Apply for Exhibit in the Bear Gallery – Deadline: Oct. 31st

Each November, the Visual Arts Committee selects artists to exhibit their work in the gallery for the year after next with a Portfolio Review. A panel of seven local artists who work in different media review submitted images. Portfolios are chosen solely on the merit of the images entered and the artist’s resume. The annual submission deadline to Portfolio Review is October 31.

Portfolio Review Guidelines:

The Visual Arts Committee of Fairbanks Arts Association invites artists and artisans from Alaska to submit for review digital portfolio of their work for solo or group exhibitions in the Bear Gallery for the year 2018.

Submission to the Portfolio Review constitutes agreement to meet the gallery’s scheduling needs for the exhibit year 2018, beginning January 2018. Any selected artist unable to meet the gallery’s schedule may have to resubmit for review in the following year.

  • Solo Exhibit:        One Artist
  • Group:                    Separate works of more than two artists
  • Collaborative:      Defines artworks, not number of artists

Note:  Artists may submit only one solo proposal. Group proposals consisting of a juried component, a call for entry, or an exhibit entry fee cannot be submitted for portfolio review. Curated and group exhibits must have an organizing representative.

Eligibility: An individual artist may have a solo exhibit in the Bear Gallery once every four years. Artists who have had a solo show prior to 2014 are eligible for consideration this year. Curated exhibits are not subject to this policy.

Options for submitting completed portfolios:

  • By email to:     gallery@fairbanksarts.org
  • Uploaded to:   Dropbox.com
  • By mail to:       Fairbanks Arts Association, Attn: Portfolio Review,  PO BOX 72786, Fairbanks, AK 99707-2786
  • By hand:          CD or USB to Fairbanks Arts Association Office located on the 1st floor, Alaska Centennial Center for the Arts, Pioneer Park, 2300 Airport Way, Fairbanks. If office is closed, drop off portfolio at the Bear Gallery, 3rd floor.

Submission to the Portfolio Review constitutes agreement to meet the gallery’s scheduling needs for the exhibit year 2018, beginning January 2018. Any selected artist unable to meet the gallery’s schedule may have to resubmit for review in the following year.

Portfolio Submission Requirements:

  • Up to 10 digital images of a consistent body of artworks completed in the last 5 years. Visible signatures on images should be digitally obscured before work is submitted for review.
  • Digital Image Specifications: Jpg files of 300 dpi/ppi with the longest dimension 1200 pixels. File names must be numerically sequential with the artist’s name and abbreviated title. Example: 01_Smith_Title.jpg. It is imperative that images be of the highest quality so that they     best represent your work when projected.
  • Image List: Corresponding sequentially with digital file names, include artwork title, media, year completed and dimensions.
  • Contact Information: Your name, phone number, email, mailing address and art-related website, if applicable.
  • Group Exhibit of more than 5 artists: two images of each artist’s work will be accepted.
  • Artist Resume: Not to exceed two pages. Include education and training, gallery exhibits and art event participation.
  • Brief Artist Statement/Statement of Exhibit Intent: One paragraph of up to 10 sentences.
  • Portfolio Submission Fee: $15.00 payable by cash, check, or Visa/Mastercard. Portfolio
    Submission fee is $10.00 for current FAA Members.
  • Optional SASE: Include a self-addressed stamped envelope with sufficient postage for the return of your CD/USB drive. *Fairbanks Arts Association is not responsible for lost or damaged CDs. All reasonable care will be taken while portfolio materials are in FAA’s possession.
  • Do not send original artworks.
  • Submitting artist must be 18 years or older.
  • Incomplete portfolios will be disqualified.

FAA is not responsible for lost or damaged slides or CD’s.  All reasonable care will be taken while the slides and CD’s are in our possession.

***Artists will be notified via email that their portfolios have been received by FAA***

Process Description:

Portfolios are juried each November by a panel of seven jurors who work in different media including sculpture, photography, painting and others. The jurors evaluate each portfolio and rate them on a scale from 1 to 5. The highest and lowest score are dropped and the remaining five scores are averaged to determine the applicant’s final score. All artists receiving a score of 3.5 or above are then eligible to have a solo exhibit in Bear Gallery. The eligible artists are then offered the available gallery exhibit months in order from highest score to lowest. Consequently, receiving a score of 3.5 does not guarantee an exhibit. Individual artists are almost always offered half the gallery space and paired with exhibit by another solo artist or an FAA exhibit. For more information on Portfolio Review or how to apply please contact  (907) 456-6485 ext. 226 or gallery@fairbanksarts.org

Print Portfolio Review Guidelines for Exhibition Year 2018