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South Dakota Governor's Biennial Art Exhibition

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Welcome to the South Dakota Governor's 10th Biennial Art Exhibition artist call site.

South Dakota Governor's 10th Biennial Art Exhibition logo

Artists currently living in South Dakota are invited to submit artworks for consideration for the South Dakota Governor’s 10th Biennial Art Exhibition. This juried exhibition is the premier showcase for artists currently living in the state and is a celebration of the tremendous quality and unique diversity of visual art being produced here and now. The biennial exhibitions are important landmarks in South Dakota art history. The exhibition shares some of South Dakota’s best artworks with visiting audiences at multiple exhibiting institutions across the state through the course of the one-year traveling show. The catalog is an important historical record of the state’s current artists and art practices for future generations. Purchase Awards are opportunities for South Dakota artists to make their mark on South Dakota history by having their artworks collected and preserved within some of the state’s most significant public art collections. A limited number of artworks will be selected for this exhibition through a competitive process, juried by representatives of the exhibiting and collecting institutions. We encourage artists to submit their best artworks for consideration.

Apply Here

CALENDAR

Submission deadline: Dec. 6, 2022 (11:59 p.m. MT)
Acceptance notice emailed: Dec. 12, 2022
Loan agreements due: Dec. 16, 2022
Artworks delivered: Dec. 14, 2022- Jan 6, 2023
Artworks returned after close: April 2024

EXHIBITION TOUR

  • South Dakota Art Museum: Feb. 11- May 14, 2023
  • John A. Day Gallery: June 19- Aug. 4, 2023
  • Washington Pavilion: Aug. 25- Nov. 12, 2023
  • Dahl Arts Center: Dec. 8, 2023- March 30, 2024
  • Denise DuBroy, Dahl Arts Center at Rapid City Arts Council
  • Amy Fill, University Art Galleries at USD
  • Cody Henrichs, Washington Pavilion of Arts and Science
  • Taylor McKeown, South Dakota Art Museum at SDSU

Entry fee is $25 for submitting up to three artworks for consideration, with no guarantee that an artwork from all submitting artists will be accepted into the exhibition. Artists may submit fewer artworks but there is no reduction in fee. All fees go towards costs associated with producing the exhibition. The entry fee can be paid by credit card (Visa/MC), PayPal or check.

Only new artworks completed within the last three years may be submitted. All artists living in South Dakota are eligible to submit unless there is a conflict of interest because of current employment at one of the exhibiting institutions. Submitting implies that no conflict of interest exists.

Submitted artworks may be two-dimensional or three-dimensional and must be original artworks, not reproductions. The exhibition is open to all visual media, including but not limited to: painting, drawing, original prints, photography, sculpture, ceramics, mixed media, fine crafts, traditional/folk arts, video art and artist books.

Each exhibiting institution will designate up to $1,500 ($6,000 total) for Purchase Awards. Artworks purchased through these awards will become part of the permanent collection of the respective purchasing institution.

Artworks submitted must be owned and created by the submitting artist and not on loan from outside parties. Because of significant Purchase Awards associated with the exhibition, all artworks submitted must be for sale. A sales price will be required on the loan agreement for accepted artworks. Exhibiting institutions receive a 30% commission on artworks sold through the exhibition and sales prices listed by artists must incorporate this commission.

