Submission Guidelines and Policies

Artists are welcome to submit work samples and exhibition proposals for any of our gallery spaces, or video and film for screening in our cinema and video spaces. Artists working in new media and working with interactive and web-based platforms are also encouraged to submit proposals. But in order to help you, please note the following.

Real Art Ways History

Before you submit materials, you may want to look around our website and see what we do. Check out our public art projects (Raw Specifics) and our recent Visual Arts Program Archive. This won’t tell you what we are looking for in future programming, since Real Art Ways is in constant evolution, but it will give you some idea of what our general programming sensibilities are; innovative, contemporary and non-commercial are good guideposts.

Unsolicited Submissions in general

The majority of what will be exhibited at Real Art Ways will not come to us through unsolicited submissions, though there are always shows each year that do come to us this way. This is just how it is. Most work gets shown because of us coming across it through the ‘art world’ systems of exhibitions, curators, and so on. This is not meant to suggest that you not submit materials; not at all. It’s just that, unlike other some other alternative, coop and non-commercial spaces, we do not generally program our gallery through submissions.

Patience

We will closely review unsolicited proposals, but since we are a busy, non-profit alternative space and we take pride in looking carefully at all proposals that come in, it can sometimes take us a while to get back to you. We aren’t ignoring you, or being rude; it’s part of the deal. Deal?

Visual Arts, New Media Submissions

Resumes, statements, bios and press clippings are all helpful but not nearly as important as good quality, labeled slides. DO NOT send originals; we can’t be responsible for the handling or return of original materials!

We love technology, but it is still easier for us if you send slides - If your work is media-based or you feel a web version of your portfolio is just cheeky then send it along. but be aware of the following:

• We are a Mac operation; anything not easily viewed on a Mac platform will not likely get looked at. Sorry.

• Your work should be easily viewable in a browser, or should auto-launch in something we are likely to already have running, such as Flash, PowerPoint, or Internet Explorer.

• Generally, if we have to do much fiddling, you’re likely to get a “…sorry but not at this time.” letter.
  Do not email large image files! Up to 200kb is OK, but any email with attachments that add up to more than 200K will be deleted without downloading them.

Audio, Video Guidelines

• Video should be submitted on either DVD format, or VHS (NTSC), (Our European friends should convert PAL tapes before sending.)

• Yes, we know that Beta and BetaSP is the state of the art, but we can’t easily view samples in this format.

• Donating a Beta player to Real Art Ways may result in a favorable response from the Programming Department.

• Audio samples should be submitted on CD only, but can be MP3, or AIFF encoded. Rule of thumb: if iTunes can play it, send it along.

@ the Cinema
In March of 2005, Real Art Ways starts its @ the Cinema program of short videos to be screened in the cinema before movies. We are currently accepting submission of videos of 1-3 minutes in length to be considered for this program. See video submission guidelines for more info.

Deadlines

None whatsoever; reviewed on an ongoing basis.

Submit To?

Please include an SASE and direct all submissions to:

Artist Submissions
Real Art Ways
56 Arbor Street
Hartford, Ct 06106

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