Girl Running with Wet Canvas, 1930
Why?
Unfortunately, much of the art world involves levels of competition for jobs, exhibitions, grants, residencies, sales, etc. To be considered for many opportunities, you want to be able to put forward a good set of submission materials. To do so, in addition to making great artwork, you need to consider the type of opportunity to which you are submitting, the type of institution involved, and the point of view of the reviewers. This reading set helps you start to think about these things.
Required
Submission Materials, Art/Work
Pages 60–85
Response Questions
Select one question below to which you will respond. Remember to cite specific instances from the text to support your views.
- Put yourself in the mindset of a juror for an exhibition, residency, or grant. What might be the types of things they are considering when selecting art or artists? Imagine they are reviewing hundreds of portfolios, CVs, artist statements, and bios. What types of things can help you stand out?
- Imagine you are applying for an arts-related job (teaching, designing, etc.). How do you think employers would prioritize the following: skills, ability to learn, ability to respond to difficult situation, flexibility, experience? If you are lacking on experience, as a young artist/student, how might you be able to emphasize other qualities that would make you competitive?
- If you are against competition, and don’t want to participate in systems that pit artists against one another, what other models can you imagine? How might you make your way through the art world without dealing with applications to exhibition, for residencies, for grants, and so on?
Supplementary Readings
These are optional readings to help enrich your understanding of the themes of this reading set.
- Against Competition
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Against Competition, Blunt Art Text (B.A.T)
NOTE: There is some profanity in this reading. "Working toward a global network where one creates opportunities and, in turn, can respond to limitless opportunities without the pressure to compete, allows for a more generous, diverse and open art practice. In these ways, one can break the isolation of being alone, defending a head-full of secret studio realizations that some kid in Ireland has probably already figured out anyway."
The Case Against Competition, AlfieKohn.com
"When it comes to competition, we Americans typically recognize only two legitimate positions: enthusiastic support and qualified support. The first view holds that the more we immerse our children (and ourselves) in rivalry, the better. Competition builds character and produces excellence. The second stance admits that our society has gotten carried away with the need to be Number One, that we push our kids too hard and too fast to become winners—but insists that competition can be healthy and fun if we keep it in perspective."