Artist Opportunities
Artists at all stages of their careers are encouraged to submit proposals for future exhibitions at the Turchin Center for the Visual Arts. The staff at the Turchin Center is committed to supporting artists in a variety of ways. Exhibiting artists receive:
- complimentary round-trip shipping of artwork to and from the Turchin Center
- wall-to-wall insurance coverage for all artworks
- promotion and publicity through the center’s website, social media, and other marketing platforms
- a public reception and a comprehensive honorarium for public presentations in conjunction with their exhibit that can include but is not limited to:
- presentations focusing on the artist and their artwork, scheduled in the TCVA lecture hall, online, or in a hybrid format
- gallery talk/tours
- panel presentations
- class visits with Appalachian State University faculty and students
Sales of artwork are offered as a courtesy to exhibiting artists. Additional opportunities for educational workshops may be possible. Workshop honoraria are negotiated separately, depending on the interests of the exhibiting artist and the center’s education area.
Excellence in museum exhibitions
Exhibitions at the Turchin Center meet professional museum standards and strive to stand out by exceeding expectations in scholarship, interpretation, audience engagement, and design. These exceptional exhibitions explore timely issues, set new standards, and highlight the transformative power of museum experiences.
Indicators of exhibition excellence include:
- Innovative exhibition design
- A fresh perspective or new insight on a topic
- Presentation of new information
- A surprising or thought-provoking synthesis of existing knowledge or collections
- Unique integration of audience voices into the design or content
- Creative use of media, materials, or design elements
- Exceptional beauty, emotional impact, or lasting memorability
- Visitor responses that demonstrate a truly transformative experience
For more information on museum best practices, visit the American Alliance of Museums (AAM) website.
Annual competition opportunities
The Turchin Center offers a variety of annual competitions for artists to submit their work at Appalachian State University. Explore the below opportunities to showcase your exhibitions.
Rosen Outdoor Sculpture Competition & Exhibition
A program of An Appalachian Summer and Appalachian State University, the Rosen Outdoor Sculpture Competition & Exhibition annually brings ten new works to the university campus. The setting, installation assistance, printed materials, corporate sales program, $22,500 in honorariums and awards, and our commitment to artists and education combine to offer this premier venue for contemporary outdoor sculpture. Visit our exhibition page for information about the current Rosen exhibition, or visit our archives for past Rosen exhibitions.
The Appalachian Mountain Photography Competition
The Appalachian Mountain Photography Competition (AMPC) is an annual program of Appalachian State University’s Outdoor Programs (scholarship fundraiser) in partnership with the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation and the Turchin Center for the Visual Arts. This competition features a complete online submission system and provides both amateur and professional photographers the opportunity to showcase their interpretation of the unique character, people, places and pursuits that distinguish the Southern Appalachians. For more information about the competition, schedule and submission requirements, please visit the Appalachian Mountain Photography Competition website.
Online gallery resources
The Turchin Center provides online resources for potential exhibiting artists, including images of the gallery spaces, past installations, and floor plans of the gallery spaces with corresponding dimensions.
Exhibition submittal process
Artists wishing to be considered for future exhibitions are encouraged to review, prepare and submit an Exhibition Proposal for use by the committee to review the artist’s work to exhibit. Please review and download the Artist Submission Form and send your submission to:
Please send email to Mary Anne Redding, Senior Curator, reddingm@appstate.edu with subject line “Artist Submission.”
Attn: Mary Anne Redding
Turchin Center for the Visual Arts
PO Box 32139
423 West King Street
Boone, NC 28608
Frequently Asked Questions
How far in advance does the Center plan the exhibition schedule?
The TCVA typically schedules exhibitions anywhere from 2-4 years in advance.
How often does the center review proposals for exhibitions?
Artist submissions will be accepted at any time and will be reviewed by our Senior Curator on a schedule concurrent with the volume of submittals.
How are submissions and proposals reviewed?
Artist submissions and proposals are reviewed quarterly by the Senior Curator and are judged by the quality of work and how well the artist’s work fits within the mission of the center.
How many galleries does the TCVA have?
The TCVA features six gallery spaces. These include the Main Gallery, Mezzanine Gallery and Community Gallery located in the East Wing and Gallery A, Petti/Peiser Gallery and the Mayer Gallery in the West Wing. Additionally, the TCVA boasts several exhibition sites outdoors on our plaza and garden. Each gallery has its own unique qualities, with sizes ranging from large open spaces to smaller, more intimate spaces. The Mayer Gallery features floor to ceiling windows, while the other five 5 galleries feature more traditional controlled lighting. Visit our FLICKR page for gallery sizes and dimensions.
Can I apply to a specific gallery?
Requests for specific galleries may be made, but the Senior Curator will make final decisions in assigning exhibitions to specific gallery spaces.
Does the Turchin Center display student artwork?
The Turchin Center exhibits artwork from regionally, nationally and internationally important artists and does not typically seek student artwork for exhibitions. However, the Turchin Center does encourage all artists, including students, to submit artwork for annual competition exhibitions, such as the Rosen Sculpture Competition and the Appalachian Mountain Photography Competition.
Appalachian State University does provide exhibition spaces with an emphasis on showcasing student artwork through the Looking Glass Gallery, Smith Gallery, Wey Hall and other opportunities provided by the Department of Art.