The mission of the Brownsville Museum of Fine Art includes the exhibition of contemporary art. The BMFA is accepting proposals for solo exhibitions, group exhibitions, and curated proposals for group exhibitions. The selected exhibitions will be at a professional level, innovative, educational, inclusive, and serve a diverse audience.

Proposals should demonstrate a consistency of vision and include:

• • New and original works that have not previously been exhibited in Brownsville or the lower Rio Grande Valley,
  • a clearly articulated central theme or concept,
  • artworks that address relevant social and cultural issues in the community,
  • relevant themes in contemporary art,
  • an Artist’s Talk and creative supplemental programming that compliments the proposed exhibition, i.e., workshops, lectures, panel discussions, educational events, workshops, etc.

If selected, we will require the specifications of what will be included in the exhibition, an artist’s statement for display, and a listing of specifics about each work for labels. While we respect your original artistic vision, we retain the right to edit the exhibition. Selection will be based on the artwork submitted and there cannot be any substitutions or changes to the body of work. Gallery and month requests are not guaranteed and final decisions are based on the overall exhibition schedule. Artist must be 18 years or older. There is no funding for stipends, transportation, honorariums, printing postcards, printing catalogs, etc. Artists and Curators will be considered for another Solo Exhibition or Group Exhibition or Curated Exhibition five (5) years after the previous Solo Exhibition or Group Exhibition or Curated Exhibition at BMFA.

1. 1. Mail entire application on CD or flash drive to: Executive Director, BROWNSVILLE MUSEUM OF FINE ART, 660 E. Ringgold Street, Brownsville, Texas 78520  -or-
   2. Email to dramirez@brownsvillemfa.org and info@brownsvillemfa.org  -or-
   3. hand-delivery to BMFA Reception Desk, Attention: Executive Director

BMFA Board Approved 5-16-23

Proposal for Solo Exhibition

1. Letter of Intent / Proposal for Your Exhibition
   • Your name, address, phone, email.
   • Please specify the proposed Title for the exhibition.
   • We encourage you to consider the creation of new work for this Solo Exhibition.
   • We will not consider for exhibition any work that is more than five (5) years old.

2. Artist’s Statement:

What is the subject matter you explore?  Why do you use your chosen medium/media?  What motivates you to create art? etc.

3. Resumé / CV:

• • Please highlight your art training and previous exhibitions.

   4. Images:

• • Include on a CD or flash drive five (5) to ten (10) examples of the work you will exhibit.
  • Label each piece: ArtistName_1, ArtistName_2, ArtistName_3, etc.

   5. Image List:

 List artworks (ArtistName_1, ArtistName_2, etc.) that you would bring if you were invited to present your work to the Exhibitions Committee in person at the Museum or via ZOOM or a local RGV studio visit.

• • Title
  • Medium/media
  • Dimensions in inches (Height x Width x Depth)
  • Date completed
  • Brief comments or description of the artwork
  • Preferred exhibition space as shown in the Attachment
  • Price (includes 30% commission to BMFA); all work must be for sale
  • Insurance value (Museum insures the artworks during the exhibition.)

6. Preferred Exhibition Space:

Please refer to the floor plan for the Museum and indicate your preferred exhibition space:

• • Atrium or North Atrium or Central Atrium or South Atrium
  • Permanent Collection Gallery or ½ Permanent Collection Gallery
  • Main Gallery or ½ Main Gallery or 1/3 Main Gallery

7. Application Fee:

• • There will no fee for yearly paid BMFA Members.
  • Non-BMFA members: Enclose a check for $25.00 when mailing or hand delivering your application. You may choose to become a yearly BMFA member with $25.00 credited towards the membership fee.

NOTE: Any packing, shipping, or insurance costs during shipping are the responsibility of the artist.

