Desert Art Center
Gallery Membership and Jury Spring 2025
The Desert Art Center is the longest running art center in the Coachella Valley. We provide art education to adults and children in a range of mediums. Our refurbished gallery, on Palm Canyon Drive, is a historic building and was the city’s first school. In normal years we aim for 4 or 5 major shows each year which are open daily. Gallery members can exhibit and sell their art to the public. We are a non-profit organization and use all our profits for the educational work of our organization.
Gallery membership is both a privilege and a commitment. As a gallery member you are allowed to exhibit in our main gallery shows and to sell your art. We also expect you to become involved in the co-operative nature of our volunteer organization. One aspect of this is the necessity to host the gallery on agreed days each month. When the jurors judge your work, they are looking for not just artistic excellence but assessing whether your work will add something new and different to our gallery, and will it sell. They will also discuss your willingness to become involved in our organization and what skills and experience you can bring.
Check out the GALLERY DISPLAY RULES on our website www.desertartcenter.org and choose your gallery category. This is a two-stage application process, initially digital and secondly personal presentation of art. The initial application process is handled by OnlineJuriedShows. There is a non-refundable $25 jury application fee payable to OnlineJuriedShows. This is the second and last jury for this season.
Stage 1 Entry – For the first stage, applicants must submit their work digitally. Create a new account, or log in and click Enter This Show. You may submit in only one category. (Existing Gallery members may submit in a new section but please read the gallery display rules for requirements.) You will be asked to submit between 6-10 digital images of your artwork. The title of each photo should contain the Title of the work, the medium, and width x height (x depth if 3D). Applications are invited in any medium except jewelry and photography on this occasion.
Images must be jpg, under 4 mb, and in sRGB colorspace. For best results, images should be at least 1920 pixels on the longest side @ 72 dpi. For help with your submissions, contact onlinejuriedshows@gmail.com or 888-666-1351.
Stage 2 – Finalists Show- From the initial digital applicants, the jurors will select a shortlist of artists, who will be asked to bring in two representative pieces of work on a date and at a time to be agreed. Your work will be hung in the Terry Masters Gallery and displayed as a show for member and public viewing. It will not be for sale. You will also be able to see the artwork of the other applicants. At some point during this week the Judges appointed by the DAC will view the entries and select those for full Gallery membership. You will be asked to collect your work at the end of this week.
Do check the GALLERY DISPLAY RULES before presenting your work: https://www.desertartcenter.org/galleryrules/. Your work should be ready for display. It is essential that you live near enough to the Desert Art Center so that you can contribute to its co-operative nature. You will be asked to complete a short questionnaire regarding your future involvement.
Successful New Gallery Members will be notified by e-mail with the jury's decisions. If your work is accepted, you are required to become a Gallery Member. You must pay the $120 fee which covers Regular Membership and Hanging Fee (if you are already a Gallery Member you will need to pay the $57 hanging fee). You will be expected to submit art for at least two shows each year. If you do not, your gallery membership may be invalidated. Those not accepted will also be informed and encouraged to take part in other DAC activities and shows.
Spring Jury 2025
Applications through Onlinejuriedshows.com– February 3 – 28, 2025
Intake of Artwork of shortlisted artists at DAC March 9. 2025
Finalists Show March 10 – March 15
Collect artwork March 15, 2025
First Show intake for new members March 31 2025
Commitment - Once you are a Gallery Member and pay your annual Gallery Member's dues you may show your work in our gallery. You are expected to submit work for the regular shows. In turn you are required to host the gallery six hours per month. You will be asked to attend an orientation, dates to be announced later and also invited to participate in other volunteer activities.
Help – For help with the digital application, contact onlinejuriedshows@gmail.com or 888-666-1351. Any other questions to info@desertartcenter.org
Liability - By submitting artwork, artists acknowledge insurance is the responsibility of each individual artist. The Desert Art Center will not be held responsible for lost, stolen, or damaged property owned by you.