Info for inAWE Gallery Applicants

Artists of the West Elks are a nonprofit organization that unifies artists with each other, art lovers, and the greater community. We support novice, emerging and professional artists, and promote visual arts in the West Elk region of Colorado through education, events, and artistic excellence. AWE provides opportunities for Artists to network, exhibit work, teach classes, and share knowledge.

The “in-AWE Gallery” is a member-driven co-op. The Gallery is governed by the AWE Board of Director’s, but run entirely by the talented artists, the artistic personalities, and the visionaries who inspire respect for the West Elk region and its visual arts community. The Gallery is not only a showcase of visual art from the region; it also gives voice to, and brings together, the entire network of AWE artists.

The Gallery has a set cycle of exhibit rotations, to best represent the variety, qualities and community of visual arts in the West Elk Region. Displays consist of professional AWE working member artist collections, guest artist collections, and student exhibits.

The Gallery is entirely volunteer run. The Gallery does not sell art on consignment, nor does it order or display any wholesale art. In other words, EVERYTHING on display at the Gallery is made in the West Elks. The success of the Gallery is truly dependent on the Artists of the West Elks taking ownership of the Gallery such that all visitors and patrons love what they see.

 

Working Member Artist Displays

The in-AWE Gallery accepts applications from working member artists for both the summer and winter seasons. The summer season runs from June through November, and the application deadline is April 15th. The Winter Season runs from December through May, and the application deadline is October 15th. Accepted applications will be required to sign a 6-month contract for $70/month. All artists understand the Gallery may have limited hours during off-season months. All contracts include additional responsibilities to the Gallery. All contracts include an 80% to artist / 20% to Gallery split for all Gallery sales and a 1-2 8-hour shift with a minimum of 32 hours a month during the on-season.

 

Applicants must:

  1. Fill out an application and submit by deadline (April or October 15th).
  2. Schedule an interview with Director where he/she will spend approx. 30 minutes gauging the artists’ personality, professionalism, and skills – and have a dialogue about the gallery requirements.
  3. Submit 5 digital images of work
  4. Submit 3 digital images of displayed work (frames, hanging materials, stands etc)

The Gallery strives to display 1 artist per medium, per season.

  • If there is not enough applications submitted per medium then more then 1 artist per medium will be considered.
  • If there are not enough applications artists from the previous season will be offered the opportunity to renew their contract.
  • No artist can display for more than 2-years (four seasons) consecutively.

 

Review of Applications

The Gallery Director will review all applications. The Gallery Committee will assess submitted artwork on the following criteria.

  1. Aesthetic Integrity
  2. Technical Skill
  3. Meaning
  4. Uniqueness
  5. Meeting the needs of the Gallery

The Director will also assess all applicants’ ability to fulfill the responsibilities of the Gallery Contract, and contribute to the overall mission and goals of the Gallery and AWE.

Guest Artist Displays

The In-AWE Gallery displays the work of up-and-coming artists from the region by offering affordable monthly display space for guest artists. Guest artist contracts are arranged monthly, and guest artists pay $25/month for display space. Guest artists also have additional responsibilities to the Gallery and all guest artist contracts include a 70% to artist / 30% to Gallery split for all Gallery sales.

Guest artists must also submit applications as described above for either the Summer or Winter season. The summer season runs from May through October, and the application deadline is April 1st. The Winter Season runs from November through April, and the application deadline is October 1st. Accepted applications will be awarded a one-month Guest Artist contract. Guest Artist spaces are typically arranged for only 8 months out of the year.

Guest artists’ work will be assessed by the same criteria established above.

All application information, Gallery policies and Gallery Contracts contact: Rebecca at info@awearts.org.

Click Here to Download an Application

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