Opportunities

Who can apply for an exhibition at the Delaplaine?
Anyone! Exhibitors have included artists with varying backgrounds and experiences—local and international, professional and nonprofessional, well-known and emerging, self-taught and highly trained. They all have contributed to making the Delaplaine a dynamic site for the visual arts.

How does one apply for a show?
Applying for a show is easy! We accept all exhibition proposals online through EntryThingy, a digital call-for-entry portal. There is a video tutorial for new users that walks you through each step. For those who need further assistance or don’t have online access, please contact the Exhibitions Manager (301-698-0656 x108) to set up an appointment for assistance with the submission.

Is there a cost to apply?
Exhibition proposal fees are $7 for Delaplaine members, and $37 for non-members. Fees are submitted with the proposals on EntryThingy. Of course, anyone can become a Delaplaine member. Find out more.

What is the selection process?
Exhibition proposals are reviewed and evaluated by the Exhibit Selection Panel, consisting of artists, art professionals, art consultants, and art educators. Once the reviews are completed, the Exhibitions Manager schedules the exhibitions that have been accepted by the panel.

Proposals are reviewed every other month:

• Received Jan 15–Mar 14: notified by April 8
• Received Mar 15–May 14: notified by June 8
• Received May 15–July 14: notified by August 8
• Received July 15–Sept 14: notified by October 8
• Received Sept 15–Nov 14: notified by December 8
• Received Nov 15–Jan 14: notified by February 8

What does the panel look for?
There are a number of factors that the panel considers when reviewing a proposal. Does it convey a clear message? Is it cohesive and comprehensive? Will it reach a broad range of audiences? Are installation requirements compatible with the spaces we provide? These are just some of the considerations. Artists aren’t judged on their personal backgrounds or writing skills—it’s really about the art.

How long does it take to get a show, if accepted?
About two years. That gives artists a chance to develop the body of work that they intend to exhibit, and gives the Delaplaine the opportunity to work on exhibition-related programming and promotion. We have seven on-site exhibit spaces that change monthly and three satellite spaces to plan for, so adequate lead-time is very important.