  • Artists must not submit artworks that require special handling or involve complicated or labor-intensive installation instructions. Works containing toxic or hazardous materials or considered to be unsafe are ineligible for submission.
  • Artworks must be able to withstand the ordinary strains of handling, packing, unpacking and transportation throughout the course of the traveling exhibition.
  • Accepted artworks must be finished, dry, in good condition and ready to hang/install when delivered for exhibition.
  • Professional presentation is required. Artworks on paper must be properly framed with acrylic/Plexiglas glazing. Glass glazing is not acceptable. Frameless clips, plastic frames and shrink-wrapping are not acceptable. Stretched canvases are acceptable without additional framing.
  • All two-dimensional artworks must be prepared for hanging with screw eyes or d-rings with wire attached, or a cleat system with cleats included. Saw tooth hangers are not acceptable.
  • Packaged artworks can be up to 100 lbs.
  • Packaged artworks can be up to 96 inches in length.
  • Packaged artworks can be up to 165 inches in length and girth combined. Girth is 2 x width + 2 x length.
  • During the final on-site inspection, accepted artworks not accurately depicted by submitted images or not conforming to the above specifications may be rejected.
  • All accepted artworks will be considered as temporary loans to the exhibition. Artists will be required to electronically sign loan agreements for accepted artworks via a link sent to them after responding to their acceptance notification. Accepted artworks shall remain in possession of the exhibiting institutions for the duration of the traveling exhibition.
  • Entry fee is $25 for up to three artworks.
  • This call for entries is open for a fixed period with a hard deadline date. No applications can or will be accepted after the deadline has passed.
  • All entries must be submitted online via CaFÉ (CallForEntry.org). Artists will need to set-up a free profile on the site before applying.
  • Apply here: southdakotaartmuseum.com/biennial The call can also be found by going to CallForEntry.org and selecting “View All Calls.” For search parameters: select “Exhibitions” under CALL TYPE, and “South Dakota” under STATE.
  • Artists must only submit images of finished original works to be considered for inclusion in the exhibition. Images of similar works or works-in-progress are not acceptable.
  • Completed submissions will require detailed information, including: titles, media, framed/finished sizes, and prices of artworks; educational experience (up to 4 listings) and exhibition experience (up to 6 listings); and a brief artist statement under 1,000 characters including spaces. Please remember to reserve time to fill out this information completely when submitting.
  • Only high resolution digital images in standard jpeg or jpg format are allowed. Images must be no more than 1200 pixels on their longest side and no less than 300 dpi.
  • Digital images should be saved and submitted in the correct horizontal or vertical orientation for viewing with Artist’s first and last name and title of work. If submitting multiple untitled artworks please number them so they are easily identified (i.e. untitled 1, untitled 2, untitled 3).
  • Images submitted by Artists will be reproduced in the exhibition catalog if their artwork is accepted. Artists should photograph works with balanced lighting and a plain white background for consistency. Submitting an image indicates permission to use it for catalog production and for exhibiting institutions to use images of artworks included in the exhibition for the purposes of documentation, publicity and education.
  • Accepted artworks must be packaged by the artist and delivered to either the South Dakota Art Museum or Dahl Arts Center. Artworks will travel and be returned to artists packaged in the same materials they were received in. All accepted artworks require sturdy packaging that can withstand travel and be unpacked and re-packed multiple times without failure.
  • See “Artwork Conditions” for limitations on packaged sizes and weights.
  • Packaging and shipping guidelines will be sent with the loan agreement for accepted artworks, and can be requested from the South Dakota Art Museum at any time.
  • The organizer reserves the right to refuse artworks not properly packaged for transit.
  • Accepted artworks must be received at the South Dakota Art Museum or Dahl Arts Center between Dec. 14, 2022- Jan. 6, 2023. Hand deliveries will need to be coordinated with staff during approved business hours.
  • Unsold artworks will be available for pick-up by artists after the close of the exhibition in April 2024 at either the Dahl Arts Center or Washington Pavilion of Arts and Science.
  • Artists who are unable to deliver or pick up their artworks to or from the above locations will need to ship their artworks and provide for insured return shipping at their own expense.
  • Artists are responsible for notifying the organizer if there is a change in address or contact information and must coordinate the return of their artworks in a timely manner.

Artists are responsible for providing insurance for their artworks in transit to the drop-off locations. Exhibiting institutions assume insurance of objects upon receipt and inspection and throughout possession of the works. Coverage will be provided at fair market value or the fair cost of repair.

  • Set up your artist profile on CaFÉ and familiarize yourself with the submission process and requirements in advance of the deadline date.
  • Make sure your artworks will fit within the packaged size requirements before submitting.
  • Settle on price and finished/framed sizes of your works before submitting.
  • Gather and type up all submission information before submitting so that the information can be copied and pasted into the online forms.
  • Photograph your works with balanced lighting on a plain white background. Submit high-resolution files. Images submitted by artists will be published in the catalog for accepted artworks.

FOR ANY QUESTIONS, CONTACT

Taylor McKeown
South Dakota Art Museum
1036 Medary Ave
Brooking, SD 57007
Phone: 605-688-5423
Email: Taylor Mckeown