· How do I register?
In order to complete your City-Wide Open Studios Festival registration you must complete the following 4 steps:
1. Register as a CWOS Artist or Renew Your CWOS Registration:
a) Visit www.cwos.org and click “Register As An Artist” on the left side of page to register as an artist. ($50 fee required)
b) If you already have a CWOS profile, login to your account at www.cwos.org and make sure that your registration is renewed. (If your account needs to be renewed it will indicate this on the top of the page when you login.)
2. Complete or Update Main Profile – ***Please update as soon as possible, we are beginning to pull information for the Advocate now.***
a) Login to your account and click on “My Artist Profile” on the left side of page.
b) Select “Main Profile” at the top of the page.
c) Complete or update your profile, including your statement, bio/cv, mediums, key words etc.
d) This information will be used by Artspace to create your listing in the Advocate Official Map & Guide. (***If your statement is longer than 50 words feel free to leave it as is, the Artspace staff will edit it down for your listing in the printed Map & Guide. If you prefer to edit it yourself, please make sure your statement is 50 words or less.***)
3. Upload Portfolio Images
a) Login to your account and click on “My Artist Profile” on the left side of page.
b) Click on “Add Portfolio Images” at the top of the page. Add up to 20 images of your work.
c) The Artspace staff will choose one image from your profile to include in the printed Map & Guide. If the image is not black & white, we will convert it to black & white. The Artspace staff will select the image which, in our judgment, works best in a black & white format.
4. Indicate your Exhibition Preference
a) Login to your account and click on “My Artist Profile” on the left side of page.
b) Click on “Exhibition Options” in green letters at the top of the page.
c) Indicate whether you will need a pedestal space or wall space for the Main Exhibition
d) Select the weekend that you will participate in CWOS.
· Which weekend should I participate in?
- In our first weekend, September 25-26, we will feature artists with studios at Erector Square, New Haven’s largest studio complex, in the former Erector Set factory. Erector Square is also making a limited number of their unrented spaces available for the weekend.
- During our second weekend, October 2-3, we will highlight artists in their individual studios and small studio complexes. Studios on New Haven’s West side will be open on Saturday, October 2 and studios on the East side will be open on Sunday, October 3. West Cove Studios has some space available for interested artists.
- The culminating weekend, October 9-10 will take place in the Alt Space, the new Coop Center for Creativity, located across the street from Cooperative Arts and Humanities High School. The two-story building, built in the 1960s, offers a mix of office spaces and storefronts (Ashley’s Ice Cream, Cooper’s Dress Shop got their start here…). Preference will be given to artists without access to a local studio and who can make a commitment to either create installation-based work or offer a demonstration, workshop, or talk to students and teachers at Coop High School. Access to the space will begin mid-September. All questions about the Alt Space can be addressed to Andria Matthews at andria@artspacenh.org.
· What if I just want an artist profile on cwos.org, but do not want to participate in the City-Wide Open Studios Festival?
This is ok. We encourage you to visit your fellow artists’ studios during the CWOS Festival.
· How do I rent a space, or apply for the Alt Space?
After you register as a CWOS artist online and upload images of your work, contact the following people to secure a space rental or apply to participate in the Alt Space:
Weekend 1 (September 25-26) - Erector Square
Contact Kathi Telman at 203-865-5055 or erectorsquare@yahoo.com to rent a studio for $70.
Weekend 2 (October 2-3) - Private Studios/Small Complexes
West Cove Studio & Gallery along with A-Space Gallery will provide alternative space for CWOS registered artists. 10.000 sq. ft. of space available. For further information contact
Roy Smith at (609) 638-8501 or rts3rd@hotmail.com.
Weekend 3 (October 9-10) - Alt Space
The Alt Space will be open for several weeks for artists to be able to conceive and mount their installations in the presence of other artists. Based on your application and the slides of your work you've provided on CWOS.org the Artspace team will invite you to visit the Alt Space during the second week of September to determine an appropriate location for you.
Because there is limited space, preference will be given to artists that meet the following criteria:
· Lack of access to a local studio or
· A commitment to create installation-based work or
· A commitment to offer a demonstration, workshop, or talk to students and teachers at Coop High School
To register to participate in the Alt Space at Coop Center for Creativity:
1. Visit http://www.cwos.org/register.asp?artist=1 to register as an artist for City-Wide Open Studios. In addition, check the box indicating your interest in "2010 CWOS Alternative Space Registration" and pay both the $50 CWOS registration fee and$70 Alt Space fee. (If you have already registered as a CWOS artist, login to your account and register on the "My Artist Profile" page by clicking "Click here to rent a space [$70.00]".)
2. Complete the questionnaire below and submit your answers to andria@artspacenh.org.
You must complete both of these steps in order to be considered for the Alt Space. Please register as soon as possible. Spaces will be assigned on a first-come first-served basis. Preferred deadline is Monday, August 23. Final deadline is September 1.
Alt Space Questionnaire
1. Is this your first time participating in City-Wide Open Studios?
2. Do you have any special requirements? (i.e. mobility issues that require a 1st-floor placement? etc.)
3. What availability will you have leading up to the October 9-10 weekend?
3a. Are you interested in creating an installation in the space? Please elaborate on your work at the moment and what you might like to do at Alt Space.
