COLUMBIA

Su bm itti ng for ju ries putting together your submission package
By Sheila Morissette

As ceramic artists, we are often faced with exciting opportun-
ities for submitting our work into various potential venues or
for exhibitions. These opportunities can help us to market
ourselves, and gain valuable experience while increase our
profiles. It is crucial to be able to present ourselves in the most
professional manner possible. Of course itis equally important
that the work we are proposing be suitable to the venue...not
all work is appropriate in every gallery or retail space.

Once you deem that you are ready and you make the decision to go
ahead and apply, do give it your all. It does take time and effort to put
together a proposal, but it is a recurring part of being a professional
potter. The good news is that the time it takes should be lessened with
each additional proposal that you submit providing you stay on top of
things such as regularly photographing your work and keeping your
resume current.

Putting the submission package together boils down to using some
common sense: Follow the instructions! I can’ stress this enough.
Provide everything that is asked for in your submission information
and check the list twice to be sure. (Obvious? Perhaps, but it’s amazing
to hear that this is a common error made by many applicants and so
it does need to be stated.) Submit professional quality images

JUDY WEEDEN

POTTERY WORKSHOP

On SALTSPRING ISLAND

July 19-31, 2010

This course is designed to be a time for the
total immersion in the creative process for
students seriously committed to working
with clay. It is a process-oriented
workshop. Students at any level of previous
experience will find invaluable stimulation
and new skills.

LOCATION
Country studio of Judy Weeden
125 Primrose Ln, Saltspring Island
Tuition
$600 Cdn, Space limited to 8 students
Further information and application
www.judyweeden.com
or write Judy Weeden
125 Primrose Ln
Saltspring Island, BC, V8K 1C1

Potters Guild of BC Newsletter - March 2010

with neutral backgrounds that are well focused and representative
of the actual work. For some juries, actual samples of work are also
required so realize that the pieces you choose for the jury set the bar
for what is expected from you should you be accepted.

It is also beneficial to put together a unified submission
package. Not everyone is equally comfortable on a computer but
certain things are worth the effort to learn or worth asking a friend
or even hiring someone to help with. I like to use the same fonts
consistently and format all of my documents with the same presentation
style as a way to “brand” myself. I use

similar layouts on my website, my
business cards and all my professional

The jury is faced
documents (artist statements, bio,
resume, even inventory lists, etc.).

Once these are designed, the hard with PevViewlns

work is over and it really is simply

humerous

a matter of making updates as
required. The format doesn’t have to

proposals ina

be complicated, just clean, consistent
and easy to read. The jury is faced with
reviewing numerous proposals in a relatively quick
relatively quick time frame, so making
it easier for them to get through all time fram e, SO
your material is imperative. The jury
will also look at the package as a bit making it easier
of an indication (whether accurate
or not) of what you, the artist, will .
be like to work with once accepted. I or them...1s
‘The more professional, the better the . .
imperative.

potential outcome, as you will appear
to be ‘ready’ to show. Once accepted,

a commitment to being professional
throughout the relationship with the gallery is expected. Although
work is alwayS judged and accepted based on merit and quality, an
incomplete or scattered proposal can be means for rejection so don't
give the jury that reason.

If you are applying for an exhibition, be creative and have fun—
exhibitions provide wonderful opportunities for exploring outside of
your ordinary scope of work. Be clear about your theme and
express it as succinctly, yet thoroughly as possible. The idea needs to
be described to the jury so that it is easy for them to visualize how the
show will look. Going through this process actually also helps you be
clearer when you are producing the work for the show.

Once you have gathered all the items on your checklist, place
everything in some form of presentation folder available at office
supply stores. I personally like the 10- or 20-page folders with clear
plastic sleeves that you simply drop each page into. This way your
presentation stays in the correct order, is easy to flip through and
nothing gets misplaced. Don’t send loose, unlabeled snapshots in an
envelope. Photo's can either be printed letter size (8 1/2 x 11 to match
the folder or can be mounted on paper or card stock before being placed
ina sleeve. Label everything: All actual works or photos should be