Art Sale - Frequently Asked Questions

The 2023 Art Sale will take place December 8-10. Submissions for this year's sale will be accepted from September 1 through September 30. Please check back here for a link to the submission portal.

For information or questions on artwork submissions, contact us at smfaartsale@tufts.edu.

When are you accepting submissions?

SMFA Art Sale submissions will be accepted from September 1-30, 2023.

Is there a fee for submitting?

No. Registration for the SMFA Art Sale is free for students, alumni, faculty, staff, and friends.

How many pieces may I submit for consideration?

Artists may submit up to three (3) works in total, two (2) of which can be framed.

Are there any size restrictions?

Due to storage constraints, we will not be able to accept large scale pieces that exceed 48 inches in height or width unless individually approved.

How should I document my work?

All artwork images should be high resolution, at least 1200 pixels tall and 1200 pixels wide. Images between 1-2MB in size are preferred. When possible, artists should plan to submit three (3) images for each work: the first image should be cropped to depict the piece in its entirety (no people, backgrounds, walls, or furniture), the second image should be a detail shot that shows surface texture, the third image should be an installation shot that shows scale.

Will there be a digital catalog or collection of works?

Yes, this year we will be working with Artwork Archive to create a digital collection. Please note that in order to have your artwork included on the site, you will need to adhere to our image resolution requirements.

Does my artwork need to be framed?

No, artwork does not need to be framed. However, if you are submitting framed art, please make all efforts to have the work "ready to hang," i.e. framed or on canvas/panel with a hanging mechanism (D-rings or wire) on the back. Picture hanging wire is preferred.

Will SMFA provide shrink wrapping?

We are still working to determine if this is possible. Please check back closer to the date of the sale.

Do accepted artists receive a portion of the artwork sale?

The SMFA Art Sale is the school’s largest fundraising event, which benefits student scholarships and academic programs. While we encourage everyone to consider giving 100% of their proceeds to the school so that we can create opportunities for talented emerging artists to experience all that SMFA at Tufts has to offer, artists are responsible for setting their own donation percentage.

Are there any fees artists should know about?

No.

How will images of my artwork(s) be used?

Artwork will be used to promote the SMFA Art Sale and affiliated events. Participating artists grant the School of the Museum of Fine Arts at Tufts perpetual, royalty-free, nonexclusive license to use, without limitation, any artwork or related image to promote the school and associated events and programs.

When do I drop off my artwork?

ARTISTS MUST BE AVAILABLE TO DELIVER ARTWORKS Saturday, November 18 (12-8 pm) or Sunday, November 19 (10am-5pm).

Can I ship my work to you?

Unfortunately, we are not able to receive shipped work. However, we do encourage all alumni to submit work to the sale. The use of Artwork Archive will allow all pieces to be viewable by a much wider audience. Works not in person at SMFA can be shipped at the buyer’s expense.

When will I be notified if my artwork sold?

All artists will be notified of the sale of their artwork by Tuesday, December 12, 2023.