2013 Portland Museum of Art Biennial

Call for Entries

2013 Portland Museum of Art Biennial
Submission deadline: December 15, 2012

About the Biennial
The 2013 Portland Museum of Art Biennial, on view from September 26, 2013 through January 5, 2014, is the eighth in an ongoing series of juried exhibitions showcasing new or recent work by living artists. Through a generous bequest by beloved Maine artist William Thon and his wife, Helen, the Biennial began in 1998 and has become a centerpiece of the PMA’s exhibition calendar for artists, audiences, and arts professionals in the state of Maine and beyond.

Eligibility
Beginning October 1, 2012 and continuing through December 15, 2012, the PMA will accept entries from artists whose biography or professional practice has a meaningful connection to the state of Maine.  Artists need not be in residence to apply.  Early applications will not be considered. Work in any medium will be considered, with the exception of materials that the PMA deems hazardous.

Juror
The juror for the Biennial will be Jessica May, Curator of Contemporary and Modern Art, Portland Museum of Art.

Application Process
There are two application forms: you may apply via the online submission service linked below, or send the PMA an application by mail. Emailed submissions will not be accepted. You may submit images, videos, or sound clips.

SlideRoom, the online submission service, charges a $5 fee to apply. As part of this process, you will also be asked to upload a combined CV and artist statement in PDF format. Exactly 4 images, sound clips, or videos will be accepted. Images must be in JPEG format with a minimum resolution of 300 dpi and a maximum size of 5 MB. Videos each must be under 60 MB in size, and each sound file must be under 30 MB. Deadline for applications through SlideRoom: December 15.

Applicants who wish to apply via mail, please send your CV with current contact information, a brief artist statement, and a disc with exactly 4 images, sound clips, or videos to the address below. Books and original works of art will not be considered. Please use the same specifications listed above for images, videos, and sound clips, and label files with the artist’s name (ex: Smith_John_Untitled.jpg). Postmark deadline: December 15.

ATTN: Biennial Submissions
Portland Museum of Art
7 Congress Square
Portland, ME 04101

If you wish to have your materials returned to you, please enclose a self-addressed, stamped envelope.

Notification
Please do not call the PMA for jury results. Invited artists will be notified by March 1, 2013.

Awards
The PMA will recognize one outstanding Biennial artist with a Juror’s Award of $4,000.

Illustrated Catalogue
A full-color, illustrated catalogue of the exhibition will be published and sold in the PMA Store. Invited artists will be asked to supply a print-quality digital TIFF image measuring at least 5 x 7 inches at a resolution of at least 300 dpi, as well as an artist statement. The PMA reserves the right to reproduce images of the works for publicity and educational purposes, and to edit the artist statement for clarity, consistency, and length.

Liability, Shipping, and Costs
All work must be delivered ready for display, with adequate frames and hanging devices. Artwork is insured while at the PMA only. Artists must bear all incoming and outgoing transportation costs. Any extraordinary materials, labor, and/or technology costs required for installation of the artwork will be paid by the artist. Installation of the artwork will be executed by PMA staff for liability reasons. Selected artists may be asked to provide written instructions for installing the artwork. At the Curator’s discretion, artists may be invited to supervise the installation.

The PMA will require each lender to agree to and sign a loan agreement form, which will be the sole contract for the loaned artwork to the PMA. Specific guidelines and responsibilities of each party are covered by this agreement. The PMA reserves the right to modify and/or add to existing hardware if what is supplied by the lender is deemed unsafe or inadequate.

Questions?
Please contact the PMA at biennial@portlandmuseum.org