From My Perspective!

Annual National Exhibition
May 3, 2024 - June 2, 2024

The Virginia Beach Art Center (VB-AC) presents its 6th annual national exhibit that’s all about viewpoint. What you’re seeing, what you’re feeling and what you want to say. What will you choose?  Artists from Alabama to Wyoming and all US territories are invited to show off their personal best. What will you choose?

Prize money totals $2,000.  

The opening reception is Friday May 3, 2024, 6pm - 8pm.

The VB-AC is a popular venue for local and regional art, with a loyal following of patrons as well as a high daily visitor count.  We invite you to join our art family for the month of May and help us celebrate artists throughout the United States.  

ALL 2D and 3D MEDIA WELCOME!

Exhibition: May 3, - June 2, 2024

Submission Deadline: Saturday March 30th by midnight.
Notifications Sent: Tuesday April 9, 2024.
Delivery: Shipped works must be received April 23 - 26. Non-local, hand-delivered works received April 23 - 26 by arrangement. Local drop off Tuesday April 30th.  Extra drop off available Monday April 29 by arrangement. Email exhibitions@artcentervb.org to make arrangements.
Reception: Friday May 3, 2024, 6pm - 8pm.
Exhibition ends: Sunday June 2, 2024
Artists Talks (optional): Sunday June 2, 2024, 2pm - 3pm. Artists who participate in the Artists Talks may take their works with them April 2 at 3pm.
Pick up in person: Tuesday June 4, 11am - 5pm.
Return Shipping: VB-AC staff will repack and ship June 3-4, return labels must be included when shipping your artwork. 

Submission Fee: $35 for up to three works and an additional $5 each for up to a total of five works per artist. (non-refundable)

Juror: Pam Doss

Pam is the Executive Director of the Bay School Community Arts Center in Mathews, Virginia. She has a BA in Art and a minor in Art History and Criticism from the University of Texas San Antonio, with supporting coursework in Art Education and Art Therapy from the University of New Mexico. She served in the U.S. Air Force for eight years before completing her degree and entering the Arts Administration field. She then worked in various roles at the Southwest School of Art in San Antonio, focusing on youth outreach programs and adult arts education. Upon moving to Gloucester in 2011, she served as the volunteer Curator and Education Director at Gloucester Arts on Main before joining the Bay School staff. She became Executive Director in May 2016. Pam has been involved in many regional community and economic development initiatives, including the River to Bay Artisan Trail, the Middle Peninsula Alliance, the Gloucester County Chamber of Commerce, the Mathews Main Street Association, and the Made in Mathews Open Studio Tour. She has managed, curated, and judged many shows and festivals, including serving as judge for the 2021 Arts in the Middle Fine Art Festival. Pam dabbles in many artistic media, and her passion is ceramics, specifically raku and other alternative firing methods. While unlikely to ever pursue an art-making career herself, she finds great satisfaction in helping other artists achieve personal and professional artistic goals and sharing the magic of art.

Awards: A total of $2,000 in cash awards will be given.

1st Place:  $700

2nd Place:  $500

3rd place:  $250

Judges Choice:  $150 

4 Honorable Mentions: $100 each

Best Packed:  This award will honor the artist who packs their art in the most professional manner.  The award is $75.00.  No packing peanuts, feedbags, cigarette butts, etc.  These types of things will disqualify you!  Show your work (and our staff) the respect they deserve.  This prize will be decided by the VB-AC staff and sent directly to the artist that best packs their artwork.

Eligibility:  

Artists aged 18 and older, who reside in the United States or US territories. All 2D and 3D media welcome, no video or audio artwork.   Please advise of any special installation instructions in the description of your artwork when you add the artwork to your CaFe portfolio.

All work must be original.  Work needs to have been produced within the last five years and not previously exhibited at Virginia Beach Art Center (VB-AC). The Artist certifies that he/she/they created the works of art entered, has not infringed on any copyrights, possesses unencumbered title to them and has the right to loan and/or sell these works.

All 2D and 3D styles and aesthetics will be considered. If submitting artwork that has used artificial intelligence (AI) you must disclose this in your medias used. Digitally produced artwork (photography, digital art, hand pulled prints) must be in limited editions of 100 or less. Artwork must be signed on the front, side or back for all 2D, if submitting 3D signature can be on bottom of the piece.  All artworks must be for sale and must remain on the premises for the duration of the exhibition.  The VB-AC is a public, non-profit facility, open to patrons of all ages.  The content of submissions should be appropriate for all viewers.  

Artists must include a short, interpretative statement approximately 50-75 words which will be displayed with the artwork.  This should be entered in the "Description" field when the artwork is uploaded to your CaFe portfolio.

Submission process:  

All entries and payments must be submitted via CaFe (callforentry.org).  Please, FIRST, set up your artist profile in CaFe and then submit to this call.  If you have exhibition questions, please contact exhibitions@artcentervb.org. Questions relating to the online submission process should be directed to CaFe.

Artists may submit three artworks at $35 for consideration.  A maximum of five photos may be uploaded, $5 per additional submission for a total of 5 artworks per artists, only one image per artwork. If you are submitting only one artwork you will need to still submit 3 images. They can be two additional of the same piece or close ups or details of the same work.

The non-refundable entry fee is $35.00 or greater if submitting additional works.  Commission for works is 65% (to the artist) and 35% to the Artists Gallery. Payment for sales will be made within 30 days of the closing of the exhibition.  The artist will be contacted if a W-9 is required.

