A First-Time Artist’s Guide to the Show at the Boyer Gallery

If you’ve never entered a juried art show before, the words “Open Juried Show” can sound a little intimidating.

What exactly is a juried show? Do you have to be a professional artist? Do you have to belong to the Perkiomen Valley Art Center? How good does your work have to be? What happens if your artwork isn’t accepted? And what, exactly, are you signing up for?

The good news is that you don’t need to have entered a juried exhibition before to give this one a try.

The Perkiomen Valley Art Center’s (PVAC) Annual Open Juried Show is an opportunity for artists to submit their work for consideration in a professionally presented exhibition at The Hill School’s Boyer Gallery in Pottstown. PVAC describes the Fall Open Juried Show as open to any artist, with a small entry fee. In other words, you do not have to be a longtime PVAC member or an established professional artist to participate.

The exhibition is also a real gallery experience. The Boyer Gallery is part of The Hill School’s Center for the Arts and hosts exhibitions throughout the year. The Hill School lists the PVAC Annual Juried Exhibition as part of its 2026–27 gallery calendar.

So, is this show right for you?

Probably—if you’re ready to let someone other than yourself decide whether a particular piece is ready for exhibition.

First, what does “juried” mean?

A juried show is an exhibition in which an artist submits artwork for consideration by a juror.

The juror—usually an experienced artist, teacher, curator, or other art professional—looks at the submitted work and makes the selection.

That means entering a juried show is different from simply registering for a members’ exhibition.

You can submit your artwork, but submission does not guarantee that it will be accepted.

And that is an important part of understanding the experience.

If your work is accepted, congratulations! Your piece will become part of a curated exhibition alongside work selected by the juror.

If it isn't accepted, that doesn't mean your artwork is “bad.”

It simply means that, for this particular exhibition, this particular juror did not select that particular piece.

Jurors have their own experiences, preferences, artistic backgrounds and ways of looking at work. A painting that isn't selected for one show might be accepted—or even win an award—in another.

Think of the process as an opportunity to have your work considered, rather than a test you either pass or fail.

Do I have to be a member of PVAC?

No.

That is one of the most important things for a new artist to know about the Open Juried Show.

PVAC distinguishes between its Members Only Spring Show and its Fall Open Juried Show. The organization specifically describes the Fall show as open to any artist.

So if you have never joined PVAC, you can still consider entering the Open Juried Show.

Of course, becoming involved with PVAC can be a wonderful way to meet other artists, take classes, attend programs and become more familiar with the local art community. But membership is not the prerequisite for trying this particular exhibition.

Do I have to be a professional artist?

No.

You don't need a gallery representation, an art degree, a résumé full of exhibitions or years of professional experience simply to decide to enter an open juried exhibition.

What you do need is artwork that you believe is ready to be shown publicly and that meets the requirements in the show's prospectus.

That distinction is important.

You don't have to ask:

“Am I a professional artist?”

A better question is:

“Do I have a piece of artwork that I am proud of and willing to have judged on its merits?”

If the answer is yes, you may be ready to try.

What makes a juried show different from a regular art show?

In a members' show, the emphasis may be on participation: you create the work, enter it, and it becomes part of the exhibition if it meets the show's requirements.

In a juried show, there is an additional step:

Selection.

You submit an image or images of your artwork. The juror reviews the submissions and chooses which pieces will be included.

This means you should think carefully about which artwork you enter.

Don't necessarily choose the piece that took you the longest to make.

Don't necessarily choose the piece that your family likes best.

And don't necessarily choose your newest piece simply because it's your newest.

Instead, ask yourself:

• Which piece feels the most resolved?
• Which one best represents the kind of artist I want to be?
• Is the composition strong?
• Is the artwork technically finished?
• Would I be comfortable seeing this piece hanging in a gallery?
• Does it stand out when I look at it alongside other artwork?
• Is the photograph of the artwork good enough to represent it accurately?

That last question matters more than many first-time entrants realize.

For a juried exhibition, the juror may initially be judging a photograph of your artwork rather than standing in front of the original piece.

Your photograph therefore needs to do your artwork justice.

“But I'm nervous about being judged.”

