Member Exhibitions

Each year PAAM mounts upwards of six members’ open and juried exhibitions in which participants display their work alongside some of America’s most noteworthy artists.

Members’ Exhibitions at PAAM represent the work of our contemporary artist-members. Many of these artists live on Cape Cod either full-time or for part of the year. While the work varies greatly in media and approach, each artist-member joins a long roster of distinguished artists who have studied, taught, and exhibited at PAAM over the past 100 years. There is no submission fee for members’ exhibitions, but membership must be up to date. To see any upcoming Member Exhibitions, visit the Upcoming Exhibitions page.

OPEN EXHIBITIONS

In the 1970’s, the PAAM membership voted to present “open” exhibitions, allowing any and all members to exhibit their work in PAAM’s galleries throughout the year. Members’ Open Exhibitions represent an eclectic and extensive body of work displayed in salon style – that is, works that are stacked and tend to blanket the walls, versus the minimalist presentation most often seen in contemporary art galleries and museums. This practice was begun in Paris, France in the 19th century, where work was hung floor to ceiling and great paintings rubbed shoulders with the work of new and evolving artists.

Any member in good standing can have artwork included in an Open exhibition, provided it adheres to our Members’ Exhibition Policies. Many, but not all, Open exhibitions have themes or particular size restrictions, including the annual Members’ 12×12 Exhibition and Silent Auction.

JURIED EXHIBITIONS

Juried exhibitions at PAAM represent a smaller cross-section of member artists whose work has been chosen by a guest curator after being submitted. Each show reflects the aesthetic judgment and curatorial eye of invited jurors. Any member in good standing may submit their work for consideration. Except in special circumstances, Juried exhibitions do not have themes or size restrictions.

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Member Exhibition Policies

The Provincetown Art Association and Museum is pleased to offer year-round exhibition opportunities to emerging and established artists within the PAAM membership. It is essential that artists submitting work adhere to these established procedures to ensure exhibitions of the highest quality. Please review the following membership exhibition policies; failure to comply may result in exclusion from member exhibitions.

ELIGIBILITY

PAAM Members are welcomed and encouraged to submit artwork to Juried and Open Members’ Exhibitions. Membership dues must be current through the exhibition dates of any show to which work is submitted.

SIZE RESTRICTIONS

12” in every direction for the 12 x 12 Members’ Exhibition and Silent Auction.

Less than or equal to 20” in every direction (including the frame) for the Members’ Open: Small Works Exhibition.

Less than or equal to 24”x 24” in every direction (including the frame) for all other Members’ Open Exhibitions, unless otherwise stated.

There are no size restrictions for Members’ Juried Exhibitions.

ENTRIES

Members may submit one piece per exhibition. If submitting a diptych or triptych the pieces must be attached by a hinge and the entire piece may not exceed the maximum size restriction. Works must not have been previously exhibited at PAAM. All paint must be dry. Wall pieces must be ready to hang with a wire or similar hanging device securely attached to the back. Wall pieces without a suitable hanging device will not be accepted. However, when submitting a 12×12, a hanging device is not required. When provided by the artists, gallery affiliation will be included on labels and checklists.

SUBMITTING WORK: DROP-OFF DAYS

Artwork must be submitted on designated drop-off days. If artists cannot hand-deliver their own work during the specified time period, they may send someone in their stead, ship the artwork in advance, or drop off during the weekend prior to the drop-off day during regular Museum hours only.

RETRIEVING WORK: PICK-UP DAYS

Artwork must be retrieved on designated pick-up days. If artists cannot retrieve their work during the specified time period, they may send someone in their stead, make arrangements to have their work shipped, or arrange to pick up the Sunday prior to the pick-up day during regular Museum hours only. If the work has not been picked up after 90 days, it becomes the property of PAAM.

SHIPPING

Members may ship their work to PAAM, but it must be received on or before the drop-off day. Works that arrive late will not be included in the exhibition. Artists must include a complete Member Exhibition Receipt with all pertinent information, as well as return shipping information.

We are happy to ship pieces back to artists, and provide a Return Shipping Form to begin the process. We use USPS, and charge a $15 handling fee in addition to the cost of shipping, which includes insurance determined by the price you list for your piece. PAAM cannot ascertain the shipping costs prior to packaging and weighing the artwork for return. 

Alternatively, you can send us a prepaid label from your preferred shipper (FedEx, UPS, USPS, etc.) and a check for the $15 handling fee, or simply send us a blank check that we will fill out when we have determined your shipping charges.

SALES

PAAM promotes the sale of artwork. The designation NFS (Not for Sale) may be used when the exhibitor does not wish to sell a work, but no works will be listed POR (Price on Request). Note that PAAM receives 40% commission on the sale of artwork in Members’ Exhibitions, so prices set by artists must include this 40%. The exception to this is the Members’ 12×12, which is a silent auction and fundraiser. In the 12×12, all pieces are for sale beginning at $125 (bidding increments are $25), and PAAM takes 50% of the final sale price. Members are always welcome to donate their commission of a sale back to PAAM. Members will be contacted if their work is purchased, and will receive a check by mail for their rightful percentage of the sale once the piece has been paid for in full. PAAM is only permitted to disclose the name and contact information of the buyer the buyer agrees.

AGREEMENT

Submitting artwork to PAAM members’ exhibitions will constitute an agreement on the part of the artist to all conditions set forth here. No one except authorized personnel will be allowed in the galleries during the jurying and hanging of exhibitions. No work that has been accepted for exhibition may be withdrawn before the closing date of the exhibition. PAAM reserves the right to refuse eligibility to participants whose work endangers the structural integrity of the facility and/or the artwork it holds. PAAM is responsible for members’ artwork beginning on the drop-off day through the duration of the exhibition. If a piece of artwork has not been picked up after 90 days of the close of the exhibition in which it was exhibited, the artwork becomes the property of PAAM.