2023 MAYOR'S ART SHOW

The City of Eugene Cultural Services invites artists who live, work or have a connection to Eugene to submit work for the juried Mayor’s Art Show. The exhibition will be on display at the Downtown Library from Oct. 6-29, 2023. Artworks for physical display will be selected by curator with consideration of available space and dimensions of artist’s work. Established, emerging and student artists are encouraged to apply.

OVERVIEW

The Mayor’s Art Show (MAS) is a long-standing annual exhibition that showcases local artists in Eugene’s public spaces. As part of Visual Arts Week, MAS is a larger celebration of contemporary visual art, artists and the City’s public arena. The exhibition celebrates local artists, art production and champions arts in Eugene by recognizing the accomplishments of those who are committed to enriching their communities through visual arts. 

We believe visual art transforms cultural landscapes, invokes meaningful dialogues and inspires people of all ages and backgrounds. We envision a city of citizens whose success, safety and health are not pre-determined by their race, class, sexual orientation, gender, age, mental or physical ability. 

MAS is curated by a selection panel of local artists and arts professionals and is produced by City of Eugene Cultural Services.  

ABOUT CULTURAL SERVICES

Cultural Services provides responsible and catalytic leadership to support the public’s vision for a thriving arts and cultural sector that contributes to the community’s social and economic well-being.

 
JURY & AWARDS

A panel of local artists and art professionals will review all applications. Artists will be notified of their acceptance into the show by late July. 

After the exhibit opens to the public, awards will be given to accepted artists based on consideration of the following criteria: conceptual strength, artistry, innovation, craftsmanship and use of materials. 

MAS award categories: 

• Mayor’s Choice
• Juror’s Choice
• Peoples’ Choice
• Curator’s Choice

Application Requirements

SALON DES REFUSÉS

In the spirit of celebrating the visual arts and artists, those who are not selected for entry into MAS have the option to apply for entry in the Salon des Refusés exhibition with our community partners at New Zone Gallery. The Salon des Refusés is a tradition we hold dear and highlights even more artists in our community. MAS has limited space to showcase artists and we are honored to partner with New Zone Gallery for more opportunities to present new, local artwork. 

ELIGIBILITY & REQUIREMENTS

• There are no entry fees; all MAS submissions are free.
• Submissions are open to all community members who live, work or have a connection to the Eugene area.
• Artists must be at least 18 years old at the time of submission.
• Artwork must be available to photograph for the online exhibition in August. Exact date and location will be announced in the summer.
• 2D, 3D and digital artworks may be submitted. Digital works must be self-contained and managed by the artist.
• Artwork must be display-ready. This includes framing and/or wiring to be hung in a gallery-like setting. 2D artwork must be able to hang on gallery wire hooks.
• Artist may submit images of one artwork for the jury to consider.
• Image requirements:
  • 2D artworks must include one to two images.
  • 3D artworks must include two to five images. At least one image must be a detail image.
  • A series is considered one artwork. If submitting a series, please include at least one image of the full series and follow the image requirements for 2D or 3D artwork.
• Video submission requirements: video artworks must include one digital video file. Please see the file requirements under “How to Submit Work” in the CaFÉ section below.
• Audio submission requirements: audio artworks must include one audio file. Please see the file requirements under “How to Submit Work” in the CaFÉ section below.
• Dimension requirements:
  • Maximum height of 2D artwork is 60 inches, including the final framed dimensions.
  • 3D artworks must include the weight in application submission.
•  Work must have been completed after January 1, 2022.
• The curator reserves the right to refuse artworks at any time during the processes of submission, selection, intake or installation.

HOW TO SUBMIT WORK

Entries may be submitted through the web-based CaFÉ application system between May 31-July 12, 2023. CaFÉ is an online application and jurying system used by organizations and galleries for national and international calls for entry into public art projects, artist fellowships, juried visual art competitions and exhibitions. Applicants have access to hundreds of artist call opportunities and registration is free. 

For assistance with CaFÉ visit the CaFÉ Help for Artists page. 

Please note: we prioritize creating a call for artists that is accessible for all users. If accessing CaFÉ, creating an artist portfolio and/or submitting your artwork online is a barrier for you or if you have any accessibility requests, please contact Chanin Santiago for support: CSantiago@eugene-or.gov. 

PUBLIC INFO SESSION

We are here to help! Artists wanting more support submitting their applications are invited to an information session, held in-person and online from 4-7 p.m. on Wednesday, June 21. We will use this time to walkthrough the submission process and answer questions from interested applicants. We can also help applicants understand how to write an artist bio and artist statement.

