6 Reasons to enter a juried art show

Fleeting Memory, 12"x12," Acrylic on Panel, ©Lynn Goldstein, click here to see more information on this painting. 

,Entering juried exhibitions can be time-consuming and expensive.

​I rarely enter these art shows, but once in a great while a show interests me, and I jump in.

If you are considering entering a juried art exhibition, my advice is to think long and hard before committing. Understand the pros and cons, and what you may get out of the experience prior to making the leap. Be sure to research the judge. If you are not impressed with the judge's credentials, hold off. 

Here are five reasons that I may choose to enter a juried show. If you enter juried exhibitions, let me know the reasons you do so in the comments below. I'd love to hear from you. 

1. I know that by being accepted, I may become a signature member of an art organization to which I want to belong. This was the case when I was accepted into three national juried exhibitions hosted by the Pastel Society of America. As a result of those acceptances, I am now a signature member of that illustrious group. I wanted the signature designation because I enjoy teaching. This honor helps potential students know that I am serious about the work that I do and have been accepted by peers. 
2. I want a different audience to view my work. This may be online or in person. In either case, try to ascertain how many people may see your work. If this is a reason to enter a show, be sure that the organization sponsoring the show does a good job advertising and marketing? If not, reconsider entering. 
3. I want my work to come to the attention of the curator of the show. This is self-explanatory. 
4. The show is in a prestigious location as when I exhibited my work at the Smithsonian in 2015 and 2017. See that work here and here. 
5. I am exploring  a new style of work and I want confirmation that my direction is sound.  
6. There are hefty prize incentives. I have been fortunate to be awarded some amazing prizes, and that is always welcome. Sometimes the prizes are art supplies and sometimes the prize is strictly monetary. 

Since I have been working on a new series, I was interested in seeing how it would be received. So, I decided to enter the Art2Life International Juried Exhibition. To my surprise and delight, my work was accepted.

​I knew that this would be a very competitive show. As it turns out, there were approximately 4,500 pieces of art entered and only 50 selected. Perhaps if I had known those odds, I wouldn't have entered, but I am surely glad that I did!