That's completely normal.

In fact, being nervous may be a sign that you care about your work.

The word juried can make the process sound much more severe than it really needs to feel. Think of the juror as someone bringing another professional set of eyes to your work.

You are not asking:

“Am I a good artist?”

You're asking:

“Is this particular piece strong enough to be considered for this particular exhibition?”

Those are very different questions.

And remember: even experienced artists have work rejected from juried shows.

Rejection is part of the process for many artists—not evidence that they should stop making art.

What if my artwork is accepted?

That's when the process becomes especially exciting.

Your work will move from the submission stage into an actual gallery exhibition.

You'll have instructions about when and where to deliver your artwork and how it needs to be prepared for exhibition. Read the prospectus carefully. It is the rulebook for the particular year's show.

You'll also want to pay attention to requirements concerning things such as:

• artwork size
• framing
• hanging hardware
• presentation
• labels
• sales information
• drop-off and pickup dates
• entry fees
• deadlines
• whether the work must be original
• whether previously exhibited work is eligible

Don't assume that the requirements for another art show apply to PVAC's show. Every juried exhibition has its own rules.

Is the Boyer Gallery a “real” gallery experience?

Yes—and that's part of what makes this opportunity attractive to an artist who is ready to move beyond simply displaying work at home, in a classroom or at a community event.

The Boyer Gallery is located within The Hill School's Center for the Arts in Pottstown. The gallery presents a series of exhibitions during the year, and its exhibits are free to the public.

For an emerging artist, having your work selected for a juried exhibition in a gallery setting can be a meaningful step.

It gives you the experience of:

creating → photographing → submitting → being juried → preparing → exhibiting → receiving feedback → picking up your work.

That entire cycle is valuable experience, whether or not you receive an award.

Is this show right for me?

Here is a simple way to think about it.

This show may be right for you if:

You want to get your feet wet with juried exhibitions.

This can be a good first experience because the show is open to artists beyond PVAC membership.

You have one or more finished pieces you're proud of.

Your work doesn't have to be perfect. But it should look finished and exhibition-ready.

You're willing to accept that your work might not be selected.

If rejection would make you want to quit making art, you may want to wait until you're more comfortable with the process.

You'd like experience exhibiting outside your own studio or classroom.

A juried exhibition gives you experience with the process professional and emerging artists encounter regularly.

You want to see how your work responds to a juror's eye.

You may learn something from the experience even if your piece isn't accepted.

You want to meet other artists.

PVAC's exhibitions and receptions are also opportunities to become part of the local art community. PVAC has described its past juried-show receptions as opportunities for artists, art lovers and community members to come together.

When might this NOT be the right show?

You might want to wait if:

• Your artwork isn't finished yet.
• You aren't comfortable preparing artwork for exhibition.
• You don't have a good photograph of the work and aren't able to make one.
• You haven't read the prospectus and aren't prepared to follow its requirements.
• You're looking for a show where every submitted piece is automatically exhibited.
• You're not prepared for the possibility of rejection.

There's no shame in waiting for another exhibition.

Sometimes the best preparation for entering a juried show is simply entering a few more non-juried shows first.

What does “Open” mean?

This is another phrase that can be confusing.

Open generally means the exhibition isn't restricted to a particular membership group.

In PVAC's case, that is the distinction between the members-only spring exhibition and the fall Open Juried Show. PVAC specifically invites artists generally to submit work to the fall exhibition.

It does not mean that every artwork submitted will be displayed.

That's where the word juried comes in.

Think of it this way:

Open = You are allowed to apply.

Juried = Your artwork will be selected by a juror.

A first-timer's mindset

If this is your first juried show, don't make your goal:

“I have to win.”

Make your first goal:

“I'm going to learn how this works.”

Then, if your work is accepted, celebrate that accomplishment.

If it receives an award, that's wonderful.

If it doesn't, you've still learned how to enter a juried show, prepare artwork for a gallery, meet deadlines and put your work out into the world.

And if your work isn't accepted?

You can try again.

That's how artists develop.

Your first-juried-show checklist

Before you enter, make sure you can answer yes to these questions:

☐ I have a finished piece I'm proud of.

