FAQ's 
Open Call

• Is there a submission fee?
  Yes. Submitting to the current Open Call is $20.

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• Do I have to live in Brooklyn or NYC?                                                           No. All artists residing in United States can submit to the Open Call.  You can ship your work to Seven House Gallery.  The cost of shipping both to and from the gallery, in addition to any insurance costs related to shipping will be covered by the artist.  Due to potential shipping issues, we are not considering works from outside the United States at this time. 

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• Can I submit as an art collective or collaborative duo?
  Yes. Designate one primary contact on the intake form and list all collaborators in the bio and credits section.

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• How many pieces can I submit?
  You may submit up to 3 distinct works (or a cohesive 3-piece series) per submission.

• What does "ready to hang / install" mean?
  All 2D pieces must arrive fully dry and pre-equipped with appropriate mounting hardware (picture wire, D-rings, or French cleats). Unframed works on paper will only be pinned or clipped if that is the artist's explicit, intentional display method. Sculptural pieces requiring specialized plinths or floor anchors must be noted in the submission.

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• Are there size, dimension, or weight restrictions?
  Wall-hung pieces weighing over 40 lbs must be clearly flagged on your submission form so the installation team can evaluate wall anchor requirements.  The ceiling height of the gallery is 10.5 feet.

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• How will video, sound, and poetry be presented?
  Single-channel video and digital art are presented via designated monitors/projections. Sound works must be adapted for individual headphone listening to maintain a balanced auditory environment in the gallery. Poetry can be submitted as wall-mounted text installations, framed typographic prints, or for consideration during a live reading at the opening reception.

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• How are emotionally heavy, triggering, or sensitive themes handled?
  Given the focus on mental health, vulnerable themes are expected and honored. We ask artists to flag specific sensory components (strobe lighting, intense audio, graphic content) on the intake form so the curatorial team can place content advisories where appropriate.

• How will I know if my work is selected?
  Every applicant will receive an update via email on or before [Notification Date, 2026].

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• Can I ship my work to the gallery?
  Yes, if you live in the United States, you can ship your work to Seven House Gallery.  We can accept mail-in deliveries for accepted art work.  Once your work is selected we will coordinate about those details to make sure we are ready to receive your package.  The cost of shipping both to and from the gallery, in addition to any insurance costs related to shipping to be covered by the artist.  

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• Is my work insured while on display?
  The gallery exercises strict professional care when handling and displaying art on the premises. Artists are encouraged to carry independent insurance policies for transport and transit.

• Will accepted artists need to sign a formal contract?
  Yes. All selected artists must sign an Exhibition Loan & Consignment Agreement prior to drop-off. This document establishes the exhibition schedule, agreed sale price (or NFS status), the gallery commission split, promotion rights, and de-installation deadlines. Artwork cannot be accepted on-site without an executed agreement.

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• Is my artwork insured while on display at Seven House Gallery?
  Seven House Gallery exercises strict, professional standards of care when receiving, hanging, and managing work within the space. However, open call exhibitions typically operate under standard limited liability: the gallery does not carry individual all-risk fine art floater policies for open call inventory. Artists are strongly advised to maintain their own insurance (such as an artist floater or personal property rider) to cover works during transit and public exhibition.

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• How is condition and potential damage handled?
  Every piece undergoes an intake inspection and a signed Condition Report at drop-off. Seven House Gallery is not liable for damage caused by inherent vice, unstable sculptural materials, wet mediums, or structural failure of artist-installed mounting hardware (e.g., faulty wire or unanchored frames). If an issue occurs during the exhibition, gallery staff will document the piece and contact the artist immediately before attempting any adjustment.

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• Who owns the copyright, and how can the gallery use images of my work?
  You retain 100% of the copyright to your artwork. The exhibition agreement grants Seven House Gallery a non-exclusive, royalty-free license to photograph, film, and reproduce your work solely for promotional, editorial, press, archival, and social media purposes related to Lived Realities. Full artist credit is always attributed.

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• How and when do artist sales payouts occur?
  If your artwork sells, Seven House Gallery collects payment and applicable New York sales tax directly from the collector. The artist's share (e.g., [70%]) is remitted via electronic bank transfer or check within 30 days of the exhibition’s close. Sold works must remain on view for the duration of the show and are released to buyers only after closing.

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• What happens if an artist fails to pick up their work or provide shipping label for their work after the show?
  Because gallery storage space is strictly committed to incoming programs, accepted work must be retrieved during the designated de-installation window. Works remaining at Seven House Gallery more than [e.g., 14 days] past the final pickup date without prior written communication will be subject to a daily storage fee or deemed abandoned under New York Arts and Cultural Affairs laws.

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About the Submission Fee:​

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Seven House Gallery charges a nominal submission fee of $20 to keep the open call financially sustainable while honoring the labor involved in organizing a community-driven exhibition. 100% of these funds go directly toward:
 

• Curatorial Review & Artist Support: Compensating the extensive time dedicated to thoughtfully evaluating every portfolio, reading statements, cross-referencing spatial requirements, and communicating directly with artists throughout the open call process.

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• Basic Exhibition Production: Covering essential overhead for the physical show, including wall labels, title vinyl, printed gallery guides, hanging hardware and installation consumables, and basic opening reception logistics.

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Because we are an independent space, this small contribution directly subsidizes the production costs of the exhibition so we can present your work in a polished, professional setting.​​​​​​​

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Is the submission fee refundable if my work is not selected?

No. The fee covers the administrative time and labor required to review and process your materials at the moment of application, regardless of the final curatorial decision.

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Do you offer fee waivers for artists facing financial hardship?

Yes. We are committed to keeping this conversation accessible, especially given the exhibition's focus on vulnerability and lived experience. If the fee presents a genuine barrier to your participation, please email [contact-email@domain.com] with the subject line "Fee Waiver Request - Lived Realities" before submitting, and we will provide an alternative entry code—no questions asked.