Apply!

We will begin accepting applications for Zero Art Fair on March 28th, and will accept applications until midnight ET April 18th or we receive 400 applications, whichever comes first.  (If we’re getting close to 400 applications we will post an update on our Instagram.)

If you’d like to apply, please review the following information in preparation. Detailed submission guidelines are listed below. 

Zero Art Fair is an experimental model where the artwork is given away for free to new collectors through a contract that grants artists continued rights in the future value of their work. Zero Art Fair is not a substitute for the art market. It’s a supplement to a system that isn’t well designed to match art with art lovers.

FAQ?

THIS IS A FREE ART FAIR. WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?

Exhibited artworks are offered free of charge to new collectors using our contract. But if you have agreed to offer the work for sale as well, the work can be purchased during the run of the fair if a collector would prefer to buy it than to enter into the contract. Works transferred under the contract can also be sold throughout the five-year vesting period, with some important conditions. This is why it’s important to read our contract and understand the terms of Zero Art Fair.  

HOW AND WHERE WILL ARTISTS APPLY?

Right here! Prospective artists will register to start their application and then submit images and artwork details.  Once you’ve registered and are logged in, you will see an “art work submission” submenu under Apply.

IS THERE A FEE TO APPLY?

There is no fee to register or apply to Zero Art Fair. In a better world, we’d pay you for the trouble of having to apply to get your work out of storage and into someone’s home.  None of this works without the generosity of artists willing to momentarily step outside of the ‘logic’ of the art market.

WHAT KIND OF ARTWORKS WILL BE EXHIBITED AT THE FAIR?

We can accept only exhibition-ready 2D and 3D works. Photographs and works on paper must be framed. We regret that we can not exhibit video or digital work.   We have to consider the scale and transportability of works in our selection process. New collectors will pack and carry artworks into the FLAG elevator, into a car or subway, and into their homes.  We encourage artists to submit works that have been previously exhibited or are more than five years old. The intent of Zero Art Fair is to get artworks out of artists’ storage and into homes.

HOW MANY ARTWORKS MAY ARTISTS SUBMIT AND INCLUDE IN THE FAIR?

Artists may submit up to five artworks for consideration for Zero Art Fair 2025. Artists must commit to including a minimum of two selected artworks in the fair.  Please do not submit more than 5 works for consideration by our curatorial committee.  Your confirmation message means that your work has been submitted for review.    

WHAT ARE THE IMAGE SPECIFICATIONS AND OTHER INFORMATION REQUESTED IN THE APPLICATION?

We ask for high-quality JPEG (.jpg) images with a maximum size of 2000 pixels in either dimension. We will also ask for title, year, media, dimensions, retail price, edition information, and an optional short description. 

WHAT IF I MAKE A MISTAKE ON MY APPLICATION OR IMAGE SUBMISSIONS?

Please let us know what changes need to be made using our contact form.  We can edit information submitted during registration or image submission.

WHEN WILL ARTISTS BE NOTIFIED OF THEIR APPLICATION STATUS?

Artists will be notified of the results of their application in May. 

WHAT IF ARTISTS’ WORK IS NOT SELECTED?

We are working towards building an online version of Zero Art Fair, and artworks that are not selected for the on-site fair may be selected for the online Zero Art Fair.  We will include an option in the application to have your artwork considered for the online version without re-applying.

WHAT ARE THE NEXT STEPS IF I’M SELECTED?

IN MAY: We will ask selected artists to sign our Participation Agreement, outlining our mutual obligations and expectations and provide electronic payment information.

IN LATE JUNE/EARLY JULY: Participating artists will be responsible for dropping off their packed works at The FLAG Art Foundation. **Please note: Artworks will not be covered by fine art insurance once on site at FLAG.

AT THE FAIR, JULY 8-12: 

Artists are welcome but not required to be on-site during the fair. The first three days of the fair will be open to the public as a preview exhibition. Timed tickets are not required for entry. During this period, at the artists’ discretion, works are available for purchase at their artist-designated retail price and unavailable through the contract.  Any sales will occur directly between the artist and the collector using electronic payment. The FLAG Art Foundation does not sell or broker sales.

For the last two days of the fair on Friday and Saturday, visitors will be able to acquire and take home artworks using the Zero Art Fair contract.  Prospective collectors will register for timed tickets to gain entry.  We will be asking prospective collectors to place themselves in one of three categories:

1) they need help to live with original art; 

2) they can sometimes afford to buy original art; 

3) they can help others to live with art. 

Based on these categories, we will reserve the greatest number of tickets to prioritize those who usually need help to live with art.  Prospective collectors who can afford to buy the works are welcome to do so at any time.

WHAT HAPPENS IF MY WORK IS ACQUIRED VIA THE CONTRACT?

After the contract is signed, the work will be immediately taken down, packed by the collector together with a team of art handlers, and taken home.  The artwork will now be governed by the terms of the Zero Art Fair contract. 

WHAT HAPPENS IF SOMEONE BUYS MY ARTWORK AT THE FAIR?

If you provided electronic payment information, the collector will pay you directly and take the work home immediately.  As above, the works will be packed by the collector with a team of art handlers.  Works sold during the fair are not governed by the terms of the Zero Art Fair contract.  We ask artists to donate 10% of sales proceeds back to Zero Art Fair to help sustain the fair.

AFTER THE FAIR:

All participating artists will receive an honorarium of $100 from The FLAG Art Foundation at the close of the fair in July and will be invited to attend a later gala to meet their new collectors. We are grateful to The FLAG Art Foundation for providing an honorarium to participating artists and sponsoring the gala.

While we hope to find homes for all the art, artists will be responsible for retrieving artworks that aren’t placed in the immediate days after the fair’s closing.

A ledger of all artworks and new collectors will be publicly posted on ZeroArtFair.com to aid in any future enforcement of the contract.

Registration is closed.

STEPS TO APPLY:

1. Click the link above to register your account.  Make sure you write down your username and password.
2. After registering, click on the login link in the confirmation message. 
3. Enter your username and password to login.
4. After logging in, hover your mouse over APPLY in the navigation menu in the upper right and click on ART WORK SUBMISSION.  You can use the link to upload up to five submissions.  
5. If you have any issues or questions, please use our contact form.