge, no tape), and wired for hanging. Accepted Sculpture must be ready to place with any stands and title plates securely fastened.

**Advertising Opportunity in at least three different national publications– for Accepted Artists Only. The details will be available to accepted artists in early July 2015.

Sales Commission:

Painting & Drawing artists: will receive 55% of the selling price.

40% to the selling Gallery and 5% will go to AWA (non-profit 501 (c) 3 organization).

Bronze sculptors: will receive 60% of the selling price.

35% to the selling Gallery and 5% will go to AWA (non-profit 501 (c) 3 organization).

Artwork must be priced in accordance with artist’s current pricing structure.

Payment for work sold will be made directly to the artist from the Gallery by the 10^th of the month following the sale.

Shipping:

Each accepted Artist is responsible for the delivery of their shipped or hand delivered work to: The Bennington Center for the Arts, 44 Gypsy Lane, Bennington, VT 05201 during the following dates: September 5- September 13, 2016.

Any artist shipping their work will include a completed prepaid return shipping form with their art. All works must have appropriate identification including title, size, artist name and contact information, price and medium on the piece. The Bennington would like all 2-D work shipped in Airfloat boxes; if you are not using an Airfloat box, you must include a $25 unpacking/packing fee with your shipped work.

A Shipping Instructions form will be supplied by AWA to all finalists and a copy of this form must be included in the package with the work.

LIABILITIES, RESPONSIBILITIES, SALES

By entering this exhibition, artist agrees that they have read and will abide by all rules outlined in this prospectus. All membership and jury fees are non-refundable. Overpayment of any fee will be considered a donation and will not be refunded.

Submission of work for this exhibit will be construed as acceptance of all conditions set forth in prospectus.

AWA and The Bennington Center for the Arts reserve the right to return work that does not meet exhibition standards.

Every reasonable care will be taken with original artwork.

The Bennington Center for the Arts will be responsible for insurance of artwork while at the Bennington for the amount specified on Record of Consignment. The Artist is responsible for insurance of artwork to cover the full value of the artwork while in transit.

CALENDAR