Free vs Paid Art Open Calls – What’s the Difference?
Submission fees are one of the most debated topics in the artist community. Some artists refuse to pay them on principle. Others see them as a normal part of building a professional practice. Most fall somewhere in between – unsure when a fee is reasonable and when it’s a red flag.
This article breaks down the real difference between free and paid open calls, what submission fees typically cover, and how to decide whether a particular call is worth your time and money.
Why some open calls charge a fee
Running a curated exhibition costs real money. Website hosting, design, catalogue production, certificate producing, social media promotion, curatorial time – none of these are free. Submission fees are one of the ways galleries cover these costs without relying on advertising or selling artists’ work.
A gallery that charges a modest, transparent fee and delivers clear value in return is operating a legitimate model. A gallery that charges a high fee, offers vague benefits, and has no visible track record is a different matter.
The fee itself is not the issue. What matters is what the fee covers and whether the gallery is trustworthy.
Free open calls – advantages and limitations
Advantages
- No financial risk — you can submit without committing money
- Good for artists who are early in their career and building confidence
- Often attract a wider range of artists, which can mean more diverse exhibitions
Limitations
- Free calls tend to receive far more submissions, which means more competition and a lower selection rate
- Without a fee to cover costs, the gallery may offer fewer deliverables to selected artists
- Some free calls have less rigorous curation, though this varies widely
Paid open calls – advantages and limitations
Advantages
- Fewer submissions on average – the fee filters out artists who aren’t serious, which can improve your odds
- Fees fund better deliverables – catalogues, certificates, social media features, longer archive periods
- Selected artists typically receive more visible, more polished presentation of their work
Limitations
- There is a financial risk – you pay regardless of whether your work is selected
- Not all paid calls deliver equivalent value – research the gallery before you submit
- High fees (above €30–40) should come with a clear, detailed list of what’s included
At a glance
A quick comparison to help you decide:
| Free open call | Paid open call | |
| Financial risk | None | Free paid upfront or on selection |
| Competition level | Higher – more submissions | Lower – fewer submissions |
| Deliverables | Varies – often fewer | Typically more: catalogue, certificate, social media |
| Best for | Early career, low risk, testing | Serious submissions, more visibility |
Red flags to watch for
Not every open call with a fee is worth your money. Here are the warning signs that suggest a call is not operating in good faith:
- Vague or missing list of deliverables. If the call doesn’t clearly state what selected artists receive, that’s a problem.
- No visible track record. Check whether the gallery has published previous exhibitions. An established gallery will have an archive you can view.
- Very high fees with little in return. A fee above €40–50 should come with a detailed, specific list of what’s included.
- No curator named. A legitimate curated gallery has a real person making selection decisions – and that person should be identifiable.
- Guaranteed selection. If everyone who pays gets in, it’s not a curated exhibition – it’s a paid listing.
How Marea Gallery approaches fees
Edition 01 – Open Waters was free to enter, as Marea Gallery’s inaugural exhibition. From Edition 02 onwards, a submission fee applies – currently €25, payable only if your work is selected.
This model means there is no financial risk in submitting. You only pay if your work is selected and you choose to confirm your participation. The fee covers exhibition production, digital catalogue design, certificate creation, and social media promotion.
Marea Gallery occasionally runs free editions as a gift to the artist community – follow us on Instagram or subscribe to our newsletter to be the first to know.
The fee itself is not the issue. What matters is transparency, track record, and what the artist receives in return.
Browse the current Marea Gallery open call
Marea Gallery runs themed open calls for visual artists worldwide. Submission is free; a participation fee applies only if your work is selected. Browse the current edition in Open Calls page.