The Arizona Center for Nature Conservation (ACNC)/Phoenix Zoo’s Art on the Wild Side is a rotating art exhibit program in the Savanna Gallery at the Phoenix Zoo dedicated to inspiration, celebration and conservation through art. This exhibit will accept up to 50 two-dimensional works from fine artists and photographers that embody the Zoo’s mission to motivate its guests to care for the natural world.
The Phoenix Zoo has been a point of pride in Arizona for over 60 years. As the state’s most visited attraction, second only to the Grand Canyon, the Phoenix Zoo hosts over 1.4 million guests each year. With approximately 35,000 member households, it has the largest membership base of any cultural institution in the Valley.
Art on the Wild Side is proud to present ArizonaUrban Wildlife: Surviving in a Complex World. While humans and wildlife have coexisted in Arizona for millennia, our modern urban environment creates new challenges requiring resilience and adaptation from our wild friends. How do we live in close proximity to each other, not only without causing harm, but rather fostering an environment of respectful coexistence?
Jurors
Works for the exhibition will be juried by the Phoenix Zoo’s Arts Committee and potentially other art experts who will select fine art and photography demonstrating excellence in terms of composition, technique, mastery of medium and quality of design. The final selection will be an exemplary showcase of a diverse group of representational two-dimensional art and photography.
Awards
The winner of a “Best of Show” award will be selected, as well as recognition for “Excellence” in various medium and themes.
Eligibility
This application is open to all artists who are at least 18 years of age, and who are working in the fine arts. Artwork should embrace the theme of Urban Wildlife: Surviving in a Complex World, as well as the Zoo’s mission:
The Arizona Center for Nature Conservation advances the stewardship and conservation of animals and their habitats while providing experiences that inspire people and motivate them to care for the natural world.
Entry Fees
$50 entry fee for up to 4 works per artist.
One or all entries may be accepted by the jury.
Entry Guidelines
Applications may be submitted from August 1, 2024, through September 30, 2024, by 11:59 p.m. MST. Finalists will be announced no later than October 15, 2024. Only online entries will be accepted for this show through ShowSubmit.com starting August 1, 2024. NO MAILED SUBMISSIONS WILL BE ACCEPTED.
Entries must be original works of original concept and design; the artist/photographer will be asked to share their website link or a short bio (250 words or less).
Acceptable mediums for painting: oil, acrylic, watercolor, gouache, egg tempera, pastel, color ink, and encaustic.
Acceptable mediums for drawing: conte crayon, colored pencil, graphite, charcoal, pen & ink, scratchboard and original hand-pulled prints.
Mixed medium and collage pieces using the above-listed materials, as well as the use of textiles or fabric art, are acceptable.
Original photography.
Not acceptable mediums include craft, jewelry, digital prints, and any work containing computer generated elements of any kind.
Maximum entries: Four (4) entries may be submitted for a $50 entry fee. One or all entries may be accepted by the jury.
All works submitted for the competition must be available for sale.
By submitting images to this juried opportunity, the artist/photographer understands and agrees that accepted images may be displayed on the Phoenix Zoo’s website, Facebook page, and other social and/or print media. Images do become part of the Phoenix Zoo’s archives and may be used for this and future ACNC/Phoenix Zoo promotions. Artists will retain copyright to their image(s)
By entering this exhibition, the artist/photographer agrees that they have read and will abide by all rules outlined in this prospectus and the Exhibition Agreement.
Application
The Exhibition application process will open August 1, 2024,at 10 a.m. MST. The entry form must be filled out in its entirety. List sizes up to the nearest inch (high X wide). Submitted images must not include matting or frame. Crop the photos to include only the artwork. Be sure your images are right-side-up.
Before uploading your images, make sure they at least 1500 pixels on the longest side. Images should be in JPEG format, sRGB color space. For more information, se the Image and Filename Specifications section below.
Entry Fees
$50.00 for up to Four (4) entries. Entry fees are non-refundable.
Juryling Notification
All jury status notifications will be emailed and posted on ShowSubmit.com no later than October 15, 2024.
Accepted Works
The decision of the jurors is final. All accepted artists/photographers will be provided with an Exhibition Agreement to be completed, signed, and returned to the ACNC/Phoenix Zoo by December 1, 2024.
Once accepted, works may be pre-sold but must hang in the Savanna Gallery for duration of show and proceeds must be shared under Commission terms outlined below.
