The Matthews Opera House and Arts Center is excited to announce an open call for entry for their annual summer exhibition. The call is open to artists of the Black Hills to be juried into the non-profit art gallery and sell their artwork from May through September, 2023.

For application purposes, the Black Hills area includes anywhere within approximately one hundred miles of the Black Hills in South Dakota and Wyoming. This call is open to new artists and artists who have previously been contracted with the Matthews.

To have their work considered, entrants are required to submit three digital images of their art, a brief artist statement, and an application that can be found on the Matthews website or picked up at the gallery. A $20 application fee is due upon submission. Works must be for sale and will receive 78% compensation if sold, with the remaining 22% supporting gallery and art education programming at the Matthews. 

Through this call, The Matthews hopes to find thirty to forty artists whose work will be showcased. During the jurying process, the Matthews exhibits committee will assess applicants based on the quality of work submitted and the gallery’s needs in terms of aesthetic balance and diversity.

Artists who are accepted will also have the option to have prints available for sale at the Matthews booth during Festival in the Park. 

Artist applications are due before 5 p.m. on Friday, April 21. Jurying takes place the following week. All artists who have applied will receive notification of the jury findings on Friday, April 28.

The Matthews will begin exhibiting the work of contracted artists beginning Monday, May 15 through September 2. An opening reception for the exhibit will be held on Friday, May 19 from 5-7 pm in the Matthews Gallery. For more information, visit matthewsopera.com or contact the Matthews Gallery at (605) 642-7973 or 612 N. Main Street, Spearfish.

Access the 2023 Summer Art Series application here!

Pay your application fee online, call us at (605) 642-7973 or mail your payment to 612 N. Main Street, Spearfish, SD 57783