Artists! Darlings! We are running out of time! In just a few short days, the 2022 SEAF Call for Art will close FOREVER! (Because it’s the 2022 Call for Art, so even though in 2023 we’ll have another Call for Art, this one will never open again…I’m overdoing it again, aren’t I?)
Let’s Talk Sales
Now that we’ve all had a moment and worked through the inevitable panic over looming deadlines, this might actually be a good time to give you some information on how sales work at the Seattle Erotic Art Festival. The festival exhibition sales average 28% – which is higher than any other erotic art festival (yes, really). We had a previous all time high in 2013 of 32% and we came close in 2017 with 30%. For all that 2020 was a rough and trying year, we managed to surpass our record with 34% of exhibition art sold, and 2021 was very close.
Festival store sales are excellent, and a great opportunity for artists who make prints, cards, and other associated merchandise to accompany their exhibition pieces. Or even if you don’t have an exhibition piece! If you make adorable naughty little items all year round, the festival store is the place for your wares. Last year the store sold out of about 70% of its inventory!
The first opportunity for art to be sold is actually at the Black Tie Affair, where our Art Activists get a sneak peak at all the art accepted into that year’s festival. During the exhibition, art sales are made by the docents. Docents are volunteers who take on extra hours to review and learn the art, and can be found either at the Art Sales table, or walking the exhibition floor. You can identify a docent at a distance by the white scarves they wear.
Last Minute Check List
So, before you all run off to put together your submissions (and double check what you’ve already submitted), we have some reminders and tips, straight from the desk of Drea Talley, the SEAF Artist Liaison.
- Only one piece of art per entry in visual. Yes, you can upload three photos of art in each entry. Those extra spots are for 3D works that can be viewed from multiple angles. If you try to submit multiple pieces of art in one entry, it will be disqualified.
- No watermarks or lettering on your submitted image. We understand the need to protect your art, and we would never post your art without your explicit permission. That said, watermarks warp the art and make it difficult for the jury to make a decision. Also, we use a blind jury, so identifying text on your images will get your piece pulled and disqualified.
- If you are using a pseudonym or professional name, make sure that’s the name you use in your bio. We will print what you give us. If you listed yourself as Blast Mannington but your bio says Susan Smith, we won’t change it before it goes up on our walls. We edit for grammar, consistency, and style, not for content.
- Double check all spelling and punctuation of art titles! Much like with the bio, we will assume that if you make a spelling, punctuation, or capitalization error in the title of your art, that you did it on purpose. If it seems really obvious that it was a mistake, we might reach out for clarification, but for the most part we assume you took artistic license.
- Just double check all your entries! Sometimes images don’t upload completely if you navigate away from the page early, or if your internet was interrupted at all during the process. Just take a minute and look over everything to be sure that it’s the way you want it to be.
As always, we are delighted that you all take the plunge and submit your art to us. We can’t have a festival without you. If you have any questions about art submission, feel free to email Drea at [email protected]. If you have more general questions about the festival, email [email protected].