Exhibition Proposals

Individual artists may submit their portfolios for consideration for exhibitions at City Gallery, other City of Charleston locations, and public art projects. Portfolios will be held for two years, at which time artists will be asked to resubmit with current work.

SUBMIT YOUR PORTFOLIO

The City of Charleston Office of Cultural Affairs accepts proposals for group exhibitions at City Gallery at Joe Riley Waterfront Park from pairs of artists, groups of artists, and curators. We are currently accepting proposals for the 2024 calendar and beyond; we accept exhibition proposals on a rolling basis. Programming decisions are typically made 12 to 18 months in advance of an exhibition being mounted. Exhibitions will be reviewed once a year, although proposals may be forwarded at any time. Proposals are reviewed in their entirety, and are scored according to a carefully considered set of criteria:
– The exhibition reflects clear objectives and a strong overall consistent intellectual concept or theme.
– Thoughtful use of the unique City Gallery space. A floor plan can be downloaded here.
– Audience appeal and the ability to stimulate further dialogue in visual culture.
– Originality.
– Overall consistency of artwork proposed.
– Resources required (including transportation, artistic fees, etc.).
– Levels of funding already secured or identified.
Complete the following exhibition proposal application and be sure to include all required materials. Proposals that do not follow the guidelines will not be considered for review.

SUBMIT YOUR PROPOSAL

City Gallery hosts two major Juried Exhibitions annually: the Piccolo Spoleto Juried Art Exhibition, and the MOJA Arts Festival Juried Art Exhibition.

Piccolo Spoleto Juried Art Exhibition

Piccolo Spoleto, established in 1979 by the City of Charleston Office of Cultural Affairs, is the official outreach arm of Spoleto Festival USA. The festival annually presents a varied program that includes visual arts exhibitions, performances of classical music, jazz, dance, theater, and choral music, cultural events and community celebrations, poetry readings, children’s activities, craft shows, and film screenings. The festival’s annual juried art exhibition highlights the recent work of artists across South Carolina featuring painting, sculpture, drawing, printmaking, and photography. Artworks receiving prizes are presented alongside a limited selection of pieces identified by the juror as meriting display.

Call for submissions for this annual event typically goes out in the early spring. The exhibition runs from the end of May until mid-June.

MOJA Arts Festival Juried Art Exhibition

The MOJA Arts Festival is a multi-disciplinary festival produced annually and directed by the City of Charleston Office of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the MOJA Planning Committee, an all-volunteer community arts and cultural group. Additional assistance and guidance is provided by the less formal networks of the MOJA Advisory Board, a group of civic leaders who assist with fundraising and advocacy, and the Friends of MOJA patron circle, representing individual and corporate donors.

Moja, a Swahili word meaning “One,” is the appropriate name for this festival celebration of harmony among all people in our community. The festival highlights the many African American and Caribbean contributions to western and world cultures. MOJA’s wide range of events include visual arts, classical music, dance, gospel, jazz, poetry, R&B music, storytelling, theatre, children’s activities, traditional crafts, ethnic food, and much, much more. In addition to its myriad arts presentations, MOJA also includes an active and busy educational outreach component of workshops in the public schools and senior outreach in community centers.

The festival’s annual juried art exhibition highlights the recent work of regional artists featuring painting, sculpture, drawing, printmaking, and photography. Artworks receiving prizes are presented alongside a limited selection of pieces identified by the juror(s) as meriting display.
Artists are encouraged to submit artwork that celebrates African American and Caribbean culture. Residents of South Carolina, as well as those based in communities in the Gullah Geechee Heritage Corridor in the adjacent states of Georgia and North Carolina, are encouraged to submit work for consideration.

Call for submissions for this annual event goes out in the summer. The exhibition typically runs from the August until early November.

The gallery is two levels with over 350ft in linear space, track lighting, and several pedestals with plexiglass bonnets.

For the gallery’s floorplan, click HERE.