The advantage of participating in Charleston Supported Art extends far beyond the monetary stipend. Being a CSA artist means your work is guaranteed to find a home with 32 patrons who may wish to deepen the relationship by buying additional work in the future.

Eligibility

Artists 18 and over residing in Charleston, Dorchester, and Berkeley counties during the application period and the program year.

In your submission include the following:

Five images that best represent the work you will create exclusively for this new program. *Image samples no older than three years.
Proposal: This proposal can include information on your artistic process, what your work represents, your ideas regarding the CSA/what you would create, and any additional information that will help the jurors understand your submission.

The application period for 2015 is closed. Click HERE to join the mailing list to receive information on future calls.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Who is eligible to apply?
A: Visual artists ages 18 and up residing in the tri-county area (Charleston, Berkeley and Dorchester counties) during the application period and the program year are eligible to apply.

Q: Can I participate if I do not currently live in Charleston, Berkeley or Dorchester county, but plan on moving there at some point during the inaugural year?
A: Participating artists must be a permanent resident of the tri-county area during the application period and throughout the calendar year (January 1–December 31).

Q: Is the call only open to visual artists?
A: Yes, only visual artists will be considered.

Q: What types of visual art media are accepted?
A: Both 2-D and 3-D work in any media will be considered.

Q: What will I need to submit in my application?
A: There is a $9 application fee. The application will prompt artists to provide:

contact information
resume/CV
a written proposal that helps the jurors better understand the work the artist would create for CSA
five images of work created no more than 3 years ago

Q: Can I submit an application image of a piece that has already been sold?
A: Yes, as long as the piece is no more than three years old. The images that you submit should provide the jurors with an accurate representation of the style and quality of work you will create for CSA.

Q: Can I submit a detail image in my application? Will that count as one of my five images?
A: Yes, you may submit a detail of your work, however it will be considered as one of your 5 images.

Q: How much will my resume/CV affect the jurors’ selection?
A: The only materials presented to the jurors will be the images of the artist’s work, the details associated with each image (media, dimensions) and the artist’s statement. Resume/CV details will not be used to make initial selections, but may be referenced when assigning artists to their season in order to ensure established and emerging artists are represented equally in each season.

Q: If a CSA artist receives a $1500 stipend for 32 works, that breaks down to only $47 per piece. Is that fair compensation?
A: CSA stands by the idea that the advantage of participating in the program extends far beyond the monetary stipend. Being a CSA artist means your work is guaranteed to find a home with 32 patrons who may wish to deepen the relationship by buying additional work in the future. CSA’s goals are to help artists gain exposure and build relationships with patrons and we work to achieve those goals by providing artists with a marketing platform as well as networking opportunities.

Q: How many works are CSA artists expected to complete?
A: Each CSA artist must create a total of 32 original pieces for their season.

Q: What will be required of participating artists?
A: CSA artists will be required to create 32 pieces of original art that maintain the style and quality on which selections were based. Artwork must be completed and delivered to CSA approximately one week prior to the artist’s season pick-up event. In addition, artists are expected to attend an introductory Artist Meet & Greet event in February, a mid-year Artist Meet & Greet in June and their season’s pick-up event.

Q: How many artists will be selected?
A: At least twenty-five artists will be chosen to move on to Phase II of the selection process and will be asked to create one piece that represents the style and quality of work that they will create for their season. After a review of these works and personal interviews, a total of 12 artists will be selected to participate in CSA’s 2015 year.

Q: Who will select the artists?
A: The seven co-founders of Charleston Supported Art will be the jury panel. We are comprised of qualified artists, curators, collectors and critics. The panel will seek input from the 2014 participating artists.

Q: If I am selected, can I choose which season I participate in?
A: CSA will attempt to accommodate artists’ season preference, but cannot guarantee season assignments. Therefore, selected artists must be prepared to create works for any of the three seasons (Spring, Summer, and Fall).

Q: If I am selected, when will I get paid the $1500 stipend?
A: CSA artists will be will be awarded their stipends at the artist’s assigned season Pick-up Event.

Q: Can you give me a break down of important dates/events?
A: The following is a general timeline of important dates/events for 2015:

October 1-November 4, 2014 – Call for entries open
November 4, 2014 – Deadline to apply for 2015
November 15, 2014 - All artists will be notified of Phase I results by email. At least twenty-five artists will be selected to participate in this phase of the selection process.
November 16 or November 20, 2014 - Phase II artists are required to attend one of two mandatory info meetings.
January 5, 2015– Phase II artists must submit one original piece (prototype) that represents the style and quality of the work they will produce for their share.
January 5-11, 2014- Individual interviews will be scheduled with each Phase II artist.
January 14, 2015 - Artists will be notified of Phase II results and will be given season assignments.
January 14-21, 2015 - Prototypes returned; signed contracts from final 12 artists due
Final week of January 2015 - 2015 artists with season assignments announced to the public and share purchase info released
February 19, 2015 – Introductory Artist Meet & Greet event. All CSA artists are required to attend.
April 2015 – Spring artists deliver 32 completed pieces
April 23, 2015 – Spring share pick-up event. The season’s artists are required to attend.
June 18, 2015 - Mid-year Meet & Greet event. All CSA artists are required to attend.
August 2015 – Summer artists deliver 32 completed pieces
August 6, 2015 – Summer share pick-up event. The season’s artists are required to attend.
November 2015 – Fall artists deliver 32 completed pieces
November 5, 2015 – Fall share pick-up event. The season’s artists are required to attend.