Limitations:

Works cannot exceed a weight of 40 pounds.  2D works may not be more than 64" wide, including frame.  Free-standing (3D) works may not exceed 36” in length or width (height may be taller).

Hanging works must have a WIRE for hanging (no claw hooks); the wire should be very tight and within the top 1/3 of the frame. Unframed works must have an intentional and professional finish on the sides of the canvas. All work on canvas 3/4" and smaller must be framed.

3D works that require presentation other than a standard pedestal must include those displays with the works.  Exceptions will be handled on a case-by-case basis--please contact Jorge A. Saenz at exhibitions@artcentervb.org before submitting.

Works that require special installation must come with clear instructions.  Any works that require complicated specialized installation must be installed by the artist.  We reserve the right to reject work for the exhibition that differs from the submitted images and/or for craft issues.

Liability:

The art center staff will take great care handling artworks for exhibition.  However, the VB-AC, its staff, volunteers and gallery are not responsible for any damage that may occur.  We strongly recommend artists insure your artworks themselves, and purchase insurance from the shipping company used.  Shipping your work means that you agree to this.

Shipping:

The shipping address is 

Virginia Beach Art Center
532 Virginia Beach Blvd. Suite A
Virginia Beach, VA 23451

The artist is responsible for shipping costs to and from the VB-AC.  All shipped works must arrive between April 23 - 26, without exception. Non-local, hand-delivered works received April 23 - 26 by arrangement. Hand-delivered works will be received April 30th. Extra drop off is available Monday April 29 by arrangement only as the VB-AC is closed on Mondays. Artists must issue pre-paid return labels for their works through UPS or FedEx to be returned.  We do not arrange return shipping in any other manner.  PLEASE NO PACKING PEANUTS.  Works should be shipped in reusable packaging and containers for return.  We recommend the use of painter's tape on the internal packing so that we can reuse bubble wrap, etc. for the return packing. Put your best foot forward when packing your artwork, badly packed containers will disqualify you from the exhibit. 

 Best Packed:  This award will honor the artist who packs their art in the most professional manner.  The award is $75.00.  No packing peanuts, feedbags, cigarette butts, etc.  These types of things will disqualify you!  Show your work and our staff the respect they deserve.  This prize will be decided by the VB-AC staff and sent to the artist.

Clearly indicate your unpacking and re-packing instructions for return of works.  Works that do not include a return label and works that are not picked up within one month of the end of the exhibition become property of the Virginia Beach Art Center.

Legal Agreement: 

This is also listed in the separate "Legal Agreement" section that requires notation before application can be completed.
The Artist certifies that he/she/they created the works of art entered, has not infringed on any copyrights, possesses unencumbered title to them and has the right to loan and/or sell these works. All decisions made by the exhibition’s juror are final.

The Artist shall be responsible for arranging to have accepted works shipped or delivered to the Virginia Beach Art Center. Costs of delivery and pick-up of art (including insurance and transportation) shall be paid by the Artist. The VB-AC and its employees and volunteers are not liable for any loss or damage while the artwork is in transit or while artworks are on the premises.

All artworks must be for sale and must remain on the premises for the duration of the exhibition. VB-AC retains a 35% commission on the sale of artwork. The Artist will be sent by mail a check for the remaining 65% of total sale within 30 days of the close of the exhibition.

The Artist reserves all rights to their works. The Artist gives VB-AC permission to reproduce the works for promotion of the exhibition and agrees that an image of the work may be used on a postcard, flyer, in a catalog or advertising announcing the exhibit, and on the VB-AC website, email list-serve and social media. VB-AC allows video and photography in all areas of the building for private, noncommercial use.

Questions/Contacts:

Contact Jorge A. Saenz at exhibitions@artcentervb.org

Virginia Beach Art Center
532 Virginia Beach Blvd.
Virginia Beach, VA 23451
757-425-6671

www.artcentervb.org

Application Requirements

All entries and payments must be submitted via CaFe (callforentry.org).  Please, FIRST, set up your artist profile in CaFe and then submit to this call.  If you have exhibition questions, please contact exhibitions@artcentervb.org. Questions relating to the online submission process should be directed to CaFe.

Artists must include a short, interpretative statement approximately 50-75 words which will be displayed with the artwork.  This should be entered in the "Description" field when the artwork is uploaded to your CaFe portfolio.

Artists may submit up to three artworks at $35.00 for consideration.  A maximum of five photos may be uploaded for an additional $5.00 per photo, only one photo per artwork.

The non-refundable entry fee is $35.00. Commission for works is 65% to the artist and 35% to the Artists Gallery. Payment for sales will be made within 30 days of the closing of the exhibition. The artist will be contacted if a W-9 is required.

Eligibility Criteria

Artists who reside in the United States or a US territory. All media welcome.  Please advise of any special installation instructions in the description of your artwork (when you add the artwork to your CaFe portfolio).

All work must be original.  Work needs to have been produced within the last five years and not previously exhibited at Virginia Beach Art Center (VBAC). The Artist certifies that he/she created the works of art entered, has not infringed on any copyrights, possesses unencumbered title to them and has the right to loan and/or sell these works.

All 2D and 3D styles and aesthetics will be considered. All artworks must be for sale and must remain on the premises for the duration of the exhibition.  The VB-AC is a public non-profit facility open to patrons of all ages.  The content of submissions should be appropriate for all viewers.