Southern Exposure is currently considering work for 2009 and beyond!

Southern Exposure (SoEx) provides opportunities to visual artists who demonstrate a potential for artistic growth. We are committed to supporting new, diverse and risk-taking forms of visual art and are accepting submissions for new work in all visual arts and related mediums. A guiding principal of the organization is to offer the opportunity to artists to work in formats and contexts that extend and challenge their creative development. While we primarily focus on supporting local artists we encourage submissions from non-local and international artists as well. SoEx is interested in supporting a diverse population of artists and strongly encourages women and people of color to apply.

What Your Submission Will be Considered For
Southern Exposure will consider submission for solo exhibitions, group exhibitions, public art projects, public programs and events. We encourage artists interested in submitting work to familiarize themselves with our programming as a way to focus their application. View past programs in the archive sections of our website at www.soex.org.

Exhibitions: Featuring solo, thematic, and juried exhibitions, SoEx offers emerging artists the opportunity to work in formats and contexts that extend and challenge their artistic development and exposure to new audiences.

-Solo Exhibitions: SoEx is committed to offering major solo exhibitions to emerging artists because this opportunity is rarely afforded to growing artists and the resulting project can make a substantial difference in the development of their artistic practice. SoEx always commissions new work by artists selected for solo exhibitions and awards artists an honorarium and materials budget. Since 1999, 78 solo projects have been presented at Southern Exposure.

-Group Exhibitions: Thematic group exhibitions respond to new trends in artistic practice, reach out to diverse audiences, and encourage a debate on contemporary art and culture. These exhibitions are a unique opportunity for artists and curators to bring timely issues to a broader audience and to explore experimental and emerging curatorial practices.

Public Art: Southern Exposure’s public art programs seek to commission and present new work that intervenes and interacts in the social and political spheres beyond the space of gallery. SoEx supports and encourages these practices as few venues support emerging artists working in the public. SoEx seeks to commission both temporary and permanent public works in diverse sites throughout the Bay Area.

Public Programs and Events: Workshops, lectures, performances, artists' talks, screenings, education programs, panels and symposia create a forum on contemporary aesthetic, sociopolitical and cultural issues. SoEx is committed to presenting public programs that contribute to projects on view and explores ideas presented in its exhibition and education projects.

ABOUT THE REVIEW PROCESS
All submissions are reviewed by SoEx’s Curatorial Committee, a volunteer group of up to 10 artists plus two staff members. The committee represents a diverse cross section of the Bay Area arts community and is committed to supporting visual artists working in new and challenging capacities. Reviewing proposals is a highly competitive process as we receive upwards of 100 applications per review period. Submissions are reviewed on a quarterly basis, so it may take up to four months for us to contact you once we’ve received your proposal. All artists who apply will receive a letter informing them of the Curatorial Committee’s decision. Artists are selected for exhibition on the basis of the overall quality and innovative character of their work. Commercial potential is not a factor in our consideration. If your work is not initially accepted, we encourage you to submit new work for reconsideration.

HOW WE SUPPORT SELECTED ARTISTS
Artists exhibiting at Southern Exposure are dynamically involved in all aspects of their exhibition. SoEx feels strongly that artists need and deserve financial support, and offers exhibiting artists an honorarium and materials budget along with a membership to Southern Exposure. Selected artists work with staff and curators to develop new ideas, are involved in the installation of their work, in the development of related public programs, as well as community outreach. Shows are widely publicized through print materials, emails, to the media and the arts community, as well as through press releases sent to critics, editors and arts writers. SoEx staff and curatorial committee members are available for guidance and assistance and can provide volunteer support.

Download the application form here.