Call for Proposals The Cove Gallery

Call for Proposals: The Cove Gallery 2025 Season

Click HERE to download the 2025 Cove Gallery Call, Proposal Form and Instructions.

The Rocky Neck Art Colony (RNAC) is pleased to announce that it is accepting proposals for its 2025 season to be juried for 5 independently-curated shows, running from late-May through early October at The Cove Gallery (37 Rocky Neck Avenue) in Gloucester. All shows will be 4 weeks long. Proposals may be submitted at any time during the year, but will be juried for the coming season in February, allowing artists sufficient time to prepare their shows.

The Cove Gallery comprises approximately 500 square feet, featuring two spacious, well-lit rooms and a second-floor bathroom. A large sliding wall space allows for extra hanging area. This beautiful space is made available through the generosity of Mark Goetemann, son of the late Rocky Neck artists, Gordon and Judith Goetemann. Mark has donated the use of his parents’ former home and gallery space to RNAC to honor their legacy as artists, as inveterate supporters of other artists, and to carry on their commitment to keeping Rocky Neck a haven for artists and art lovers.

The jury is looking for exhibition proposals of work by dedicated artists with thematic and aesthetic cohesion. Artwork that has been shown previously in any Rocky Neck gallery space will not be considered. It is recommended that proposals include four to six artists to share gallery sitting but it is not required.

The curator or lead contact must be or become a member of Rocky Neck Art Colony before the start of the show. Other exhibitors may choose to become members; member commission is 75% of sale price; 60% for nonmembers. A one-year artist membership is $100.

Benefits

One of 3 galleries supported by the RNAC, Cove Gallery highlights five 4-week shows each season in a recently transformed, spacious and well-lit gallery located on the Smith Cove waterfront in America’s oldest working art colony. Rocky Neck attracts visitors all season long to shop for fine art and crafts, visit its historic sites and dine in its restaurants. Watch a video walk-through of Cove Gallery here.

Marketing support includes coverage in The Rocky Neck Art Colony’s weekly e-Newsletter, social media campaigns, outreach to a significant list of media outlets through targeted press releases, and digital and/or print advertising.

General Requirements

Participating artists are responsible for gallery sitting. It is strongly advised to show multiple artists (4 to 6, ideally) to cover gallery sitting hours and share expenses. *Paid Gallery sitters may be available. Contact the RNAC Program Director for more information.
The gallery’s hours are Sunday & Monday, 12PM to 5PM; Thursday through Saturday, 12PM to 7PM. The gallery can be open or not on Tuesday & Wednesday at the artists’ discretion.
Further extended hours benefit the artists and are at their discretion. In shoulder seasons, hours may vary in consultation with RNAC’s Director and Board.
Show dates include two days for hanging and two days for removal of work and wall repair. Artists move in at 2:30PM on Tuesday to begin hanging. Removal and repairs take place from Sunday 5PM until Tuesday at 2PM.
Proposals must include the names, websites, and representative images of all participating artists. Materials must be gathered into a single PDF document for review by the RNAC Cove Gallery Jury.
Artists with accepted proposals will sign contract letters confirming their understanding of responsibilities.
If not already a member of RNAC, the curator or lead contact must become a member before submitting a proposal.
The contract will spell out the dates assigned for the exhibition and the process for mounting the show, including the respective responsibilities of all involved.
Artists are responsible for returning the gallery to the condition in which it was presented, i.e., holes filled and painted as necessary, debris and trash removed, broom clean, floors washed.
Any programs or events scheduled to coincide with Cove exhibits must be cleared with the RNAC Director or Program Director and with the property owner in advance.

Costs

Artists will assume all costs for running the gallery including installation of work, displays, repairs, packaging materials/shipping of art, and cash to make change on cash sales. Spackle, sanding pads, rollers, brushes and paint for wall repairs are provided by RNACG.
RNAC supplies a Square payment reader (with instructions), an iPad interface, administrative support, and internet connection. Checks to artists for all sales are paid following the end of each calendar month.
Gallery usage cost is $600 per show, payable when contracts are signed.
25% of the sales of work by members, or 40% of the sales of work by nonmembers, will be paid to Rocky Neck Art Colony Galleries.
Note: There is no fee to submit your proposal.
Artists are required to supply well-written descriptive copy and images for press releases to the Program Director in advance of their shows.
RNAC will advertise the gallery’s openings and events in the Rocky Neck Newsletter, on its Facebook and Instagram pages, and other media outlets.
Any additional marketing and advertising is at the artists’ expense; digital and/or print materials must include the RNAC logo, and must be approved by RNAC’s Director before circulation. Social media posts for promotion from artists’ personal accounts do not require review.

Things to Know

The Cove Gallery space is well suited for all media; interested artists should be familiar with the space before submitting a proposal. Tours of the gallery can be arranged through the RNAC Program Director. Preference will be given to work that has been produced in the past three years with the bulk of the work not previously exhibited elsewhere on Cape Ann.

To Apply

To submit a proposal, please complete the questions in the Proposal Form below, gather answers and all supporting images into a single PDF document, and email to RNAC.programs@gmail.com with the subject heading “Cove Gallery Proposal 2025”.

Use clear images to demonstrate the work of participating artists. You may also attach separate image files to the email. Submissions with incomplete information will not be considered. Applications will be accepted and reviewed on a rolling basis until Monday, February 10. The Cove Gallery Committee’s jury will make decisions about the 2025 season by end of day, February 21, 2025 and will send notifications soon thereafter.

We are available to help you plan a successful exhibition. For questions or appointments to view the space, email Meredith Anderson, Program Director, at RNAC.programs@gmail.com.

Dates and Deadlines

Deadline to submit for all shows is Monday, February 10, 2025
Acceptance Notification*: After 5PM, Friday, February 21, 2025

*No emails or phone calls about the status of acceptance, please.

2025 Exhibition Dates

Juried Show #1 (3 weeks) May 22 – June 8, 2025
Installation: May 20 – 21
Opening Reception: No fixed date
Deinstallation: June 8 (5PM) – June 10 (12PM)

Juried Show #2 (4 weeks) June 12 – July 6, 2025
Installation: June 10 (12PM) – June 11
Opening Reception: No fixed date
Deinstallation: July 6 (5PM) – July 8 (12PM)

Juried Show #3 (4 weeks) July 10 – August 3, 2025
Installation: July 8 (12PM) – July 9
Opening Reception: July 10 (Culture Splash)
Deinstallation: Aug. 3 (5PM) – Aug. 5 (12PM)

Juried Show #4 (4 weeks) August 21 – September 14
Installation: August 19 (12PM) – August 20
Opening Reception: August 21 (Culture Splash)
Deinstallation: Sept. 14 (5PM) – Sept 16 (12PM)

Juried Show #5 (3 weeks)* September 18 – October 5, 2025
Installation: Sept. 16 (12PM) – Sept 17
Opening Reception: No fixed date
Deinstallation: Oct. 5 (5PM) – Oct. 7

*Dates for this exhibit slot may be extended by request to include the 3-day weekend (Columbus/Indigenous People’s Day)