Artist Guide

Each Bird Swatch Archive exhibition opens through a published Open Call. The Open Call describes the theme, eligibility, accepted media, submission limits, dimensions, application fee, and key dates for that exhibition.

Applications are submitted online through the Artist Workspace. An application may be saved as a draft and completed later; it is only considered submitted once the application is complete and the application fee has been paid.

A typical application includes:

• Artist details, including legal name and contact email
• An artist statement
• Artwork details for each submitted work
• One image for each artwork
• Confirmation of each eligibility statement
• Payment of the application fee, where one applies

Bird Swatch Archive Exhibitions are open to artists working in a wide range of media, at any stage of their practice, unless an individual Open Call states otherwise.

Work must be original, created by the applying artist, and not previously exhibited with Bird Swatch Archive. Artists confirm eligibility as part of the application.

Age requirements, residency requirements, and any additional conditions are stated in the Open Call for each exhibition.

Submitted work should be complete, exhibition-ready, and accurately described. The artwork exhibited must be the artwork reviewed and accepted; substitutions are made only through the availability and replacement process described below.

Each submitted work requires a title, year, category, medium, dimensions, and an estimated packaged weight.

Maximum dimensions, depth, packaged weight, and framing or presentation requirements are set by each exhibition and published in its Open Call.

Unless the Open Call states otherwise, work should arrive ready to hang or display, with secure and appropriate hardware. Work that cannot be safely installed as delivered may not be exhibited.

One image is required for each submitted artwork. Images should show the complete work, in focus, evenly lit, cropped to the edges of the piece, and free of watermarks, borders, and backgrounds that obscure the work.

Accepted formats are JPEG, PNG, and WebP. Application images remain private throughout review. Accepted artists are asked to supply high-resolution images during onboarding for exhibition listings and promotion.

Artists set the retail price for each work offered for sale, in US dollars. Prices should reflect the artist's established pricing and remain consistent with prices offered elsewhere.

Prices are confirmed during onboarding and, once confirmed, remain fixed for the duration of the exhibition. Work may also be presented as not for sale where an exhibition allows it.

Where an exhibition offers work for sale, Bird Swatch Archive presents the work, handles collector checkout, and manages the sale record. The commission and artist share that apply to a sale are stated in the Artist Exhibition & Sales Agreement and in the exhibition's Open Call.

Sales terms, including how sales tax and shipping are handled, are described in the applicable agreement and policies.

Unless an Open Call states otherwise, artists are responsible for delivering accepted work to the exhibition and for the cost of that delivery, along with return arrangements for unsold work.

Shipping instructions, deadlines, and the delivery address are provided during onboarding. Work should not be shipped before the shipping window opens.

Work must be packed to survive transit in both directions.

• Use sturdy, reusable packaging where possible
• Protect corners, edges, and glazing
• Avoid loose packing material that can abrade a surface
• Include the artist name, artwork title, and exhibition name inside the package
• Do not include loose hardware that can move in transit

Damage caused by inadequate packaging is the artist's responsibility.

International artists are welcome unless an Open Call states otherwise. International shipments must include accurate customs documentation, and any duties, taxes, or customs charges are the artist's responsibility unless stated otherwise.

Artists shipping internationally should allow additional transit time and should confirm the shipping deadline in the exhibition's onboarding materials.

Applications are reviewed after the application deadline. Review may be conducted by Bird Swatch Archive, by an invited juror, or by both, as described in the Open Call.

Where blind review applies, artist identity is withheld from the reviewing juror. Jurors declare any conflict of interest, and works subject to a conflict are handled separately.

Selection decisions are final. Application fees are not refundable once an application has been reviewed, except where a specific policy provides otherwise.

Accepted artists are notified by email and asked to complete exhibition onboarding, which generally includes:

• Signing the Artist Exhibition & Sales Agreement
• Confirming final artwork information
• Providing high-resolution artwork images
• Confirming approved pricing
• Providing shipping details and preparing work for delivery

Onboarding must be completed by the stated deadline. A place in an exhibition may be released if onboarding is not completed in time.

Before an exhibition opens, artists are asked to confirm that each accepted work is still available and unsold.

If a work is no longer available, the artist should respond promptly. Depending on the exhibition and the timing, Bird Swatch Archive may accept a comparable replacement work or withdraw the work from the exhibition.

Each exhibited work is presented with its title, year, medium, dimensions, price where applicable, and the artist's name. Artist statements and biographical information may also be published.

Artists are responsible for the accuracy of the information they supply. Corrections can be requested through the Artist Workspace.

Bird Swatch Archive may use submitted images, artwork information, and artist names to promote the exhibition across the site, email, and social channels, with credit to the artist.

Artists are warmly encouraged to share the exhibition with their own audiences.

Exhibited work remains in the exhibition for its full run unless Bird Swatch Archive agrees otherwise in writing.

While an exhibition is live, artists can follow their listings, sales, and fulfillment status in the Artist Workspace.

When a work sells, the artist is notified and the listing is marked as sold. Bird Swatch Archive records the sale, collects payment from the collector, and coordinates delivery according to the exhibition's fulfillment arrangements.

Artists should not sell an exhibited work independently while it is on view.

Damage, loss, or delivery problems should be reported promptly, within the reporting window described in the Shipping, Damage & Loss Policy.

Reports should include photographs of the work and its packaging, along with the tracking information. Claims are reviewed individually, and a payout may be held while a claim is open.

Artist proceeds are paid after a sale is complete and delivery has been confirmed, once the issue-reporting window has passed and no claim is open.

Payment timing, eligibility, holds, and tax-document responsibilities are described in the Artist Payout Terms. Artists provide payment details during onboarding and are responsible for keeping them accurate.

Bird Swatch Archive manages collector communication for exhibition sales, including confirmations, delivery updates, and any issues raised after delivery.

Collector contact details are not shared with artists, and artists should not contact collectors directly about an exhibition sale.

An artist may withdraw an application before the application deadline. Application fees are not refundable once an application has been reviewed.

After acceptance, work may only be withdrawn with the agreement of Bird Swatch Archive. Withdrawing accepted work after an exhibition has been announced may affect eligibility for future exhibitions.

The following documents govern participation and are published in full:

• Artist Exhibition & Sales Agreement
• Application Terms
• Shipping, Damage & Loss Policy
• Return & Cancellation Policy
• Artist Payout Terms
• Privacy Policy

Every exhibition publishes its own dates in its Open Call, including the application deadline, notification date, onboarding and shipping deadlines, and the exhibition run.

Deadlines are stated in Eastern Time. Artists should check the Open Call for the exhibition they are applying to rather than relying on dates from a previous exhibition.

Questions about an application, an accepted work, shipping, or a payment can be sent to Bird Swatch Archive. Please include the exhibition name and the application or order number where possible.

General questions about the archive are answered in the FAQ.

Bird Swatch Archive Exhibitions exist to give careful, generous attention to work that looks closely at the world. We read every application, and we are grateful for the time and care artists put into submitting work.