3b. Are you willing to offer a demonstration, workshop, or talk to students and teachers at Coop High School? Please elaborate on the kind of demonstration, workshop or talk you could offer.
**We understand that you may need to see the space to make final decisions on what you will do in Alt Space. Please use the questions here to give us a general idea of your work and what you might do at Alt Space.**
Questions about Alt Space? Contact Andria Matthews at andria@artspacenh.org.
· What is the difference between the Alt Space and renting a space at West Cove or Erector Square?
Both options have their distinct advantages. The Alt Space will be open for several weeks for artists to be able to conceive and mount their installations in the presence of other artists. West Cove and Erector Square are available the weekend only, but offer some things not at the downtown space: easy parking and move-in conditions.
· Why should I participate?
- If you are new to the area, CWOS is an incredible way to meet the large community of artists living and working in Greater New Haven and to introduce your work to local audiences.
- If you have participated in CWOS before, we hope you will use this year's event as a way to move your practice forward in solidarity so as to make the visual arts community as visible as it can be.
· How much does it cost to participate?
- There is a $50 registration fee to participate. This fee covers both your presence on the online year-round guide as well as your participation in the Festival Exhibition at Artspace.
- There is an additional $70 fee to use the Alt Space or an Erector Square studio.
· What can I show in the Festival Exhibition at Artspace?
- Every CWOS artist is invited to select a small (18” x 18” x 18”) representative work for the exhibition.
· How can I help publicize CWOS and my participation in it?
- After you register online and upload images of your work, you’ll be invited to “Shout it Out!” on Facebook. We hope you’ll click on the icon we have included to help spread the word to your network!
How do I get started with CWOS?
Registration can be done online only. The first step is to register as a member artist on our site, here. You will be asked to register using your e-mail address and a password of your choosing. You will be required to enter a studio or home address.
What if I don't have a studio address?
For now, enter your home address on the My Artist Profile page, because you can't leave the studio address section blank. To keep your address hidden from the public, make sure the box next to "My address and telephone number are visible on my artist profile" is unchecked. You can always come back and change this later if you have a studio or a temporary studio you will be opening for the Open Studios Weekend.
What if I don't have a computer or internet access?
Hmmm....you are reading this on the internet.
When can I register for CWOS?
You can register for CWOS at any time. If you would like to be eligible for the CWOS 2010 Exhibitions, you need to register by June 1, 2010. More exhibition opportunities will be announced to CWOS member artists throughout the year.
What does it cost?
The fee is $50.00. (+ $70 for space rental if needed)
Are there limits to what I can post in my CWOS profile?
You will have the option to enter an artist's statement, bio/resume, links to external websites, and other contact info. You can also upload as many as 20 images to your online portfolio. Your portfolio will be active for an entire year beginning with the date of your registration. You will be able to modify the content and images at any time.
What format and size should my portfolio images be?
The images need to be either in JPG or GIF format. There is no size restriction (dimensions or file size) for each image. However, the larger your file, the longer it will take to upload. Please be sure to wait for each image to fully upload before continuing to edit your profile.
Who will be able to view my online portfolio?
Anyone visiting the CWOS website.
Will there be an opportunity for me to open my studio to the public, as in past CWOS weekends?
Yes, the 2010 Open Studios weekends are scheduled for September 25 - 26, October 2 - 3, and October 9 - 10, 2010. You may open your own studio or a temporary one.
If I don’t have an accessible studio, will there be an Alternative Space?
Yes! Scroll up for details on how to register for the Alt Space or contact andria@artspacenh.org.
How do I organize my own Alternative Space?
• Contact artists you would like to show with—explore the Artist Directory for contact information.
• Find a place that has enough space for you or your group, safe public access, enough light to show your work, electricity if necessary, and that can be locked when you’re not there. Having a functioning bathroom is recommended but not a necessity.
• Get written permission from the property owner to use the space for a period of time that is adequate for you to set up, show, and take down your work.
• Notify Artspace of your plans so that your space can be advertised.
• To be respectful of the property owner, please leave the property as you found it. It's recommended that artists record the condition of the space with a few digital photos as soon as access is given.
How will artists be selected for the Juried Exhibition?
ArtSpace has invited guest jurors Kristina Newman-Scott, Director of Visual Arts, Real Art Ways, and Patricia Hickson, Emily Hall Tremaine Curator of Contemporary Art, the Wadsworth Atheneum, to jury the juried exhibition. You will have an opportunity to submit work for consideration through this site. Please stay tuned for more details. We will be in touch with you.
What happens if I sell my work during CWOS?
Work sold through any of the three exhibitions organized by Artspace is subject to a 30% ArtSpace commission. For other sales made during your weekend event, please consider making a tax-deductible donation of 20% of your sales.
I have registered and created my profile, but I don't see my profile in the Artist Directory.
Be sure to check the box on the My Artist Profile page that says "Make my artist profile visible." Be sure to click the "Save" button at the bottom of the page.
When I click the link to preview my portfolio, I get an "Invalid Artist ID" message.
You are probably getting this message because you have not made your profile visible yet. To do this, check the box on the My Artist Profile page that says "Make my artist profile visible" and be sure to click the "Save" button at the bottom of the page.
Will Artspace offer any registration help?
Yes. Check back here, or on our Facebook site for a schedule of our registration help sessions.
