ICOSA Annual/ Call for Entry

About the Open Call

ICOSA is a cooperative arts space that was founded in Austin, TX in 2015. The gallery is home to twenty artists whose work is well known both nationally and internationally, featured in various major collections, and who have individually received numerous prestigious awards and grant recognitions. The gallery is located in the Canopy Arts Complex on the Eastside of Austin. _ICOSA Annual_ is an exciting opportunity for non-member artists to showcase their work in the gallery during the Austin Studio Tour. Rachel Eboh is an Austin-based curator, writer, and researcher. She is currently a curatorial assistant at The Contemporary Austin. Submission deadline: Wed., Oct. 1 (11:59pm). Artists Notification: Wed., Oct 15th. Shipped: Nov. 3rd, (Arrive before 5pm). Hand-Delivered: Nov. 1st & 2nd (12-2pm). Opening Reception: Nov. 7th, 7-10pm. Show Runs: Nov. 7th - 22nd. Show Closes: Nov. 22nd. Work shipped back by: Dec. 1st. The exhibition opens Friday, November 7th and closes Saturday November 22nd. An opening reception will be held Friday November 10th from 7pm – 10pm. All artists and their guests are welcome. The exhibition will run in tandem with Almost Real Things Austin Studio Tour, a free, annual, self-guided art event spanning two weekends. Entries must be submitted online no later than 11:59PM on Wednesday, October 1st. Late applications will not be considered. If your work is accepted, shipped work must arrive no later than 5pm, November 3rd. Hand delivered work can be dropped off on Saturday November 1st & Sunday November 2nd from 12-2pm. Accepted work must be ready to hang or display in a professional manner. Artists are responsible for shipping costs both ways and must include a return shipping label with their work. Pack securely. No use of Styrofoam packing pellets (bubble wrap acceptable). No glass on framing of wall-based work, plexiglass only. Work that arrives at gallery damaged will be returned un-displayed. ICOSA is not responsible for work damaged in transit. Unsold work will be packed by ICOSA in the shipping containers they arrived in and shipped out to the artists by December 1st of 2025. Pick-up of hand delivered work will be coordinated with the artists. ICOSA will not store work past the pick-up time. Do not include a price sheet in application. Work does not have to be for sale. Sale prices are determined by the artist (after artwork has been accepted). After Square fees, 60% of sale price goes to the artist, 40% to ICOSA. All work must be the property of the artist in order to be available for sale. Though great care will be taken in handling your work, ICOSA does not provide insurance for any piece during the ICOSA Annual exhibition. ICOSA recommends the work be insured during shipping, as the artist bears the full responsibility for loss and damage to art while in transit. ICOSA retains the right to decide which work is included in the exhibition. By entering the competition, selected artists grant ICOSA rights to use the selected image(s) on printed materials and the gallery website for promotional purposes only. Artists will be notified of acceptance or nonacceptance no later than Wednesday, October 16th. There is no specific theme, but oftentimes the curator will develop a theme and exhibition title once they have chosen from the submitted works. We are open to all 2D and 3D media including video and performance. Please be aware that as the artist you are responsible for shipping the work so please take that into consideration if you are not local. Although there is not a specific size limit, the work does need to fit through our door which is 8’h x 4’w” and weighs no more than 50 lbs. Yes, you can submit if you live outside of the Austin area. Just be aware that you are responsible for getting your work to the gallery by either delivering or shipping. Due to shipping time, only artists who reside in the continental United States are eligible.

What is Offered

Opportunity for non-member artists to showcase their work in a juried group exhibition during the Austin Studio Tour, with 60% commission on sales.

Requirements

Open to all US residents (continental United States only) working in any 2D/3D media and video/performance. Submit Artist Statement/CV (max 3 pages), 5-10 images of recent work (past two years), and optional video. Accepted work must be ready to hang or display professionally, with no glass on wall-based work (plexiglass only). Artists are responsible for shipping costs both ways and must include a return shipping label. Work must fit through a door 8'h x 4'w and weigh no more than 50 lbs.

How to Apply

Entries must be submitted online no later than 11:59PM on Wednesday, October 1st via the provided link. Submit an Artist Statement/CV (no more than 3 pages), 5-10 images of works completed within the past two years (saved with first initial, last name, e.g., JDOE01.jpg), and an optional video entry (no longer than 5 minutes, YouTube/Vimeo link, not password protected). A $30 entry fee is required.