ArtPrize Blog

Artist/Venue Connections are Open

***Connections are open, artists must secure a venue on artprize.org by July 1 to compete in ArtPrize 2010***

Artists and venues have now entered the time we refer to as “matching” or “connections,” when they formally commit to each other for the 2010 event. It’s when artprize.org, essentially, becomes a dating website.

So, how does it work?

WE LIKE SURPRISES
The process of connections is what makes ArtPrize fundamentally different from any other event. We like surprises, and that’s what we get when the event is handed over to artists and venues to organize themselves. ArtPrize, the organization, has no curator or jury to pick artists for the event.

Each venue independently chooses which artists to show from the website. Some venues will be run by highly qualified curators in the art world, others by amateur enthusiasts. The huge variety in venues–and decisions made by venues–is what makes ArtPrize so radically open and unpredictable.

Venues have been browsing artists on artrpize.org since April 19 (when artist registration opened). Many artists have contacted venues to informally discuss their options. From today until July 1, they can make their agreement official on artprize.org. As they do, you will see the list of artists slowly grow as the program for ArtPrize 2010 is built real-time.

FIRST, MAKE A CONNECTION
It all starts with requesting a connection.

Artists, when you see a venue you’re interested in, click the “Connect” button. Likewise, venues, when you see an artist you’re interested in, click “Connect.”

As an artist, all requests appear under Artists Home

As a venue, all requests appear under Venues Home

THEN, GO OFFLINE TO WORK OUT THE DETAILS
Each venue has a hosting agreement (we provide a template, but they may very). If the venue is interested in the artist–whether the artist requested the connection or the venue–that venue emails the hosting agreement. Artist and venue negotiate the terms of their agreement, until each party knows exactly what to expect.

When the agreement is signed, it’s time to let ArtPrize know you’re ready to make it official…

RETURN TO ARTPRIZE.ORG TO SECURE THE RELATIONSHIP
Once the hosting agreement is worked out, artist and venue return to artprize.org to make it official.

If the artist requested the venue…
The venue must reciprocate and click “Secure artist.” Then, the artist must agree to being secured by clicking “Secure venue.” You’ll see a confirmation immediately.

If the venue requested the artist…
The artist must reciprocate and click “Secure venue.” Then, the venue must agree to being secured by clicking “Secure artist.” You’ll see a confirmation immediately.