Fivesparks
Exhibition artwork

Fivesparks

BIRDS!

A Curated Art Exhibition

Harvard, MA

April 18 – May 30, 2026

Deadline is March 24th.
Find Open Calls

Opens for entry Feb 7th.

About the Exhibition

Fivesparks and the Boxborough Birders invite artists to submit work for BIRDS!, an exhibit exploring and celebrating the wonder, beauty, and diversity of birds.
Artists are encouraged to interpret the theme of BIRDS! with works that reflect not only birds themselves, but also their habits, homes, interactions, impacts, and traces.

Venue

Fivesparks
7 Fairbank Street
Harvard, MA 01451

Artist Eligibility

Open to artists 18 years and older.

Artwork Requirements

  • All artwork must depict imagery of bird(s) (any type, real or imaginary, their body parts and/or nests, or birds in their habitat).
  • Media accepted: Acrylic, Alcohol Ink, Assemblage, Ceramics, Chalk, Charcoal, Collage, Colored Pencil, Crayon, Digital Art, Encaustic, Fiber Art, Gouache, Graphic, Graphite, Intaglio, Mixed Media, Mosaics, Oil, Oil Pastel, Pastel, Pen & Ink, Photography, Printmaking, Scratchboard, Sculpture, Silverpoint, Soft Pastel, Stained Glass, and Watercolor.
  • All work must be original. Participating artists must be the legal owner of all title and interest in the works submitted and exhibited.
  • Work cannot exceed 50 pounds.
  • Work cannot exceed 48" in any direction, including frame. There is no minimum size.
  • Work must be based exclusively on the artist's own photo reference, plein air experience, concept, and composition.
  • Work must be directly and individually created by the artist, not traced or otherwise created over a base photo.
  • Work must be exclusively the product of the artist. Work done in a class or workshop, online venue, or otherwise under the guidance or advice of an instructor, is not permitted.
  • Artists of 3D works must provide presentation fixtures (e.g., pedestal, stand, etc.).
  • All work will be installed by Fivesparks exhibits staff. Works that require special installation must come with clear written instructions and any special installation equipment (hooks, wire, chain, etc.). If Fivesparks staff deems it necessary, they may request the assistance/guidance of the artist in the installation of their piece(s). If installation of artwork is determined to be too complicated or incompatible with the historic building, Fivesparks reserves the right not to include the work in the show.
  • All work must be hang/presentation ready. Exhibitors reserve the right to reject work that differs significantly from the submitted images.
  • 2D work must be firmly wired for hanging. No saw tooth hangers and no sandwich/clip frames.

Entry Fee

  • $35 for up to 3 works.

Delivery

Hand delivery is preferred. Artists accepted into the exhibition will receive detailed delivery instructions with their acceptance notification.

If shipping is required and the artist resides outside of New England, contact the Fivesparks Executive Director at [email protected] for instructions.

Sales

  • All work must be for sale exclusively through Fivesparks for the duration of the show. Work may not be marked as available for sale through any other venue during the exhibit time frame.
  • Prices cannot be changed from those stated at submission. Please take careful consideration in the price you indicate to accommodate framing/display costs, sales tax, 35% sales commission, and any other considerations.
  • Artists are responsible for reporting and managing any sales tax they deem applicable to the selling of their work. Tax should be accounted for in submitted prices; tax will not be calculated or added by Fivesparks at time of sale.
  • Fivesparks will accept checks from buyers, payable to the artist, and hold payment until the exhibit ends. Works may be marked as "On Hold" until a buyer submits payment. Works will be marked as "Sold" once payment is received.
  • All work must remain on display through Saturday, May 30, 2026. Buyers are required to pick up (or arrange for delivery at their cost) purchased work upon show closing.

Liability

  • Artists whose work is selected will be responsible for hand delivery and transfer of their work to the exhibit space during appointed dates/times.
  • Artists are responsible for the delivery, pack, transport, and return of their work at their own risk and expense.
  • Fivesparks, its staff, and the owner of the building in which the works are exhibited are not responsible for any damage that may occur during the transport, installation, exhibition, or de-installation of works. Fivesparks' insurance does not cover damage to work during transit to or from the exhibit space.
  • Artists agree to assume all risk of damage to or loss of their own work from whatever cause. Artists further agree to release and hold harmless Fivesparks, its officers, directors, employees, volunteers, and agents from any and all liabilities and damages to work and/or persons as a result of any part of the artist's participation in the exhibit.
  • Insurance for work in the exhibit is the artist's responsibility, and it is strongly recommended that artists insure works themselves.
  • Fivesparks reserves the right not to hang work that: arrives damaged; is not properly wired for hanging; is not equivalent to the image submitted for selection; or otherwise does not conform to submission requirements. Damaged work will be reported to the artist and, if needed, returned at the artist's expense.
  • All hand-delivered work must be picked up on the designated date by either artist or buyer. Work cannot be stored and hand-delivered work cannot be return-shipped.
  • By entering the show, artists grant Fivesparks the limited right to use images of the artist's work, labeled with artist name and work title, for promotional and news purposes related to the show.

Additional Notification Information

Notifications will be emailed and posted in your ShowSubmit account by the end of the day on March 31, 2026.

If you do not receive your email, login and view the notification in your account. We cannot respond to inquiries regarding the status of notifications.

Image and Filename Specifications

  • File Format: Submit original, high-quality JPEG image files. Other formats (e.g., PNG, TIFF) are not accepted.
  • Crop Your Image: Ensure only the artwork itself is visible in the image. Do not show any visible matting, frames, or background distractions.
  • Orientation: Make sure your image is oriented correctly (right side up) so that the artwork appears in its intended viewing direction.
  • Image Size: You do not need to resize your image files before uploading. The system will automatically resize them. Smaller images cannot be enlarged to meet the requirements, so ensure your images are high resolution before uploading.
  • File Names: You do not need to rename your files before uploading them. The system will handle any file naming requirements.
  • File Size: There is a 30mb maximum file size limit. Larger image files will take longer to upload and process.

Additional Entry Information

  • You will pay for your entry by credit or debit card using our secure checkout system.
  • After your entry is submitted and paid for, you may log back in to review your entry, edit artist and image information, and add or substitute images up until the entry deadline (March 24, 2026.)
  • Entry fees are not refundable and must be submitted and paid by the entry deadline.
  • Entries cannot be accepted or changed after the deadline. Incomplete entries will be disqualified.

Support

Questions about this exhibition?
Contact Curators: Mamie Wytrwal and AnaMaria Nanra ([email protected]) for questions about the Prospectus, Fivesparks, eligibility, artwork requirements, drop-off, pick-up, sales, etc.

Need help with ShowSubmit?
Visit our Help Center or Entry Guide for guidance on image uploads, payments, and managing your entry. If you still need help, email ShowSubmit Support ([email protected]). We respond Monday–Friday, 9am–6pm Eastern.