☐ I have read the current PVAC prospectus.

☐ My artwork meets the show's size and medium requirements.

☐ My artwork is properly presented and ready for exhibition.

☐ I can photograph the artwork clearly.

☐ I understand the entry fee.

☐ I understand that entering does not guarantee acceptance.

☐ I know the submission deadline.

☐ I can deliver the artwork if it is accepted.

☐ I can retrieve it on the required pickup date.

☐ I'm willing to let a juror make the final selection.

If you can check most of those boxes, you may be more ready than you think.

One final piece of advice

Don't talk yourself out of entering because you think everyone else will be “more professional.”

You may walk into the Boyer Gallery and see paintings, photographs, drawings or other artwork that seems far beyond your experience.

That's okay.

Every artist in that room had a first juried show.

Someone has to be the artist who is entering one for the first time.

It might as well be you.

The Perkiomen Valley Art Center has been supporting artists and the arts since 1957, and its Open Juried Show is one of its opportunities for artists to bring their work into a broader public exhibition.

If you've been wondering whether you're “ready,” the better question may not be Am I good enough?

It may simply be:

“Am I ready to give it a try?”

Register ONLINE Now - Annual Open Juried Show

INFORMATION YOU WILL FIND IN THE PROSPECTUS: 

ACCEPTED WORK: Only original art completed within the past five years and never before shown in a Perkiomen Valley Art Center Open Juried Show will be accepted. Artist’s original work, composition, and design only. No copies or likenesses of another artist’s work including published or internet source or reference work not attributable to the artist. No work aided by use of artificial intelligence. Works derived from paintings, reproductions, or photographs by other artists will not be accepted as well as crafts, quilts and/or artwork with objectionable subject matter. The show committee reserves the right to omit any submission that does not fit the show criteria. The show will be juried and judged in the categories specified. The decision of the judge is final. Artists will be notified of the status of their entries by e-mail.

CATEGORIES: Art will be juried and judged in the following categories: A - Oil Mediums B - Acrylic C - Other Water Mediums D - Pastel /Encaustic/ 2D Mixed Media E - Drawing/ Illustration/Print Making/ Photography/ Digital Art F - Sculpture/Assemblage /3D Mixed Media

PLEASE PRE-REGISTER: Go to perkvalleyart.org to let us know you are entering your work and to help us expedite the show. Our volunteers thank you! SIZE & SPECS: Maximum dimensions are 48 inches wide and 72 inches high, including frame. Larger than that will not be accepted for entry. All entries must be dry, wired and ready to hang. No sharp wires or edges. Improperly framed or damaged art will not be accepted.

SHOW ENTRY FEE & ENTRY FORMS: The entry fee allows each artist to submit two pieces of work: PVAC Members: $25.00 Non-members: $35.00. There will be no refund for art that is not accepted. A completed entry form must accompany your work. Block printing and adhesive name and address labels are welcomed! If your work is not for sale - print NFS in that space. Trim and attach the Artwork ID Label to the back of your work and the Temporary ID Card to the upper left corner of the work facing out. The Artist receipt is retained by the artist. Go to perkvalleyart.org for additional forms. SALES: A commission of 30% will be charged on all sales and benefits the mission of PVAC.

ART DROP-OFF & PICK-UP: PVAC will receive works on Thurs., Oct. 22, 3-6pm. If accepted, all work must remain in place for the duration of the show and must be removed on Dec. 12 - 1pm - 3pm. Unaccepted work needs to be picked on Nov. 1, 2-4pm. These are mandatory requirements. If you cannot pick up your work, please make arrangements for someone else to do it for you at the specified time and let us know. AWARDS: Cash awards and prizes of more than $1,800 are anticipated. PUBLISHING: By entering you agree to allow PVAC to publish images of you and your work as it relates to the promotion of PVAC activites in it’s publications, website and social media. For your protection, posted images will be low resolution.

RESPONSIBILITY: PVAC and the exhibition hosts will exercise all possible care with work entered but will not assume responsibility for any loss or damage. By entering work for exhibition you acknowledge that you agree to hold PVAC and the exhibition hosts harmless and free of responsibility in the event of such an occurrence.