For most emerging and mid career artists, the single most important thing you can do for yourself is decide to spend 2-3 hours per week “doing your homework.” My gift to you this holiday season is a fairly extensive list of resources for you to peruse on a monthly basis, searching for viable opportunities. For artists that need to develop a “paper trail” for their resume, there is no better way than entering juried shows and competitions. There are a number of websites that offer exhibition opportunities for artists. Sometimes, a fee is involved to enter the show, other times it is a call for exhibition proposals that requires no fee. The fun thing about checking these websites frequently, is the odd and/or unique opportunity that comes up once in awhile that might be just perfect for you…a chocolate bar company looking for an artistic wrapper, a three week residency in Japan (all expenses paid), the opportunity to be an artist in residence in Yosemite National Park, an historic penitentiary in Philadelphia looking for site specific sculptors to transform the jail cells, the US Mint looking for artists to design the new quarter or submissions of art for vending machines…yes, all of these are real opportunities that I have found on these websites. So, if you are really serious, BOOKMARK THIS PAGE and look at it everyday.  You can go to one of these websites each day to scour for opportunities (sorry, about February and days where there are only 30 days) But, at least this will give you a strategy…if today is the 10th of the month, start with number 10, tomorrow do #11 and so on…by the end of month, you are ready to start at #1 again…kind of like painting the Golden Gate Bridge!

1. www.artistregister.com
2. www.cac.ca.gov
3. www.professionalartistmag.com
4. www.artdeadlineslist.com
5. www.callforentry.org
6. www.re-title.typepad.com
7. www.collegeart.org
8. www.artshow.com
9. www.artdeadlines.com
10. www.theartlist.com
11. www.southbendart.org
12. www.chicagoartistsresource.org
13. www.lacountyarts.org
14. www.wooloo.org
15. www.asingularcreation.com
16. www.callsforart.com
17. www.zapplication.org/a>
18. www.juriedartservices.com
19. www.artandeducation.net
20. www.artandartdeadlines.com
21. www.artisttrust.org
22. www.bayareaartgrind.com
23. www.entrythingy.com
24. www.azarts.gov
25. www.lvartscommission.com
26. www.cityofseattle.net
27. www.e-artnow.org
28. www.itsliquid.com
29. www.nyfa.org
30. www.theartguide.com
31. www.4culture.org
32. www.racc.org

These sites change frequently (updated 11-7-2016), so don’t just rely on my recommendations, but do internet searches of your own to discover constantly new sites that are being developed. Please let me know if there is a good site that I have omitted, or if there is a site listed here that no longer works. Some of the sites require a “premium” sign up for more listings, but I have never found that necessary, as there is plenty of free information out there. Make it your resolution this year to submit to 3-4 opportunities per month. This is not an activity that you will ever give up, kind of like painting the Golden Gate Bridge, once you finish, it’s time to start all over. At the end of the year, you will have a concrete way of judging your success by admiring the activity on your bio. Remember, this is just a start, happy hunting!