The Providence Art Club’s 
Edward Mitchell Bannister National Exhibition
Celebrating BIPOC Artists
Juried by Independent Curator and Gallerist Krista Scenna

Call for Entries:
Each year, the Providence Art Club welcomes artists from across the country to submit work for an open exhibition. In 2023, the Art Club is hosting a series of exhibitions and programs to celebrate founding member Edward Mitchell Bannister (1828-1901) in the lead up to the unveiling of a public sculpture in his honor in the fall of 2023.

Bannister was one of the most successful African American artists of his generation and one of the most influential individuals in the Art Club’s founding in 1880. The recipient of a top award in the 1876 Philadelphia Exposition, Bannister was a foundational force in the establishment of the Art Club. A talented painter in the Tonalist mode, Bannister was also a respected art critic and, along with his wife Christiana, a beloved member of the Providence community. This year’s Providence Art Club National Exhibition is dedicated to Bannister and will celebrate the best in contemporary art by BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) makers from throughout the United States working in any theme, style, or media.

Founded in 1880, the Providence Art Club is one of the oldest arts organizations in the nation and the first such Club to be co-founded by women and men. Recognized as one of the top three galleries in Rhode Island by the Providence Journal, the Art Club received a coveted Best of Rhode Island Award for Best Art Gallery in Providence for the last four years consecutively. Entering its 143rd year, the Club looks forward to sharing the best in current visual arts by BIPOC artists from throughout the country with its unique audience in the Northeast.

Awards:
Fourteen Prizes totaling $6,000 in awards
Best in Show Prize of $1,000

Eligibility:
Open to BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) artists living and working throughout the United States, its territories, protectorates, and provinces.

Calendar:

Thursday, May 4: Application Deadline 
(This deadline was extended from the previous due date of May 1)

Friday, May 26: Accepted Artists Notified via Direct Email

Tuesday, May 30: Accepted Artists’ Biographical Material and Hi-Res Jpeg Due

Monday, June 5 – Wednesday, June 14: Accepted work received at the Gallery (Sundays - Fridays 12-4pm, or by appointment). Shipped works must be accompanied by a paid return mail label.

Exhibition Dates: June 18 – July 14, 2023

Exhibition will be open Sundays – Fridays, 12-4pm daily. The gallery can also be opened by appointment. The Art Club is typically closed Saturdays and may be closed at other times due to private events.

Physical exhibition will be accompanied by an online gallery.

$6,000 in awards will be announced during the exhibition via video.

Monday, July 31 – Thursday, August 3 (12-3pm daily): Removal of Work, Arrangement of Shipping. Works must be picked up, or shipping must be arranged, by August 3. Works left at the Club may become subject to a storage fee at the discretion of the Gallery Manager.

Please note that the Club will be closed from July 15 – July 30 for summer break. No staff will be on site and works cannot be retrieved during this time. If you need your work returned prior to the Club’s summer break, please contact Michael Rose.

About our Exhibition Juror:

Krista Scenna
Independent Curator and Gallery Owner

Krista Scenna is a talented independent curator and gallery owner based in Brooklyn, New York. Krista connects emerging artists with art buyers as the co-founder and owner of Ground Floor Gallery based in Park Slope, Brooklyn from 2013-2020. The gallery continues to operate as a virtual platform specializing in solo artist projects, commissions, and art consulting for new collectors.

Prior to founding Ground Floor Gallery, Krista held positions at the Institute of Contemporary Art in Philadelphia, the Queens Museum, and the New Museum. She was also the BRIC Rotunda 2010-11 Lori Ledis Curatorial Fellow. Past exhibitions include collaborations with BRIC, NURTUREart and Lesley Heller Workspace, and site-specific exhibitions in alternative forums such The Old Stone House, DUMBO Arts Festival, SPRING/BREAK Art Show, and the Cigar Factory, LLC.

Additionally, she served as a juror for the 11th Biennial Alexander Rutsch Award and Solo Exhibition for Painting and as guest curator for the Ely Center for Contemporary Art Open Call 2021 Exhibition. Her latest exhibition, "Finding My Folk," is currently on view at The Old Stone House - a historic exhibition space in Park Slope, Brooklyn - through April 9th, 2023.

