Call for Emerging Artists (2025-2026)

IMPORTANT DATES

• Submission deadline: April 1, 2025
• Notification of accepted applicants: May 1, 2025

ENTRY FEE

• Submission fee is $35 for 10-15 images. All submissions will be handled through CaFÉ.

CALL FOR NEW ARTIST MEMBERS
Application Deadline: April 1, 2025
Call all emerging artists! Strata Gallery 501(c)3 is excited to announce our open call for submissions to our Emerging Artists Membership Program. Join a supportive community of fellow artists, gain exposure for your work, and unlock incredible opportunities for growth and collaboration. Whether you’re a painter, sculptor, photographer, or work in any other medium, we welcome your unique perspective and creative vision. Don’t miss this chance to elevate your career and be part of a thriving artistic community. Submit your artwork today!

ABOUT STRATA GALLERY
Strata Gallery was founded in 2021 as a non-profit membership gallery that seeks to showcase the work of internationally established artists whose development has typically followed trajectories tangential to prevalent avant-garde trends. It also showcases the work of promising Emerging Artists who otherwise struggle for gallery exposure, as their work is also at variance with those same trends. To some degree the example of these Established Artists validates the promise of those who are still emergent, and the gallery encourages loose creative partnerships between these two groups. Strata Gallery avoids favoring any distinct style and promotes a range of authentic individual expression embodying diverse material practices, imagery, style, and ethos. Strata Gallery is located in the historic Santa Fe Plaza at 125 Lincoln Ave, Suite 111, Santa Fe, NM 87501.

COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY
Strata Gallery was established as a membership gallery with the primary goal of creating a space for our artists to showcase their work, as well as to create a dialogue between our Established and Emerging artists. Strata Gallery strives to cultivate a membership that reflects the diversity of the community we live in. We encourage applications from candidates of all underrepresented groups, such those who identify as BIPOC artists, as well as artists identifying as LGBTQ+. We seek to attract membership from a diverse group of artists. 

EMERGING ARTIST MEMBERSHIP BENEFITS

• One-year Emerging Artist Membership 
• One Solo Exhibition – Approx. two weeks
• Annual Group Exhibition - Approx. three weeks
• Artist page on website
• Promotion on social media accounts
• Promotion on Newsletter
• Monthly opportunities email list
• Exposure in Santa Fe, New Mexico
• Learn how to curate a solo exhibition
• Director mentorship from Established Artists
• Join an exciting Emerging Artist cohort
• Opportunity to learn how a non-profit gallery system works
• Artist’s net 80% of all works sold, Strata Gallery commission 20%

EMERGING ARTIST MEMBERSHIP REQUIREMENTS

• Emerging Artist Meetings
  • Welcome Cohort Meeting
  • Second Cohort Meeting
  • Third Cohort Meeting
  • Farewell Cohort Meeting
  • Director Curatorial Meeting
  • Exhibition Mentorship Meeting
• Solo Exhibition (approx. 2 weeks)
• Group Exhibition (approx. 3 weeks)
• Gallery Sitting (3 days)
• Develop and lead one creative workshop (virtual or in person)
• Artists are responsible for negotiating and executing the sale of their artwork (20% commission to Strata Gallery).

GALLERY DISPLAY RESTRICTIONS

• All artwork must be hang/display ready with the proper hardware (i.e., paintings framed with wire).
• Media accepted: painting, drawing, sculpture, printmaking, photography, textiles, mixed media, etc.
• No adhesive-like material can be applied to the walls and floor, including but not limited to: tape, vinyl, wallpaper, etc.
• If selected for the program, the Gallery Director will determine what is allowed within the space.

Application Requirements

Submit the following via CaFé:

• Cover Letter
• Bio (PDF format preferred)
• Curriculum Vitae (PDF format preferred)
• Artist Statement (PDF format preferred)
• 10-15 images (JPGs 72 dpi, approx. file size 1 MB) in single PDF
• Artist Membership Application Form (completed upon selection)

Eligibility Criteria

Strata Gallery is now accepting applications for new Emerging Members for a 1-year contract period. We are looking for innovative artist who are actively working and who are interested in being part of an Emerging Artist cohort. Membership is open to artist who work in all media. Current Emerging Membership is comprised of artists who work in painting, sculpture, photography, installation, textiles, and mixed media.

• Must not be represented by a commercial gallery
• Must not be in a Tenured/Tenure Track teaching position, or retired from one

Note: There are no dues for the emerging members, however, Strata Gallery encourages contributions of time or resources where possible.