Call Description

Eligibility and Media
This exhibition is open to any artist 18 years of age or older living and working in the United States.

Eligible are any hand-crafted book-works (editioned or unique) that utilize a form of traditional hand printed media as primary element.  Submissions may include but are not limited to: monoprint, monotype, screen print, intaglio, photopolymer, photogravure, collagraph, lithography, woodcut, linocut & letterpress. Submitted work may include digital output or mixed-media elements within the greater work but finished works that are composed solely of inkjet, risograph, photocopy, laser engraving, or giclée reproductions are ineligible.

Book works that are larger than  18  inches in any dimension when closed may be challenging to display fully open. 

Selections will be made by Katherine Crowe, Special Collections Curator, University of Denver Libraries and Alicia Bailey, Director of Abecedarian Artists’ Books.

Online submissions will be accepted from 
March 1, 2025 - October 8, 2025

Fees/Submission
Non-refundable submission fee of $35 for up to 2 pieces. 

Discounted submission fee ($20) are an option for students, for artists who are experiencing economic hardship, for artists who identify as Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC), and for artists who identify as a member of the LGBTQIA+ community.

Sales
It is expected that all work exhibited be for sale. The prices you submit during the submission process are the retail prices Abecedarian Artists’ Books will adhere to throughout the duration of the exhibition. Abecedarian retains a 40% commission on works sold by Abecedarian during and following the exhibit.

Catalog
There will be an online catalog which will remain online during and after the exhibition.
 
Accepted Entries
Works must be delivered ready for installation/display. Curator reserves the right not to exhibit any work inaccurately represented by the digital entry,  that arrives damaged, is not properly prepared for exhibition or is deemed too fragile for effective display.  

Display/Insurance/Rights

Works will be exhibited in glass cases.

Participating artists are responsible for round-trip shipping and insurance costs.

On acceptance to the exhibition, a consignment agreement, insurance agreement and delivery guidelines will be sent to each participating artist, along with any additional information or updates.

Works are insured for their insurance value (60% of retail value) while on premises. 

Insurance in transit to and from Abecedarian Artists’ Books is the responsibility of the artist.

It is expected that submitting artists are not violating any stated or implied relationship with another gallery or dealer by submitting work for this exhibition and that  the artist/creator of the work is not in violation of any copyright laws.

Agreement
Submission of entry constitutes agreement to all conditions in this prospectus.
The artist agrees that images of selected artwork and the submitted text can be used by Abecedarian Artists’ Books, University of Denver and Mo’Print for promotions and publications.

Timeline

October 8, 2025  Deadline for submissions.
November 1, 2025 - Announcement of accepted works via e-mail.
December 5, 2025- Deadline for work to be received by Abecedarian Artists’ Books.
January 5, 2026 - First day of exhibit at Anderson Academic Commons.
March 20, 2026 - Last day of exhibit at Anderson Academic Commons.
week of March 24, 2026 - Unsold work returned to artists.

Details about artists’ reception + other related events TBA.
**Detailed image preparation guidelines can be found on the CaFE site.

Contact Alicia with any questions.
alicia@abecedariangallery.com

Application Requirements

Maximum of two works may be submitted per artist.

All submissions must be completed online through CaFE.

Each submission must include a minimum of two and maximum of 6 images. 

Please send gallery quality images without background clutter or text. DO NOT send composite images or images with embedded text. If your work is accepted for exhibition, the images you submit, along with  the text you provide will be used for print & digital publicity. 

Please note that you will not be able to change any information submitted at time of entry, including the price, after the submission process. 

Eligibility Criteria

Applicants must live and work in the United States.
Applicants must be at least 18 years of age. 

Eligible are any hand-crafted book-works (editioned or unique) that utilize a form of traditional hand printed media as primary element.  Submissions may include but are not limited to: monoprint, monotype, screen print, intaglio, photopolymer, photogravure, collagraph, lithography, woodcut, linocut & letterpress. 

Submitted work may include digital output or mixed-media elements within the greater work but finished works that are composed solely of inkjet, risograph, photocopy, laser engraving, or giclée reproductions are ineligible.

Book works that are larger than  18  inches in any dimension when closed may be challenging to display fully open.