Southern Exposure's Open Submissions Process

Open Submissions for Artists

Submission criteria + the review process

Southern Exposure's projects and exhibitions are curated by our all-artist curatorial committee. Southern Exposure presents newly developed projects which are unusual in form and idea. Please familiarize yourself with our recent programming. We encourage submissions from national and international artists of diverse ages, genders, ethnicities and backgrounds. 

We strongly recommend artists interested in submitting work familiarize themselves with our recent programming and mission as a way to focus their application and ensure their work is an appropriate fit. Past projects have included performances and lectures in private homes, immersive interactive installations, walks, workshops and an event in a cave. View past programs in the calendar section of our website. Southern Exposure is not accepting proposals from curators at this time.

Submissions can be sent to SoEx's Curatorial Council, a group of local artists and SoEx’s Artistic Director, representing a broad cross section of the Bay Area arts community at [email protected]. Open submissions is a highly competitive process as we receive hundreds of applications annually. Work is chosen based on its fit within our programming at a particular moment, not on the judgment of its merit alone. 

OPEN CALLS

Information about submitting work to Southern Exposure's annual juried exhibition can be found here

About Southern Exposure's Exhibitions & Projects Program

With a focus on commissioning new work, SoEx offers visual artists opportunities to develop in-depth, idea-based projects, including events, performances, workshops, exhibitions and new modes of presentation, both in our gallery space and off-site, in the public realm.

Artists are encouraged to utilize formats and contexts that challenge their artistic development and expose their work to new audiences. Believing that art can create new forums for addressing social, political and cultural issues, SoEx encourages artists to stimulate dialogue with artwork, providing support in the form of space, resources, documentation, outreach and collateral materials like critical writing and publications.

At Southern Exposure, artists are involved in all aspects of their projects. If your work is selected to be presented at Southern Exposure, it marks the beginning of an ongoing collaborative conversation with SoEx staff and the Curatorial Council. Artists work closely with SoEx to develop their ideas, install their work, plan public programs and strategize and support community outreach.