Firehouse Arts Center’s Harrington Gallery
Call for Art: Level Up - Play and Literature
In Conjunction with the City of Pleasanton’s Library Summer Reading Program
Theme: Level Up (books, games, puzzles, skills growth, play, and literature)
Harrington Gallery Hours:
Wednesday – Friday 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Saturday 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Entries Accepted Through Sunday, May 11, 2025, 11:59 p.m.
Notice of Acceptance via Online Juried Shows: Friday May 16, 2025
Date of Delivery for Accepted Artwork: Friday, May 23, 2025, from 10:00am – 12:00 p.m.
Exhibition Term: Saturday, May 31 through Saturday, August 2, 2025
Reception: Saturday, June 7, 2025, 1:00 – 3:00 p.m.
Acceptances to be selected by City of Pleasanton staff.
Exhibition Terms and Information
Prospectus
The Level Up - Play and Literature group exhibition invites artists residing or working in Pleasanton, the Tri Valley, or greater Bay Area to submit their artwork inspired by the theme. On view and hosted in conjunction with the City of Pleasanton’s Library Summer Reading Program, this exhibition highlights the interplay of visual art and playful expression. This year’s theme for the summer reading program and the exhibition will be Level Up at Your Library. This incapsulates books, games, puzzles, as well as learning, skills growth, play, and literature in general. The exhibition will be held at the Firehouse Arts Center’s Harrington Gallery, located at 4444 Railroad Avenue, Pleasanton, CA 94566.
Eligibility
• Accepted artwork must be hand-delivered to the Harrington Gallery to be included.
• Open to artists of all ages. Accepted artists under the age of 18 will need to have a parent or legal guardian represent them.
• No shipping will be offered, and artists must be willing to cover shipping costs for non-local buyers.
• All two-dimensional & three-dimensional media accepted.
• Freestanding three-dimensional work must be appropriate size for display on 15” x 15” x 40” pedestal.
• Video/digital art will be considered based on available space; artists are responsible for providing all necessary equipment. Contact onlinejuriedshows@gmail.com for directions for video submissions.
Rules of Entry
• All work must be original and be available for sale. Works listed as Not for Sale (NFS) will not be included.
• No changes to title/pricing will be allowed after submission.
• All submissions and payments must be made through onlinejuriedshows.com Log in on this page and click Enter This Show to begin your submissions.
• Each artist may submit up to 3 entries for $50.00. Additional entries are $5.00 each, for a maximum of 5 entries total (fees are non-refundable).
• Acceptances/non-acceptances letter to be delivered via Online Juried Shows on Friday May 16, 2025. Artists will be emailed when the results are available in their OnlineJuriedShows artist profiles.
• The City of Pleasanton declines artwork entries that include significant elements of nudity, sexually explicit, overtly political, or religious imagery and content, graphic depiction of violence, or profanity.
• Size of finished work not to exceed 4 feet in any direction including frame.
• Maximum weight of work up to 40 pounds.
• Work is to be installation ready; two-dimensional work must be framed or prepared and ready for hanging according to the following requirements:
o Flat D-ring hardware with an opening 3/16” or larger, placed 1/4 of the way from top.
o Artwork must be wired, wire must not be visible at top of the frame.
o NO saw-tooth hangers or protruding screw eyes will be accepted.
• Work must be clean, frames in good condition, Plexiglas preferred.
• Unframed canvas must have gallery wrapped sides.
• No wet paintings.
• Photography must be matted and framed, no prints on canvas.
• Prints on metal allowed but must be wired as specified above.
• Artwork not adequately prepared or formatted according to instructions will not be included in the exhibition. Entry fee will not be reimbursed.
• Artwork may not be removed by artist or buyer until Saturday, August 2, 2025, 3:00 p.m. or later. If you are unable to pick up your artwork on this date, please arrange for someone else to do so. Late pick up fees will apply (see Payment and Fees section).