Krista earned her BA in Art History and Spanish from the University of Pennsylvania and her MA in Interdisciplinary Contemporary Art from New York University’s XE: Experimental Humanities & Social Engagement program. She is also a member of the Association of Women Art Dealers. The Providence Art Club is delighted to welcome a gallerist and curator of Krista Scenna’s caliber to select works for this important show.

Entry Fee: $35 for up to two artworks
($25 for Art Club Members, for Coupon Code, please email Michael Rose)

*Note: This Entry fee is for up to two images or two pieces of work. You are only required to submit one image with your entry, but you may submit up to two. For example, you may submit two different works and upload two images (1 image per work) or you may submit one work and upload two different images of that single piece.

Rules and Regulations: 
Entries must be original artworks completed within the last four years. All works in the exhibition must be for sale (no "price on request" allowed). Hanging apparatus must be secured to the artwork. Three-dimensional works may not be heavier than 100 lbs. While there is not a strict size limit, scale may be a consideration for our juror. Works not properly prepared will not be installed. The Providence Art Club reserves the right to reject works that are deemed unstable, that differ from the submitted digital image and or description of work, or that are not professionally presented. Please contact Gallery Manager Michael Rose with questions about preparation.

Sales Commission:
25% for PAC members
40% for non-members

Notification:
Accepted artists will be e-mailed directly on May 26. Names of artists who were accepted will also be listed on the Art Club's social media channels, and later, on the Club's website.

Delivery:
Accepted submissions should be delivered to the Providence Art Club, 11 Thomas Street, Providence, RI 02903 from Monday, June 5 - Wednesday, June 14. Regular gallery hours are Sundays – Fridays, 12-4pm and any other time by appointment. Shipped works should be addressed to the attention of Gallery Manager Michael Rose. Works delivered late will not be included in the exhibition.

Shipping:
Shipping costs are the responsibility of the artist. A paid return mail label, including insurance (please ask your carrier to determine this amount), must accompany work. We suggest air float style boxes, or similar packaging for ease of unwrapping and rewrapping. Please do not use loose packing peanuts in shipping. If artwork cannot be repacked in original materials, the artist must supply additional packaging. If packing materials and return shipping label are not included, the work may be excluded from the exhibition.

Removal:
All exhibited work must be picked up (or return shipping arrangements made) between Monday, July 31 – Thursday, August 3 from 12-3pm daily. Works left at the Club after this date will become subject to a storage fee at the discretion of the Gallery Manager. Please note the Club is closed for summer break from July 15 – July 30.

Insurance:
The Providence Art Club carries a blanket policy covering fire, theft, and breakage. The insurance value is considered 2/3 of the sale price, but no more than $250. Artists are encouraged to provide insurance riders for their work if it is of high retail value.

Virtual Exhibition Photography:
Accepted artists will be asked to provide a hi-res JPEG image of the accepted work along with their biographical material by Tuesday, May 30. This will be used in publicity and also will be featured in an online gallery that will run concurrently with the physical exhibition in the Club’s historic galleries at 11 Thomas Street on Providence’s College Hill. Images should be emailed to michael@providenceartclub.org.

Application Troubleshooting:
The gallery staff of the Providence Art Club are not available to assist individual artists with photographing their work or filling out the entry form. This is the responsibility of the artist. If you have questions about the CallForEntry platform, please seek assistance at CallForEntry’s help page: https://www.callforentry.org/artist-help-cafe/

For Questions:
Contact Gallery Manager Michael Rose at michael@providenceartclub.org, or via phone at 401-331-1114 x 5 and he will be very happy to speak with you.

Artist must submit a minimum of one JPEG image for consideration and may submit a maximum of two images. Refer to the full call for entry for details.

This call is open to artists living and working anywhere in the United States. Submitted works must be recent and listed for sale during the exhibition. Refer to the full call for entry for details.

Application Requirements

Artists must submit a minimum of one image, but may submit a maximum of two images.

Eligibility Criteria

This call is open to BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) artists living and working throughout the United States.