OVERVIEW

The City of Boston is accepting submissions for the annual Fay Chandler Emerging Art Exhibition at the Boston City Hall Galleries, a celebration of the vibrant Boston visual arts community. Artists who live, work, or create in the Greater Boston area are encouraged to apply. Hosted by the Mayor’s Office of Arts and Culture, the Fay Chandler Emerging Art Exhibition will feature contemporary artworks by local emerging artists. Inspired by Fay Chandler, a Boston philanthropist and arts advocate, this exhibition celebrates emerging artists of all ages. Chandler, who began her artistic journey later in life, is a symbol of inspiration and perseverance for our community.

The exhibition will be on display at the Boston City Hall Galleries from November 18 to December 27, 2024.

DEADLINE: October 20, 2024 at 11:59 p.m.

ELIGIBILITY

• Artists must live, work, or create in the Greater Boston area (Essex, Middlesex, Norfolk, Plymouth or Suffolk County)
• Artists must be at least 18 years old.
• Artists must be early in their careers regardless of age, with ambitious goals and demonstrate artistic potential through a solid body of work (examples include someone who has been creating work for five years or less, or who graduated from an Art Degree within the last five years)
• Artists currently represented by a commercial gallery are ineligible.
• All artwork submitted must have been created within the last 3 years.

EXHIBITION SPACE AND DETAILS

• Artists may submit up to 3 artworks for consideration (regardless of medium), if accepted only one will be displayed
• 2D artworks must be ready to hang (with D-rings or hanging wire) and cannot exceed 30 x 30 in. (including frame).
• 3D artworks cannot exceed 18in. in diameter.
• Artworks will be displayed at the Boston City Hall Galleries.
• Artists are responsible for transporting their artwork to and from the gallery.
• All artists must sign a waiver. The galleries are not responsible for any damages to artwork while on display.
• Artists selected for the exhibition will be notified by October 31, 2024.
• Artwork drop-off will be between November 11-16, 2024.

PRIZES

• Best in Show: $3,000.00
• 50+: $2,000.00
• New Voice (started making art in the last three years): $2,000.00 
• 3 Juror’s Choice Awards: $500 each

*Please note: Previous prize winners are ineligible to apply.

This exhibition aims to support and showcase the talent of emerging artists in the Greater Boston area, honoring the legacy of Fay Chandler. We thank her family for their generous support. 

About the Boston City Hall Galleries 

The Boston City Hall Galleries showcase contemporary emerging and mid-career local artists and art organizations. The galleries aim to nurture Boston’s local art scene by displaying a variety of mediums and perspectives that reflect the diversity present in our city. Our mission is to provide spaces that present memorable, ground-breaking, concept driven exhibitions that engage with local communities and start conversations on social issues while inspiring a sense of belonging within Boston City Hall.
We acknowledge that our galleries are built in the traditional homeland of the Massachusett people and the home of the neighboring Wampanoag and Nipmuc peoples. Along with the Mayor’s Office of Arts and Culture, we believe the arts play a crucial role in driving social change and creating a thriving, healthy community for all.  
 

About Fay Chandler
Fay Chandler, a mom of four, discovered a passion for painting in the 1960s while being in her early forties. After earning a Fine Arts degree from the Maryland Institute College of Art, she opened a gallery in Baltimore and became a prominent figure in Boston's art scene after returning to New England. In 1995, she founded The Art Connection, matching artists with non-profit organizations. A dedicated philanthropist, Chandler supported arts education for young people until her passing in 2015.