Guidelines
Exhibition Dates: September 25– November 6, 2025
Call for Artists: https://artist.callforentry.org/festivals_unique_info.php?ID=8649
Entry Deadline: June 14, 2025
Location: Peg Bothner Gallery @ Tri-County Arts Council, 110 West State Street, Olean NY 14760
Presented by the Tri-County Arts Council, and the Cattaraugus Region Community Foundation (CRCF) made possible by an endowment from the estate of F. Donald Kenney.
Call for Artists: https://artist.callforentry.org/festivals_unique_info.php?ID=8649
Entry Deadline: June 14, 2025
Location: Peg Bothner Gallery @ Tri-County Arts Council, 110 West State Street, Olean NY 14760
Presented by the Tri-County Arts Council, and the Cattaraugus Region Community Foundation (CRCF) made possible by an endowment from the estate of F. Donald Kenney.
Eligibility
Open to all artists, 18 years of age or older, who are currently residing in New York State’s Southern Tier (the counties of Allegany, Broome, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Chemung, Steuben, Schuyler, Tioga, and Tompkins). All works must be original and completed within the past two years. Work previously submitted to the Southern Tier Biennial is not eligible.
Media
Works created in all visual media are eligible (this includes everything from pottery to painting to video-if it is meant to be seen then it is welcome!) with the understanding that the Biennial’s exhibition venues and format may not be able to accommodate all work. Work will not be judged by media categories. Accepted work must be finished, dry, and ready to install.
Images
We want you to successfully enter this show. Please submit quality, color correct images (we recommend cropping out frames and backgrounds). Here is a simple guide to photographing your work-
HTTPS://WWW.ARTWORKARCHIVE.COM/BLOG/4-STEPS-TO-PHOTOGRAPHING-YOUR-ART-LIKE-A-PROFESSIONAL. We also recommend using photoshop or one of the free photo editors such as GIMP HTTPS://WWW.GIMP.ORG/ or Pixlr PIXLR.COM/E/ to correct and re-size your images.
If you are submitting Three Dimensional work, you are welcome to combine several photos showing different views of the piece into one submitted image.
If you are having difficulties with this process, please reach out and email Exhibition Coordinator Sean Huntington at [email protected].
Image file and size requirements:
HTTPS://WWW.ARTWORKARCHIVE.COM/BLOG/4-STEPS-TO-PHOTOGRAPHING-YOUR-ART-LIKE-A-PROFESSIONAL. We also recommend using photoshop or one of the free photo editors such as GIMP HTTPS://WWW.GIMP.ORG/ or Pixlr PIXLR.COM/E/ to correct and re-size your images.
If you are submitting Three Dimensional work, you are welcome to combine several photos showing different views of the piece into one submitted image.
If you are having difficulties with this process, please reach out and email Exhibition Coordinator Sean Huntington at [email protected].
Image file and size requirements:
- File Type: JPEG or JPG only.
- File Dimensions: 1,200 pixels or greater on the longest side.
- File Size: Under 5 MB.
- Color Profile: sRGB
Video requirements:
- File Type: MOV, MP4, WMV, 3GP, AVI, ASF, MPG, M2T, MKV, M2TS.
- File Size: Under 100 MB.
- Resolution: minimum 640 x 480, maximum 1920 x 1080
- Aspect ratio: 4:3 or 16:9
- Bit rate: recommended above 240 kbps
- Frame rate: minimum 12 fps, recommended 30 fps.
SUBMISSION GUIDELINES
• All applications must be submitted via CAFE https://artist.callforentry.org/festivals_unique_info.php?ID=8649 by 11:59 Mountain Time, June 5th 2021
• An entry fee of $25 must be submitted with application. Applicants may submit up to three works for consideration. Entry fee must be paid online through CAFE
• Notification of acceptance will be sent by July 3, 2021.
• An entry fee of $25 must be submitted with application. Applicants may submit up to three works for consideration. Entry fee must be paid online through CAFE
• Notification of acceptance will be sent by July 3, 2021.
Awards & Stipends
For the 2021 Southern Tier Biennial, we are pleased to be able to present each accepted artist with a $175 stipend to help allay costs associated with travel, shipping, and production. In addition, five cash awards totaling $5,250 will be presented: $3,000 to the Best of Show winner ($1,000 cash and $2000 stipend towards a solo show in 2022), a $750 Juror’s Choice Award, and $500 for three Honorable Mention winners..
The Best of Show winner will also be presented with a solo show in the Fall of 2022 at the Tri-County Arts Council Gallery with a four-color catalog, and a $2,000 stipend for show expenses (materials, framing, displays, etc.).
The Best of Show winner will also be presented with a solo show in the Fall of 2022 at the Tri-County Arts Council Gallery with a four-color catalog, and a $2,000 stipend for show expenses (materials, framing, displays, etc.).
