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Robert Lavers

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Posted
I was thinking of entering the Royal Birmingham Society of Artists Open Competition next month, even though it is probably a bit out of my league. I then checked the conditions: £10 per entry, and £18-£23 for each work selected. The Society then takes 35% + VAT commission for every sale. Perhaps the costs are designed to keep the numbers down, which seems against the point of an Open. What have others found, and how have they got on?

Keith Crooks

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Posted
I'm a new member, registered 30 minutes ago, 29 of which have been wasted trying to enter the Abstract Art competition. The website won't recognise that I have logged in. Please help, moderators, anybody...?
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Gillian Cooke

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Posted
Maybe try logging out and then log in again? Worth a try!  Welcome to POL by the way!!

Alan Bickley

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Posted
Perhaps you need to wait 24 hours after registering!  Dawn Farley, the online editor will be back on Monday, she’ll be able to sort it out and get you up and running if you’re still having issues.
Moi 17

Linda Wilson

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Posted
Open competitions are often expensive to enter.  Derwent even take 40% commission.

Bari Marsh

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Posted
I can't understand people getting excited about being accepted for competitions or galleries when they have paid x number of pounds to enter and will be changed ridiculous commission rates if they sell. Your paying them to show your work and then paying them again to sell your work. 
michael

Michael Edwards

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Posted
From my experience they are more about personal ego.  I long ago realised that any work submitted is subject to the very subjective wiles of the organisers and judges and given that styles, subjects, etc are so variable, and you are therefore rarely comparing like with like, it's a lottery whether or not you are selected and whether or not your work is included in the 'winners'. So not for me - I would rather spend my efforts working either for my own enjoyment or to commission where I know it will be appreciiated. It puts me in mind of those dreadful cookery shows on the TV where the pompous judges declare (among other things)  'not enough seasoning'. Well some like more and some like less and so it is with art.

Ellen Mooney

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Posted
I do agree with you Michael about judging like for like and being a lottery. However, I do enter the TALP, although I feel abstract painters, like myself, seem to be swimming against the tide at times. I was a shortlisted finalist with the SAA annual open competition…….and it was an abstract painting! Needless to say I was really surprised. Just that in itself was good enough for me. It’s always down to opinions. 

Alan Bickley

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Posted
Well I like them! I enjoy working on new painting projects for individual competitions, particularly the TALP annual competition -  they get me motivated - not that I necessarily need motivating… I’ve won some fabulous prizes over the last decade worth many thousands of pounds, obviously art materials, all of which get used. It’s usually only a relatively small amount of money to enter most of these, well worth it for me anyway!
With Sarah, Phil, Ellen, Rose the dentist, and the granddaughter whose name I forget.

Robert Jones, NAPA

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Posted
Keith  Crooks - try again today: few websites work at lightning speed when you have to apply to join them. Most of them are extremely frustrating - but patience will be rewarded.  In time.  Eventually.  At length.  
big hat

Collette Hughes

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Posted
I get excited about being accepted for competitions and galleries. I live in a rural area and don't belong to any clubs or societies. Entering these things gives me the chance to see peoples reactions to my work. I've won several decent prizes, maybe I've just been lucky. We all choose to promote ourselves differently. It can be good fun.

Sylvia Evans

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Posted
I must admit i am becoming a tad disillusioned with galleries and competitions. Im happy to enter the freebie  ones on here for a bit of fun and have won some of them… I have always entered the North Wales Open for the last thirty years . I entirely agree that its someone else's choice  and subjective .  I know it sounds a bit like sour grapes ( probably is) but the latest exhibition is be ing organised by a much younger team ,and  it shows.  Their  concept is quite different from some of us golden oldies  I was even quite gobsmacked that I got even one in.   I doubt that i will be bothered again, its like throwing tenners into the wind.  Collette i quite understand why you have a painting in Conwy and are happy to have it there. Its a lovely gallery and very prestigious.  .

Edited
by Sylvia Evans

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