Call for Entries: Society of Botanical Artists Annual Exhibition 2019

This is a guide to the OPEN Exhibition of the Society of Botanical Artists in 2019 and

• who can enter,
• what you enter 
• how to enter

In 2019, this exhibition is moving to a new time of year at a new venue

• Venue: the Mall Galleries in The Mall in Central London. (Location) - the exhibition will be held in the Main Gallery, North Galleries and Threadneedle Space (i.e. the whole gallery)
• Dates: 5 June 2019 to 9 June 2019 | Hours: 10am to 5pm (closes 1pm on final day).​

Plantae is the exhibition of the Society of Botanical Artists; exhibiting excellence in all art that is plant related.  The Society brings together artists of national and international repute. As the forerunner of all other botanical societies its mission is to promote the skills of artists using a varied range of media who all excel in their ability to portray botanical forms in an accurate, unique or interesting way. (Mall Galleries)

READ my blog posts about the Society of Botanical Art: Exhibitions 2006-2016 
previously held at Central Hall, Westminster if you're unfamiliar with the exhibition and the standard of work it attracts

Who can enter?
​

THIS IS AN OPEN EXHIBITION - Any visual artist, anywhere in the world, can enter if they produce botanical artwork in two or three dimensions - which meets the eligibility criteria (see below).

Botanical artists from other countries around the world frequently submit entries to this exhibition - and get selected for exhibition.

You do not have to be a member of the Society of Botanical Artists to submit an entry.
However, under its new rules, you can however apply to be an Open Member of the Society of Botanical Artists (at a cost of £65p.a.) if you want to reduce the level of commission paid on sales by 10%. The cost of membership pays for itself if you sell one artwork priced at £650 - and if you make more sales you can make even more savings on your expenses i.e. 10% of £100 = £10.

The new type of membership - the Open Member - will be available from mid-January so if you expect to sell and want to reduce commission, I'd advise waiting to submit your entry until after you have applied to be an Open Member.

What can you enter?
​

Eligible artwork will be work you are proud of AND

• Predominantly of botanical content.
• Botanically accurate.
• Visually pleasing - with strong wall appeal.
• Up to five artworks
• For sale

In terms of type of artwork and size, artwork will be

• Original Paintings - in any media
• or Original Drawings - in any media
• or Original Fine Art Prints (all prints must be hand pulled and NOT giclee)
• or Original Ceramics
• or Original Jewellery - in any media
• Maximum dimension of all 2D and 3D arworks: 120cm on the longest side. (although they don't say framed or unframed re 2D art - and when they don't it's always safest to assume this means "framed")

Presented in: 

• simple plain mounts and wooden frames (which can accommodate mirror plate fixings) 

​Work that is NOT eligible for entry includes:

• photography
• other digital art forms
• work using acrylic glass
• work framed with clips 

How do I price my artwork?
​

All entries must comprise artwork which is for sale.

• minimum sale price: £250 for work measuring 40cm or LESS longest side)
• minimum sale price: £350 for work measuring 40cm or MORE (longest side)

The main entrance to the Mall Galleries - across the road from St James Park, inbetween Buckingham Palace and Trafalgar Square. (Doors are open with banners when an exhibition is on)

What's the timeline?  How do they select?
​

ENTRIES: The submission is now open to digital entries

• all entries are via digital submission of forms, artwork and payment
• Entry Deadline: 28 February 2019 Midnight

DIGITAL SELECTION: Only correctly completed applications will be considered. Selection is in two parts - digital and physical
The Selection Committee will select the works for the exhibition. 

• Artists' Notification: 13 March 2019 by artist logging in to website

DELIVERY:  Artwork needs to be delivered to the Mall Galleries on 13 April 2019​.
(Note: Deliveries to the Mall Galleries for selection and exhibitions is via the basement entrance of the Federation of British Artists at 17 Carlton House Terrace
London, SW1Y 5BD - see my photo of the entrance on a receiving day. There is a car park across the street - but the gallery is within walking distance of the tube if you are bringing small works

The break in the railings left of the columns is where the stairs down to the basement storage area is - where selection typically takes place.

PHYSICAL SELECTION: As you would expect the pre-selected artwork is then judged again in terms of the physical artwork delivered.

What the Selectors are looking for is:

• overall quality of the artwork
• whether the physical artwork actually matches the digital image (do NOT hype your artwork in the digital photo!)
• whether it complies with the size requirements and/or does not have any features which render it ineligible (see above)
• whether it is well presented in terms of the requests re. presentation i.e. simple plain mounts and wooden frames (which can accommodate mirror plate fixings) ​

How much does it cost?
​

COST OF ENTRY: The cost varies depending on your status. 

• If you are NOT a member of the SBA: £18 for each of upto 5 artworks
• If you are an young artist under 31: £15 for each of upto 5 artworks
• If you are a Full or Fellow member: £18 for each of upto 6 artworks.

COST OF SALE: If you sell work the level of commission charged varies by whether you are an:

• open entrant: 45% for up to 75cm; 50% for 75cm+
• open member: 35% for up to 75cm; 40% for 75cm+
• Full/Fellow Member: 35% for up to 75cm; 40% for 75cm+

In other words:

• Full/Fellow membership allows you to enter one extra artwork 
• youth reduces reduces the cost of each entry by £3
• you will be charged 10% more in commision if you are NOT a member of the SBA

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What else do you need to do?
​

It's your responsibility if your work is pre-selected to:

• insure your artwork
• deliver the artwork (unpacked) to the delivery point on the specified date.
• collect your artwork if not selected for exhibition or not sold on the specified date(s)

Get painting - and get your entry in by the deadline!

P.S. I'll be doing a blog post about how to photograph artwork in the near future.