Digital Entries
Artwork will be juried using digital images (jpgs) through Online Juried Shows. Log in on this page and click Enter This Show to begin. An entry is one individual artwork. Each artist may submit up to 3 entries for $50.00, additional entries are $5.00 each, for a maximum of 5 entries (fees are non-refundable).
Format for Digital Images (jpegs) and How to Send Them
• All entries must be submitted in a digital JPEG or JPG format, either cropped to remove background or on a black background without a mat.
• Photos of the artwork should not be taken through glass or Plexiglas.
• Image quality is critical; poor photography and presentation may affect acceptance by the juror.
• The digital image must accurately represent the painting.
• Submitted images must not include matting or framing.
• Crop the photos to include only the artwork and be sure your images are right-side-up.
• Before uploading your images, make sure they are smaller than 4MB, but at least 1920 pixels on the longest side at 72 dpi. Images should be in sRGB colorspace.
• Complete instructions for DIGITAL IMAGE SPECIFICATIONS are found on https://onlinejuriedshows.com/Help.aspx. For help with your submissions, contact onlinejuriedshows@gmail.com or 888-666-1351
Payment and Fees
• Entry fee of $50.00 covers up to 3 entries, additional entries are $5.00 each, for a maximum of 5 entries (fees are non-refundable).
• There is no guarantee of acceptance into the exhibition.
• Entries will be made online to Online Juried Shows. Log in on this page and click Enter This Show to begin..
• Commission of 30% based on original price to the City of Pleasanton.
• Late Pick-up Fee: $5.00 per day per work will be charged if it is not picked up Saturday, August 2nd, 2025. Artists may designate someone to pick their work up for them with prior notification to gallery staff.
Early delivery requests may be accommodated at the discretion of staff, and additional fees may apply.
Sales/Insurance
• All submitted artwork must be for sale. The City of Pleasanton will manage artwork sales and tax, retaining a 30% commission on all sales made during the exhibition or as a result of the exhibition.
• Accepted artists may bring up to three unframed prints (reproductions) to sell at the gallery, which will also be subject to the 30% commission by the City of Pleasanton.
o Please place these in a protective plastic sleeve, and label with pricing, artist name, title on back of print.
o These prints will not be hung on the gallery walls, but will be sold on a secure rack in the gallery.
o Prints do not have to be of the artwork submitted/accepted into the show.
o Print size limitation of 20x24 inches.
• Artists will be notified of any sales, and a W-9 form will be provided. This form must be completed, signed, and returned in order for payment to be processed. Artist commission payments will be issued approximately three weeks after the completed W-9 form is received.
• Artwork will be insured for the sales price, minus the 30% commission, from the time of delivery, in the condition noted, until the specified pick-up date. In the event of an insurance claim, proof of prior sales or valuation of the work will be required.
Publicity and Reception
• Acceptances will be selected by City of Pleasanton staff.
• Exhibition will be promoted via print and digital media.
• Postcards available to participants at day of artwork delivery.
• The City of Pleasanton reserves the right to use submitted images for promotional purposes.
• All artists are welcome to attend the reception.
• The reception will have light snacks and non-alcoholic beverages.
For Additional Information
Please contact HarringtonGallery@cityofpleasantonca.gov or (925) 931-4840.
Important Dates/Deadlines
Exhibition Dates: Saturday, May 31 through Saturday, August 2, 2025
Deadline: Entries and Payment due by Sunday, May 11, 2025, 11:59 p.m.
Notifications: Acceptance/Non-Acceptance sent by Friday May 16, 2025.
Bio/Statements Due: Friday, May 23, 2025, 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. (At Artwork Delivery)
Delivery of Work: Friday, May 23, 2025, 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Exhibition Opens: Saturday, May 31, 2025, 10:00 a.m.
Reception: Saturday, June 7, 2025, 1:00 – 3:00 p.m.
Exhibition Closes: Saturday, August 2, 2025, 3:00 p.m.
Pick-up of Work: Saturday, August 2, 2025, 3:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.