• In-person: join us at the Atrium building in Downtown Eugene: 99 W. 10th Ave, Suite 117
• Online: Connect via Zoom at eugene-or-gov.zoom.us/j/84145031655 (meeting ID: 841 4503 1655)

HOW TO SUBMIT IN CaFÉ: 

1. Register with CaFÉ profile: artist.callforentry.org/register.php 

2. Set up your portfolio in CaFÉ by uploading images of your artwork: artist.callforentry.org/main.php

3. Upload required image/file work samples to your CaFÉ portfolio. Image and file uploads must meet these requirements:

• Images: JPEG or JPG format. File size under 5MB with a minimum of 1200 pixels on the longest side.
• Audio: AIFF, WAV, XMF or MP3 format File size under 10MB with a minimum bit rate of 96.
• Video: 3GP, WMV, AVI, MOV, ASF, MPG, MP4, M2T, MKV or M2TS format. File size under 100MB with a minimum resolution of 640x480 and a minimum framerate of 12fps.

4. Apply to the artist call: 

• Link your work samples portfolio from your CaFÉ profile.
• Artist bio: share your biography, written in third-person. Tell us a little about your art career and/or practice in 250 words or less.
• Artist statement: tell us about the specific artwork you are submitting in 250 words or less.
• Application questions:
  • Does your artwork include cultural themes and/or designs? If yes, how does it relate to your culture and/or identity? 250 words or less.
  • How does your artwork or art practice relate to this site, this land and/or this community? 250 words or less.

5. Checkout: proceed to finalize and submit your entry.

PHOTOGRAPHIC GUIDELINES

Artists are strongly encouraged to submit images for this call that present work to its best advantage. Photographs should give a sense of how the piece “sits” or “hangs.” Detailed photographs are important to show the technical excellence of the work; they can highlight special areas that might not be obvious in the full shot of the work. Works accepted in the exhibition must be available to be photographed individually or in exhibition installation shots for advertising and publicity during the entire run of the exhibition. 

The curator reserves the right to refuse artworks at any time during the processes of submission, selection, intake or installation. 

SALES

Please note that price and/or value of an accepted entry may not be changed after it is set. This can be problematic if the cost of framing is not considered and included in price. Work should be marked “NFS” if it is not available for purchase. Please include value of work for insurance purposes. All objects sold must remain on display for the duration of the exhibition. All sales incur a 25% commission. Artwork can be shipped and shipping costs are determined by the size and value of the piece.

PERMISSION AND COPYRIGHT

By submitting an entry, the Artist grants permission for the City of Eugene Cultural Services to use the accepted image on its website, in brochures, in promotional materials, on social media and for publicity of the exhibition, both physical and digital. Every effort will be made to maintain quality true to the submitted image, recognizing that the print or electronic medium may affect how the viewer perceives the image. Artists will be given attribution for their work. The Artist certifies that he or she holds the copyright for this material and the copyright remains with said Artist. The Artist also certifies that the work submitted is original, has been completed after January 1, 2022 and does not infringe on any existing copyright. If artwork includes images of any person, the Artist certifies that a model release for such people has been obtained. Furthermore, if the accepted work differs dramatically from the image submitted, the City of Eugene Cultural Services reserves the right to return the work to the Artist without entering it into the exhibition. By signing this agreement, the Artist acknowledges and understands the above provisions and has read and agreed with the provisions in the Call for Entry.

HELP FOR ARTISTS

To learn more about writing an artist statement, we recommend Art-Write: The Writing Guide for Visual Artists. This book teaches artists how to write about their work and offers a step-by-step approach to create a professional artist statement. Thinking and writing exercises are included to ease the process and develop authentic and clear content. 

We also recommend listening to Passionate Painter Podcast Episode 21: Vicki Krohn Amorose Demystifies Writing and Speaking About Your Art

LEARN ABOUT CULTURAL APPROPRIATION

Cultural appropriation is defined as the "unacknowledged or inappropriate adoption of the practices, customs, or aesthetics of one social or ethnic group by members of another (typically dominant) community or society.” (Oxford English Dictionary) 

The do’s, don’ts, maybes, and I-don’t-knows of cultural appropriation. 

Wait, Am I Culturally Appropriating? 

Understand the Indian Arts and Crafts Act (IACA) of 1990 

Eligibility Criteria

IMPORTANT DATES

• May 31: Call for Artists opens
• June 21: MAS CaFÉ public info session, available in-person and online from 4-7 p.m.
  • In-person: join us at the Atrium building in Downtown Eugene: 99 W. 10th Ave, Suite 117
  • Online: Connect via Zoom at eugene-or-gov.zoom.us/j/84145031655 (meeting ID: 841 4503 1655)
• July 12: Call for Artists closes at 10 p.m. (PDT)
• Mid-July: Jury reviews submitted work for entry into MAS
• Late July: Artists will be notified of the jury’s decision
• Late August: Selected artwork will be photographed by professional photographer for publicity and online gallery
• October 6: MAS opens with Visual Art Week
• October 29: MAS closes
• October 30: MAS strike begins

For questions or technical support, contact Chanin Santiago: CSantiago@eugene-or.gov