Writing a good description
The description of your call is a great way to introduce your gallery and show. Artists thoroughly read this area, so now is a great time to build trust with potential applicants!
Artists can be turned away by poor descriptions of your call. If a description is too short, too confusing, or doesn't have the information artists expect, they are less likely to apply.
Here is what you should include in your call description:
- the type of artists you are looking for
- the theme of your show
- the history of your gallery
- information on the juror
The Artists
The type of artists is important, and I recommend talking about this really early in your description. Painters don't want to go through an entire application, only to find out at the end it is reserved for sculptors! Same with any other requirements you might have. If this is a members only call, or if it is only for students, or if it is only for people in your region- talk about this first!
Less concretely, you may have a type of artist in mind that creates a certain type of vibe for your gallery. Perhaps you skew more towards professional artists who have been doing this for decades. Or maybe you want more younger rebel types. This is the place to point this out!
Your Theme
This area is self-evident. If you have a certain theme you are promoting, let the artists know! A lot of them also like to read about how you came up with the theme, why it is relevant to your specific gallery, and also what does not fit into the theme.
If you have examples of artists or art that fit this theme, it is also a good idea to point this out.
Your Gallery
Talk about yourself now! What is the history of your gallery? How did you get started and what are some great milestones to share?
Galleries that can talk to their history, and show that they are legitimate institutions and will care for the art and artist tend to do very well on EntryThingy. Being able to speak to what makes your gallery stand out from the thousands out there is important. Flesh this area out!
The Juror
If you have a juror, a short paragraph detailing their resume and experience helps. Artists want to know they are being judged by somebody who has ties to the community, is an expert in their art form, or maybe they just want to know more about the exhibit.
Other
This other section is more of a grab-bag.
Some galleries like to use this to talk about some more important dates. Such as if there is a specific drop-off time that you prefer. Or maybe if there is a reception or something like that. Some other ideas for this section would include how you intend to let the artists know who was accepted, or how you plan on co-promoting the show with your social media.
I will end with this- less is more! Artists want to read about you and what your gallery is looking for. But the more words you have, the less clarity there is. Getting to the point and being straightforward goes a long way.