Proposal for Group Exhibitions

1. Letter of Intent / Proposal for Your Exhibition
   • The name, address, phone, email for each artist.
   • Please specify one (1) contact person.
   • Please specify the proposed Title for the exhibition.
   • We encourage you to consider the creation of new work for this Group Exhibition.
   • We will not consider for exhibition any work that is more than five (5) years old.

2. Artists’ Statement for the Group:

            What is the subject matter you explore? Why do you use your chosen medium/media?    What motivates you to create art? etc.

3. Resumé / CV for Each Artist:

            Please highlight your art training and previous exhibitions.

4. Images for Each Artist:

            Include on a CD or flash drive three (3) examples of the work each artist will exhibit.

            Label each piece: ArtistName_1, ArtistName_2, ArtistName_3

5. Image List for Each Artist:

List artworks (ArtistName_1, ArtistName_2) that each artist would bring if your group were invited to present your work to the Exhibitions Committee in person at the Museum or via ZOOM or a local RGV studio visit.

• • Title
  • Medium/media
  • Dimensions in inches (Height x Width x Depth)
  • Date completed
  • Brief comments or description of the artwork
  • Price (includes 30% commission to BMFA); all work must be for sale
  • Insurance value (Museum insures the artworks during the exhibition.)

6. Preferred Exhibition Space:

Please refer to the floor plan for the Museum and indicate your preferred exhibition space:

• • Atrium or North Atrium or Central Atrium or South Atrium
  • Permanent Collection Gallery or ½ Permanent Collection Gallery
  • Main Gallery or ½ Main Gallery or 1/3 Main Gallery

7. Application Fee:

Enclose a check for $40.00 when mailing or hand delivering application. [There will no fee for non-profit 501(c) art organizations nor will there be a fee for groups of yearly paid BMFA Members.]

NOTE: Any packing, shipping, or insurance costs during shipping are the responsibility of the artists.

Proposal for Curated Exhibitions

1. Letter of Intent / Proposal for Your Curated Exhibition
   • The name, address, phone, email for each Curator.
   • Please specify one (1) contact person.
   • Please specify the proposed Title for the curated exhibition.
   • We encourage you to have the artists create new work for this curated exhibition.
   • We will not consider for exhibition any work that is more than five (5) years old.

2. Exhibition Description:

            Describe the exhibition’s premise and objective(s): discuss the exhibition’s theme, intended audience, cultural and/or scholarly significance, curatorial viewpoint, and the unique approach to the subject matter.

3. Resumé / CV for Each Curator:

            Please highlight your art training and previous curated exhibitions.

*4. Images for Each Artist:

• •  Include on a CD or flash drive three (3) examples of the work each artist will exhibit.
  • Label each piece: ArtistName_1, ArtistName_2, ArtistName_3

*5. Image List for Each Artist:

List artworks (ArtistName_1, ArtistName_2) that each artist would bring if your group were invited to present your work to the Exhibitions Committee in person at the Museum or via ZOOM or a local RGV studio visit.

• • Title
  • Medium/media
  • Dimensions in inches (Height x Width x Depth)
  • Date completed
  • Brief comments or description of the artwork
  • Price (includes 30% commission to BMFA); all work must be for sale
  • Insurance value (Museum insures the artworks during the exhibition.)

*If you are proposing an open call for work, please include the requested information in 4. and 5. for previous curated exhibitions and installation views of the previous curated exhibitions.

6. Preferred Exhibition Space:

Please refer to the floor plan for the Museum and indicate your preferred exhibition space:

• • Atrium or North Atrium or Central Atrium or South Atrium
  • Permanent Collection Gallery or ½ Permanent Collection Gallery
  • Main Gallery or ½ Main Gallery or 1/3 Main Gallery

7. Application Fee:

Enclose a check for $40.00 when mailing or hand delivering application. [There will no fee for non-profit 501(c) art organizations nor will there be a fee for yearly paid BMFA Members.]

NOTE: Any packing, shipping, or insurance costs during shipping are the responsibility of the curators. The curators are responsible for receiving and returning all artwork.