call for art

The Nineteenth Annual College Show

a juried, in-person exhibition

Submission Deadline: December 20, 2022

Notifications: by January 11, 2023

Drop off: January 26 - January 29, 2023, or earlier by appointment 

Exhibition Dates: February 9 - April 8, 2023

Opening Reception: February 10, 2023, 6-9 PM

After two years of virtual exhibitions, ArtsWorcester’s College Show returns in-person! The Nineteenth Annual College Show is a juried exhibition open to all undergraduate college students studying or residing in Massachusetts, in any major. The deadline to submit is December 20 at midnight. Notifications will be made by January 11, 2023.

The College Show has no theme. Bring us your favorite piece from your art class or your personal artistic practice, or show off your latest experiment. You do not need to be an art student or in an art class to submit. 

Students may submit a maximum of three pieces for consideration, and must complete a separate form for each piece. When submitting more than one piece, please return to the original link to make additional submissions.

Submission is free to students of our institutional partners: Anna Maria College, Assumption University, Clark University, College of the Holy Cross, and Worcester State University. There is a nonrefundable $5 submission fee per submission for students of any other school.

This is a juried exhibition, meaning that the juror will consider all eligible submissions and select certain artworks to be shown at ArtsWorcester. All media are welcome, including but not limited to fine craft, painting, photography, sculpture, digital, and video. Have a question about the call, or want to share what you’re thinking of submitting? Email alice@artsworcester.org or call the gallery at 508-755-5142.

Cash prizes will be awarded and announced at the opening reception. This year’s juror is Ellie Krakow, Assistant Professor of Art and Mazmanian Gallery Director, Framingham State University. Learn more about the juror here.

Students enrolled at Anna Maria, Assumption University, Clark University, College of the Holy Cross, and Worcester State University: Submit here!

All other students: Submit here!

ArtsWorcester exhibitions are sustained in part by the generous support of the C. Jean and Myles McDonough Charitable Foundation.

Ongoing support comes from Mass Cultural Council.

Online availability of professional development resources for artists has exploded in the last few years. Our Artists' Resource Page is a curated guide to the best free advice and training available, with a specific eye to the needs of emerging artists.

For larger, more strategic questions that artists members have as their careers advance, Artists' Roundtable events will provide opportunities to hear from practitioners, experts, and fellow members, and to get answers to individual questions.

up next:

Approaching Galleries

Saturday, May 21, 2022, 10:00 AM-12:00 PM

ArtsWorcester, 44 Portland Street

Register here.

Gallery representation is a goal for many artists, but one clouded by mystery and intimidation. Three experienced gallerists familiar with ArtsWorcester will break down the benefits of gallery representation, how to identify the right galleries for your work, and what you need to approach them. This is an open discussion about galleries; it is not a portfolio review.

We will hear from:

Arlette Kayafas, Gallery Kayafas, Boston, MA

Kate Rasche, George Marshall Store Gallery, York, ME

Tamar Russell Brown, Gallery Sitka, Shirley, MA

and leave lots of time for your questions. Then we’ll adjourn to the galleries for refreshments and more conversation.

This event will take place in person at 44 Portland Street, Worcester, MA. Tea and cookies to follow. Proof of vaccination is required for this event, and masks must be worn during the panel conversation. (Masks are optional when we gather for tea and cookies in the galleries afterwards.)

Artists' Roundtables are free to current ArtsWorcester members, but may be limited in number of participants. If you have questions about your membership status, please call the gallery at 508-755-5142.

We thank the Melvin S. Cutler Charitable Foundation for for their support of artists' professional development.

call for proposals

Member-Curated Exhibitions

Rolling deadline

ArtsWorcester invites proposals for Member-Curated Exhibitions. Proposals are reviewed on a rolling basis. Member-Curated shows offer experienced artists an opportunity for artists to use their curatorial skills and gain independent, hands-on experience producing an exhibition. Located in ArtsWorcester’s Central Corridor, these shows include at least 3-4 artist members’ work, chosen by one curator. The curator may include their own artwork in the proposal.

Curators are responsible for communicating with participating artists, collecting, delivering, and retrieving artwork, providing an exhibition statement, and installing the exhibition in the Central Corridor. ArtsWorcester staff will be available for input on layout and to train the curator on the Arakawa hanging system.

Successful proposals should clearly state a curatorial vision for the space and the artists to be included. Curators should have experience working with ArtsWorcester and must demonstrate 6 their capacity to fulfill this leadership role. Proposals are welcome on a rolling basis, and will be evaluated by ArtsWorcester staff and volunteers.

All work must be wall-hanging and may not extend more than 12” from the wall. Artworks are hung on a secured Arakawa hanging system (track and wire) and D-rings. This space cannot accommodate free-standing or pedestal artwork. Further questions about what type of artwork is feasible in this space may be directed to alice@artsworcester.org.

Click here for complete information on the call, including venue floor plans. You should look for information specific to the Member-Curated opportunity and the Central Corridor.

SUBMIT YOUR PROPOSAL