Call Description

Art Works Downtown invites artists to share their gift of creativity in The Small Works Exhibit, an annual offering of quality fine art to holiday shoppers and the art-loving public. This dynamic showcase will feature over 80 unique artworks in the award-winning Gallery 1337.

Juried by: Tara Esperanza and Andrea Guskin, Artist Curators; Mercury 20 Gallery

Application Requirements

Entry Requirements

• You must live in the SF Bay Area, within 100 miles of San Rafael, California.
• Size limit: artwork must be smaller than 18”x18”x18”; including frame and all materials.
• Open to all visual arts media. Video must be silent and include all necessary equipment within the size limit. Projections are prohibited.
• Original artwork only. No giclées or reproductions. Editions are acceptable if they are original works such as printmaking, photography, or limited original digital art.
• Submissions must not have previously exhibited in Gallery 1337.
• Artwork must be for sale.
• Apply only if you can arrange delivery and retrieval during the specified dates.

Entry Fee

$40 for up to 3 separate artwork entries. Discount provided for AWD Artist Members. Join today!

Exhibit Schedule

• October 16: entries due via CallForEntry.org
• October 23–24: notification by email
• November 15 + 16, 10am–4pm: deliver artwork
• November 21–January 24, 2026: exhibition dates
• November 28, 29 (TBD): Black Friday weekend, to be determined
• December 12 and January 9, 5–8 pm: receptions and 2nd Friday Art Walk
• December 24–January 1: closed for holiday
• January 29–31, 12–5:30 pm: retrieve artwork

Online Entry

• The CaFÉ website provides all the assistance you should need to prepare your submissions and apply. Before you start, we recommend reviewing the CAFÉ HELP page. You may also benefit from our CAFÉ Tips and Tricks by going to artworksdowntown.org > Artists tab > Calls for Entry > Tips and Tricks.
• AWD does not provide technical assistance for submissions.
• 3D / sculptural entries: since you can only submit one image per entry, we suggest submitting two images showing two sides of the artwork.
• First-timers: adding images to your account “Portfolio” does not submit them to the “call.” You will need to add the images from your Portfolio to the call when you apply. 

Delivery of Accepted Work

• Artwork(s) must be hand delivered to Art Works Downtown at 1337 Fourth St., San Rafael between the hours stated under Exhibit Schedule.
• All work must be ready for installation. Wall-hung artwork must be securely wired. Artwork must be easy–and ready–to install.
• No substitutes will be accepted for works approved by the juror.
• The artist must complete and sign the Consignment Contract before or during delivery.
• Please deliver an artist statement and resume for visitors to view in the exhibit binder. We do not print these materials for you.
• If a representative of the artist delivers, the artist must email or call ahead to give the representative’s name.
• Please be patient, you may need to wait for staff to finish processing other artists who are delivering and picking up.
• Parking: Paid parking can be found on the surrounding streets and in two garages—one block away—on C Street. The garages are free on Saturdays and parking is free everywhere on Sundays. Do not double-park in front of the Gallery, it is dangerous.

Retrieval of Artwork

• Artists who do not retrieve their work will be charged a storage fee of $5.00 per day.
• Works remaining after 30 days will become the property of Art Works Downtown.
• Please be patient, you may need to wait for staff to finish processing other artists who are delivering and picking up.
• Paid parking can be found on the surrounding streets and in two garages one block away on C Street.

Sales

• Art Works Downtown (AWD) accepts a 40% donation upon sale. AWD processes sales as follows. All payments will be made to Art Works Downtown. AWD then reports the sales tax and passes the net sale to the artist. The artist is responsible for donating 40% of the net sale total to AWD. It is not the artist’s responsibility to report sales tax.
• Sales will be paid to artists as soon as possible after the exhibition ends, which may take up to 30 days.
• For gift-buying purposes, patrons will be allowed to take the artwork with them if they can’t wait until after the first reception or the end of the exhibit.

Eligibility Criteria

• Applicants must live in the SF Bay Area, within 100 miles of San Rafael, California.