Catalog
Among the project’s benefits to accepted artists is reproduction of their work in a color catalog. Accepted artists must provide a high resolution print-ready image. Organizers retain the right to photograph and reproduce works for purposes of documentation, publicity, and catalog publication. All entrants may receive a print or electronic catalog upon request.
PAcking & Shipping
• Accepted works must be received by September 4, 2021.
• All works must be labeled with the artist’s name, title, media, and declared value (fair market value). For more information about valuation, please click here.
• Participating artists will be responsible for all costs of shipping to the Gallery as well as return shipping and insurance while in transit. Shipped work must include a prepaid return shipping label.
• All entries must be packed in sturdy, reusable containers and include clear packing, shipping, and installation instructions.
• Program organizers are not liable or responsible for any damage to artwork that occurs during packing, unpacking, or repacking of artwork or for any damage that occurs during shipment or transit of the artwork. Please take all necessary precautions to ensure the safety of your artwork.
• Accepted entries will be insured only during the installation and exhibition of work at the Gallery.
• Hand-delivered work must be picked up between November 7 and 20 at the Gallery.
• All works must be labeled with the artist’s name, title, media, and declared value (fair market value). For more information about valuation, please click here.
• Participating artists will be responsible for all costs of shipping to the Gallery as well as return shipping and insurance while in transit. Shipped work must include a prepaid return shipping label.
• All entries must be packed in sturdy, reusable containers and include clear packing, shipping, and installation instructions.
• Program organizers are not liable or responsible for any damage to artwork that occurs during packing, unpacking, or repacking of artwork or for any damage that occurs during shipment or transit of the artwork. Please take all necessary precautions to ensure the safety of your artwork.
• Accepted entries will be insured only during the installation and exhibition of work at the Gallery.
• Hand-delivered work must be picked up between November 7 and 20 at the Gallery.
Sales
Sales are optional, the Southern Tier Biennial will receive a 25% commission on works sold during the exhibition.
Conditions
• Program organizers include the Tri-County Arts Council.
• Program organizers reserve the right to disqualify entries that, upon receipt, differ markedly from the submitted images.
• All accepted entries will be considered as temporary loans to the Gallery and shall remain in its possession for the duration of the exhibition.
• The Gallery will assume insurance of objects upon receipt and inspection, and during the loan period. Coverage will be provided for the declared value of the work. Please note, ceramic, glass, and similar fragile articles will be covered in the case of breakage, however are excluded from coverage if items are marred or scratched.
• Program organizers cannot be responsible for minor wear and tear resulting from normal handling.
• Accepted artists may submit a resume and artist’s statement for use within the exhibition space and on the STB website.
• The submission of your certified entry form shall be understood to indicate your agreement with the terms and conditions set forth in this prospectus. Accepted artists will be required to sign a printed contract agreeing to these terms.
• Program organizers reserve the right to disqualify entries that, upon receipt, differ markedly from the submitted images.
• All accepted entries will be considered as temporary loans to the Gallery and shall remain in its possession for the duration of the exhibition.
• The Gallery will assume insurance of objects upon receipt and inspection, and during the loan period. Coverage will be provided for the declared value of the work. Please note, ceramic, glass, and similar fragile articles will be covered in the case of breakage, however are excluded from coverage if items are marred or scratched.
• Program organizers cannot be responsible for minor wear and tear resulting from normal handling.
• Accepted artists may submit a resume and artist’s statement for use within the exhibition space and on the STB website.
• The submission of your certified entry form shall be understood to indicate your agreement with the terms and conditions set forth in this prospectus. Accepted artists will be required to sign a printed contract agreeing to these terms.
Jurors
The 2021 STB Jurors are Mizin Shin and Brian Lee Whisenhunt. Please visit the Home page for more information about the jurors.
2021 Calendar
June 5: Deadline to apply
July 3: Notification emailed.
August 3: Accepted artists contracts due back. Stipend checks mailed upon receipt.
September 4: Deadline for delivery of accepted work
September 25: Notification of awards
September 25: Opening reception and awards ceremony
November 6: Final day of exhibition
November 20: Deadline to pick up work and return shipping completed
July 3: Notification emailed.
August 3: Accepted artists contracts due back. Stipend checks mailed upon receipt.
September 4: Deadline for delivery of accepted work
September 25: Notification of awards
September 25: Opening reception and awards ceremony
November 6: Final day of exhibition
November 20: Deadline to pick up work and return shipping completed
Entry form
After reading guidelines in full, please complete the application via CAFE: https://artist.callforentry.org/festivals_unique_info.php?ID=8649
Questions?
Sean Huntington, Gallery Coordinator, Tri-County Arts Council. Contact at (716) 372–7455 or [email protected] .
Find general information at www.myartscouncil.net and www.southerntierbiennial.com.
Find general information at www.myartscouncil.net and www.southerntierbiennial.com.