All accepted paintings, drawings and photographs must be framed or gallery-wrapped (gallery wrapped must be finished, painted around edge, no tape), and wired for hanging. The ACNC/Zoo reserves the right to refuse a work, though it may have been juried into the show.
Sales Commission
Sales will be facilitated by the Phoenix Zoo. The ACNC/Phoenix Zoo asks that 30% of the sales be donated back to the Zoo for its conservation efforts. We encourage each exhibiting artist/photographer to promote the sale of their work(s) on their social media platforms and websites. Most sales take place during the ACNC’s Opening Reception, and participating artists/photographers are encouraged to attend.
Delivery
Works must be wrapped for their protection with the name of the artist/photographer clearly indicated on the outside. Artists will be asked to schedule a specific date and time within the week of February 11, 2025. All artwork/photography will need to be delivered or received by the Phoenix Zoo no later than February 15, 2025.
Liabilities, Responsibilities, Sales
By entering this exhibition, the artist agrees that they have read and will abide by all rules outlined in this prospectus. Entry fees are non-refundable. Submission of work for this exhibit will be construed as acceptance of all conditions set forth in this Prospectus. The Phoenix Zoo’s Savanna Gallery reserves the right to return work that does not meet exhibition standards. Every reasonable care will be taken with original artwork. The Zoo’s Savanna Gallery will be responsible for insurance of artwork while on Zoo premises for the amount specified in the Exhibition Agreement. The artist/photographer is responsible for insurance of artwork to cover the full value of the artwork while in transit.
Calendar
August 1, 2024 - Applications open
September 30, 2024 - Applications close
October 15, 2024 - Finalists announced
December 1, 2024 - Completed and signed Exhibition Agreement due back to the Zoo
February 15, 2025 - Artwork must arrive at the Phoenix Zoo
February 27, 2025 - Exhibition opens to the public
March 7, 2025 - Opening Reception and Awards Ceremony
June 29,2025 - Exhibit closes
June 30, 2025 - Pick-up unsold work from Phoenix Zoo
The Arizona Center for Nature Conservation/Phoenix Zoo looks forward to receiving submissions to what we expect will be an amazing show dedicated to the conservation of the natural world.
Questions
For more information about the Savanna Gallery at the Phoenix Zoo website. For technical support, please see the Support section below.
Additional Notification Information
Notifications will be emailed and posted in your ShowSubmit account by the end of the day on October 15, 2024.
You may view the notification in your ShowSubmit account by logging in and clickingtapping the Notifications at the top right of the screen, or in your Entry History (Accepted works will be notated by a green check.)
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.
Note: Entries made prior to 2023 may not display the View Notification link.
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.
Image and Filename Specifications
For those curious, or in need of more detailed information regarding our image and file specifications, please see the following:
File Format: Submit original JPEG (JPG) image files. For the best results, ensure your files use the sRGB color profile.
Cropping: Crop your image to include only the artwork itself. Do not include the mat, frame, or any background.
Image Dimensions:
Images should be at least 1500 pixels on the longest edge.
The file size must be no larger than 30 MB. Large files may take longer to upload and process.
Smaller images cannot be enlarged to meet the requirements. Small images will be saved as is and may not display well in the jury panel, which could affect their review or lead to disqualification.
Ensure your images are high resolution before uploading.
Automatic Resizing:
ShowSubmit automatically resizes images to 300 DPI and 1500 pixels on the longest edge if they exceed the specifications.
If your images already meet the exact show specifications, they will not be resized.
File Naming:
You do not need to rename your image files.
Files are automatically renamed using your last name, first initial and the title of the work. e.g. Hamby_D_BeautifulDay.jpg
Quality Tips:
Use your camera’s highest quality setting to capture the image.
Ensure the artwork is well-lit and avoid glare from glass.
Use a tripod for stability and crop out any parts of the photo that are not the artwork.
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 (September 30, 2024.)
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
Need Assistance? For questions about the entry process or using this website, please check our Help Center or Entry Guide first for detailed guides and troubleshooting tips. Most answers can be found there quickly.
If you still need help, feel free to email ShowSubmit Support at [email protected], and we’ll respond between 9am and 6pm Eastern Time, Monday to Friday.
Log in
Don't have an account?
Looking for the Control Panel or Juror login? Log in above and use the Switch Role dropdown to switch between account roles.
Create Account
Already have an account?
Looking to sign up as an organization? Get Started