Submission Guidelines
Left to right: Gibson & Recoder, 2020; Carl Caivano & Nancy Campbell, 2021, Unfinishing, Barbie Diewald, 2018
A.P.E. CURATORIAL MISSION: Available Potential Enterprises, Ltd. (A.P.E.) was formed by artists in 1977 as a “working” space for artists in the center of Northampton. A.P.E.'s founding and current mission is to provide open, flexible space for artists to create and show work. For over four decades A.P.E. has played a unique role in the cultural life of Northampton and its central location on Main Street offers a wide range of programming possibilities. A.P.E. makes its spaces available to artists and curators within a structure that maximizes creative potential and supports the development of experimental, challenging, and original work. In addition to its spacious, open gallery space, A.P.E.’s large storefront Window offers curatorial opportunities to artists and projects that highlight the interplay between the Window and Main Street and artist and audience, thus bringing greater potential for meaningful public engagement and experience.
A.P.E. EXHIBITION OPPORTUNITIES
OPEN CALL
A.P.E. welcomes all artists and curators to submit proposals to share/show work in the gallery space at 126 Main street through our open call process. For many years, A.P.E. has focused on solo shows and while we will continue to consider one person exhibitions, we are currently interested in broadening our reach to more artists and more diverse arts communities through group and curated exhibitions. We will reserve select periods throughout the year for accepted open-call submissions, and we accept proposals on a rolling basis to review periodically: NEXT REVIEW will be JANUARY 2024. Artists will be notified within a month of reviews. In reviewing a proposal, A.P.E. may contact the artist to inquire further into the particular curatorial and presentation considerations of the project.
It is recommended that you visit the A.P.E. space if your proposal is accepted. If there are circumstances that prevent you from visiting, please contact A.P.E. and we will make alternate arrangements. Images of the gallery and the Window are HERE and a floor plan is HERE
Please email your submission to: submissions@apearts.org
with the following:
PLEASE NOTE: The A.P.E. curation committee meets remotely, so we ask that all proposals be submitted digitally. If you are unable to make your submission digitally, please contact us at submissions@apearts.org to discuss other methods for submitting your proposal.
SHORT TERM EXHIBITIONS, RESIDENCIES, POP-UPS, and ENCOUNTERS
A.P.E. also accepts proposals for short-term exhibitions, pop-ups, or residencies that might occur in transitional times between exhibitions. Please submit proposals for such events to: submissions@apearts.org These events would be self-produced and are not guaranteed to be staffed by the A.P.E. team. Please include details in your submission about the staffing and support plans for your project.
ARC, (activate, research, create): A.P.E.’s SUMMER PROGRAM:
Open to all artists, curators, and creative thinkers, ARC is a summer program of 1-week projects that focus on artistic practice/exploration and public engagement. ARC was initiated in the summer of 2016 and has included performances, interactive installations, on-site making, workshops, exhibitions, and more. We are interested in artists using the gallery in new and innovative ways, exploring various roles a gallery can play within a community.
Learn more about past projects HERE
A.P.E. will provide free space, intern and staff support, administrative and technical support and small grants (if funding allows)
If you are interested in applying to this program, please email your submission to: submissions@apearts.org
with the following:
● 500 word or 1-page written description/statement of the project, including details of how you plan to use A.P.E.’s gallery space and how your project will interact with the public (events, performances, regular hours, or something totally different).
● Samples of past work and brief description of how this work relates to the proposed project
● Biographies and resumes of each artist/collaborator involved in the project
We accept proposals on a rolling basis. The deadline for ARC 2023 has now passed. Visit again for future deadlines for ARC 2024.
ARC 2023 will take place in June.
Notification of selected projects will be made within one month of the deadline. If you have never been to A.P.E., we will be glad to send you more information and a floor plan.
GUEST CURATOR PROGRAM
An important focus for A.P.E. is to provide access and visibility to both emerging and established artists within Northampton and beyond. The newly launched Guest Curator Program gives contemporary artists and curators more agency in the curatorial process A.P.E. will select 2-3 curators per year who will facilitate and assemble exhibitions from local, regional, and national arts communities. For every exhibition that is curated, there must be at least one regional (Massachusetts or greater New England) artist that is represented. We do this to give a more prominent voice to artists of our region, while creating a conversation with contemporary artists from farther away. These exhibitions will range in approach and media and will be spread out throughout the calendar year. We offer financial support to each of the curators and will offer our assistance (technical, promotional…) to enhance each curator's experience in working with A.P.E.
If you are interested in this program either as a curator or member of the selection committee,
please send an email to: submissions@apearts.org
FLAT FILE PROGRAM
The open call for the 2022 Flat File Program is now closed. The Flat File Program may be returning for 2024. Stay tuned!
The Flat File Program celebrates the potential of flat media: drawing, painting, printmaking, photography, and collage. The collection of small works will represent a variety of approaches to flat media either as finished works or momentary components of a creative process. A.P.E.’s Flat File Program has featured 30-50 artists, bringing work together to highlight and provide exposure to emerging artists and experimental work that is less likely to be shown in a traditional exhibition setting.
The 2022 Flat File Program exhibited in the A.P.E. gallery from December 6-18, 2021 and was part of an online catalogue through December 2022.
