A Directory of Galleries and Museums that Accept Photography Submissions
For exhibition, representation, and acquisition
Hi,
This article is a directory of galleries and museums that accept submissions from photographers for exhibition, representation, and acquisition.
The institutions listed here either invite portfolio submissions year-round or, in some cases, have a specific period of the year in which they will consider photographic work for exhibitions, representation, or acquisition.
Why submit a portfolio of work to a gallery or museum?
Submitting a portfolio to galleries or museums is a free opportunity to have your work seen by curators and gallerists. That alone is valuable! However, placing your work in front of important industry eyes can also lead to growth opportunities, like reaching new audiences, making sales, finding gallery representation, and more.
Specifically, galleries accept portfolio submissions for the purpose of finding new photographers to represent or bodies of work for solo exhibitions. Curatorial staff at museums, on the other hand, review portfolios with an eye toward acquisitions or, more commonly, to familiarize themselves with contemporary work to consider when curating future exhibitions. Whether you build a working relationship with a gallery or have work shown in a museum exhibition, it will mean a major institution championing your work to an audience that would otherwise not see it. Often, this is what leads to sales, patronage, and acquisition.
Best Practices
There are currently 44 galleries and museums in this directory. I have only included institutions whose websites explicitly invite photography portfolio submissions.
Before submitting your work, it’s important to consider whether your work and practice align with the specifics of a given institution. I have done my best to note when galleries or museums have explicit specializations or restrictions on the kind of photography they accept and represent (for example, if the gallery only shows photography from a specific region or of a specific genre). Nonetheless, it’s always a good idea explore an institution’s exhibition history, represented artists, and so on. If it seems like your work is a good fit, then make your case!
I have listed the institutions below first by geographic region, then alphabetically. By far, the largest amount of listings in this directory are in North America, because that is the region I am in and so the region with which I am most familiar.
However, I plan to maintain this directory as a living document. I am always looking to be made aware of new institutions in any region, especially outside of North America. If you are know an institution missing from this list that specifically invites submissions on its website, or if you work at an institution that would like to be added to the list, please comment below or email me, and I will update the directory accordingly!
A quick note
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Galleries and Museums that Accept Submissions from Photographers
For exhibition, representation, and acquisition
North America
A Photographers Place
Raleigh, NC, USA
Website
Submissions (see the second-to-last question in FAQ)
Abakus Projects
Boston, MA, USA
Website
Submissions
Specialization: Contemporary New England photography