ARTWORK SPECIFICATIONS

Who Can Submit

• The show is open to artists 18 years and over.

Submission Process and Fee

• Submissions must be made online at ShowSubmit, starting on September 6, 2024. A copy of this prospectus may be downloaded here.

• Submit your original image file. You do not need to resize it or rename it.

• The submission fee is $35 for up to 3 pieces.

Submission Requirements

• All artwork must depict, or be inspired by, the varied landscapes or waterscapes and/or the relationships with the communities they interact with. Recreational ideas in the Nashua River Watershed can be explored here.

• Media accepted are: Acrylic, Alcohol Ink, Assemblage, Ceramics, Chalk, Charcoal, Collage, Colored Pencil, Crayon, Digital Art, Encaustic, Fiber Art, Gouache, Graphic, Graphite, Intaglio, Mixed Media, Mosaics, Oil, Oil Pastel, Pastel, Pen & Ink, Photography, Printmaking, Scratchboard, Sculpture, Silverpoint, Soft Pastel, Stained Glass and Watercolor. 

• All artwork must be original. Participating artists must be the legal owner of all title and interest in the artwork submitted and exhibited.

• Works cannot exceed a weight of 50 pounds.

• Work cannot exceed 48” in any direction, including frame. There is no minimum size.

• Work must be based exclusively on the artist’s own photo reference or plein air experience, concept, and composition. Work need not be created on site.

• Work must be directly and individually created by the artist, not traced or otherwise created over a base photo.

• Work must be exclusively the product of the artist. Work done in a class or workshop, online venue, or otherwise under the guidance or advice of an instructor, is not permitted.

• Artists of 3D works must provide presentation fixtures (e.g. pedestal, stand, etc.).

• All artwork will be installed by Fivesparks exhibits staff. Works that require special installation must come with clear written instructions and any special installation equipment (i.e., hooks, wire, chain, etc.). If Fivesparks staff deems it necessary, they may request the assistance/guidance of the artist in the installation of their piece(s). If installation of artwork is determined to be too complicated or incompatible with our historic building, Fivesparks reserves the right not to include the artwork in the show. 

• ALL WORK MUST BE HANG/PRESENTATION READY. Exhibitors reserve the right to reject work that differs significantly from the submitted images.

• 2D work must be firmly wired for hanging.  NO SAW TOOTH HANGERS AND NO SANDWICH/CLIP FRAMES.

• Artists will be asked, during the submission process, to provide a brief artist statement and, for each submission, a brief description of the work including what part(s) of the NRWS inspired it.

Delivery of Accepted Work

Artists accepted into the exhibition will receive detailed instructions via email with their acceptance notification for hand-delivering work to the venue according to the dates in the above calendar. The address for hand delivery is: Fivesparks, 7 Fairbank St, Harvard, MA 01451. Shipped work will not be accepted.

Pricing and Sales

• All artwork must be for sale exclusively through the Exhibitors (Fivesparks and Harvard Conservation Trust) for the duration of the show. Art may not be marketed as available for sale through any other venue during the exhibit time frame.

• Prices cannot be changed from those stated at submission. Please take careful consideration in the price you indicate during submission to accommodate framing/display costs, sales tax, 35% sales commission and any other considerations that may affect your prices.  Prices will not be changed after submission. 

• Artists are responsible for reporting and managing any sales tax they deem to be applicable to the selling of their artwork. Tax should be accounted for in submitted prices, if/when applicable; tax will not be calculated or added by the Exhibitors at time of sale.

• Artists will be required to pay the Exhibitors 35% of any sales resulting from the exhibit. Artwork prices should include and account for commission. Artists’ commission payments will be due no later than the appointed date for artwork pickup from the exhibit space.

• Prices should reflect market value for similar work by the artist. 

• The Exhibitors will accept checks from buyers, payable to the artist, and hold payment to the artist until the exhibit ends. 

• Artworks may be marked as "On Hold" until a buyer submits payment. Artworks will be marked as “Sold” once payment is received.

• All artwork must remain on display at the exhibit through the exhibit close date.

• Buyers are required to pick up (or arrange for delivery at their cost) purchased work upon show closing. Exhibitors will communicate the pickup process to buyers.

Notices and Liability

• Artists whose work is selected for inclusion in the exhibit will be responsible for personal delivery and handoff of the artwork to the exhibit space during appointed dates/times. Shipped artwork will not be accepted. 

• Artists are responsible for the delivery, pack, transport, and return of their artwork at their own risk and expense.

• The Exhibitors (Fivesparks and the Harvard Conservation Trust), their staff, and the owner of the building in which the artworks are exhibited are not responsible for any damage that may occur during the transport, installation, exhibition, or de-installation of art works. The Exhibitors' insurance does not cover damage to artwork during transit to or from the exhibit space.

• Artists agree to assume all risk of damage to or loss of their own art from whatever cause.

• Artist further agrees to release and to hold harmless the Exhibitors, their officers, directors, employees, volunteers and agents from any and all liabilities and damages to artwork and/or persons as a result of any part of artist’s participation in the exhibit.

• Insurance for artwork in the exhibit is the artist's responsibility, and it is strongly recommended that artists insure works themselves.

• Exhibitors reserve the right not to hang work that: arrives damaged; is not properly wired for hanging; is not equivalent to the image submitted for selection; otherwise does not conform to Submission Requirements. Damaged work will be reported to the artist and, if needed, returned at the artist’s expense.

• Submission fees are nonrefundable.

• All hand-delivered work must be picked up on the show closing date by either artist or buyer. Art cannot be stored and hand-delivered work cannot be return-shipped.

• By entering the show, artists grant exhibitors the limited right to use images of the artist’s work, labeled with artist name and painting title, for promotional and news purposes related to the show.

For questions about this prospectus, email to: info@harvardconservationtrust.org