Submission Guidelines:
Contact apeflatfileprogram@gmail.com with any further inquiries.
A.P.E. EXHIBITION OPPORTUNITIES
OPEN CALL
A.P.E. welcomes all artists and curators to submit proposals to share/show work in the gallery space at 126 Main street through our open call process. For many years, A.P.E. has focused on solo shows and while we will continue to consider one person exhibitions, we are currently interested in broadening our reach to more artists and more diverse arts communities through group and curated exhibitions. We will reserve select periods throughout the year for accepted open-call submissions, and we accept proposals on a rolling basis to review periodically: NEXT REVIEW will be JANUARY 2024. Artists will be notified within a month of reviews. In reviewing a proposal, A.P.E. may contact the artist to inquire further into the particular curatorial and presentation considerations of the project.
It is recommended that you visit the A.P.E. space if your proposal is accepted. If there are circumstances that prevent you from visiting, please contact A.P.E. and we will make alternate arrangements. Images of the gallery and the Window are HERE and a floor plan is HERE
Please email your submission to: submissions@apearts.org
with the following:
- Written proposal of your project, including how your project is specific to the space, mission, and/or gallery at A.P.E. (500 words or one page)
- Relevant samples (PDF or JPEG) of your work, and/or the work of artists you propose to exhibit. Links to websites must be specific to your proposal. Please note the size of all artworks included in the samples.
- Resume(s) and Artist Statements
PLEASE NOTE: The A.P.E. curation committee meets remotely, so we ask that all proposals be submitted digitally. If you are unable to make your submission digitally, please contact us at submissions@apearts.org to discuss other methods for submitting your proposal.
SHORT TERM EXHIBITIONS, RESIDENCIES, POP-UPS, and ENCOUNTERS
A.P.E. also accepts proposals for short-term exhibitions, pop-ups, or residencies that might occur in transitional times between exhibitions. Please submit proposals for such events to: submissions@apearts.org These events would be self-produced and are not guaranteed to be staffed by the A.P.E. team. Please include details in your submission about the staffing and support plans for your project.
ARC, (activate, research, create): A.P.E.’s SUMMER PROGRAM:
Open to all artists, curators, and creative thinkers, ARC is a summer program of 1-week projects that focus on artistic practice/exploration and public engagement. ARC was initiated in the summer of 2016 and has included performances, interactive installations, on-site making, workshops, exhibitions, and more. We are interested in artists using the gallery in new and innovative ways, exploring various roles a gallery can play within a community.
Learn more about past projects HERE
A.P.E. will provide free space, intern and staff support, administrative and technical support and small grants (if funding allows)
If you are interested in applying to this program, please email your submission to: submissions@apearts.org
with the following:
● 500 word or 1-page written description/statement of the project, including details of how you plan to use A.P.E.’s gallery space and how your project will interact with the public (events, performances, regular hours, or something totally different).
● Samples of past work and brief description of how this work relates to the proposed project
● Biographies and resumes of each artist/collaborator involved in the project
We accept proposals on a rolling basis. The deadline for ARC 2023 has now passed. Visit again for future deadlines for ARC 2024.
ARC 2023 will take place in June.
Notification of selected projects will be made within one month of the deadline. If you have never been to A.P.E., we will be glad to send you more information and a floor plan.
GUEST CURATOR PROGRAM
An important focus for A.P.E. is to provide access and visibility to both emerging and established artists within Northampton and beyond. The newly launched Guest Curator Program gives contemporary artists and curators more agency in the curatorial process A.P.E. will select 2-3 curators per year who will facilitate and assemble exhibitions from local, regional, and national arts communities. For every exhibition that is curated, there must be at least one regional (Massachusetts or greater New England) artist that is represented. We do this to give a more prominent voice to artists of our region, while creating a conversation with contemporary artists from farther away. These exhibitions will range in approach and media and will be spread out throughout the calendar year. We offer financial support to each of the curators and will offer our assistance (technical, promotional…) to enhance each curator's experience in working with A.P.E.
If you are interested in this program either as a curator or member of the selection committee,
please send an email to: submissions@apearts.org
FLAT FILE PROGRAM
The open call for the 2022 Flat File Program is now closed. The Flat File Program may be returning for 2024. Stay tuned!
The Flat File Program celebrates the potential of flat media: drawing, painting, printmaking, photography, and collage. The collection of small works will represent a variety of approaches to flat media either as finished works or momentary components of a creative process. A.P.E.’s Flat File Program has featured 30-50 artists, bringing work together to highlight and provide exposure to emerging artists and experimental work that is less likely to be shown in a traditional exhibition setting.
The 2022 Flat File Program exhibited in the A.P.E. gallery from December 6-18, 2021 and was part of an online catalogue through December 2022.
Submission Guidelines:
- Dimensions of work should be 18 x 24 inches or smaller and must be two dimensional, 1/4'' thick or less.
- All work must be unframed.
- Artists may submit ONE work for consideration.
- All work must be for sale with a maximum price of $300. A.P.E. will receive 30% of all sales and all proceeds will be put towards future curatorial projects.
Contact apeflatfileprogram@gmail.com with any further inquiries.
For questions about submissions, please contact Kathy Couch at kathycouch@apearts.org or Mollye Maxner at mollyemaxner@apearts.org.