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The Creative · № 15

Juried Show

Had a piece accepted into a juried exhibition, show, festival, anthology, or competition where your work was selected from a pool.

The idea

Juried submissions fail more than they pass. Track rejections like baseball cards. The point is the act of submitting, which most creative kids avoid because the no is too sharp. The fifth rejection feels normal. The first one is the milestone. After twenty submissions the kid stops taking rejections personally, which is the actual condition for getting anywhere as an artist.

Steps
  1. Identify three to five submission opportunities. Apply to all.
  2. Read each criteria. Submit only the work that fits.
  3. Track every rejection. The pile is normal.
  4. When one accepts, show up and talk to people there.
What counts

At least one acceptance into a juried show, festival, or anthology. The acceptance letter and a photo of the work in the venue is plenty.