THE HOLIDAY ADVENT SHOW 2025

About the Open Call

Gallery Ring is celebrating the upcoming festive season with a complimentary show and draw! You are invited to participate! One artwork will be selected and revealed on the website every day starting December 1st until December 24th, 2025, ending in a group show of the best 24 artworks. Visitors will join in the fun and scratch the daily calendar box themselves to uncover the surprise artwork — the respective day’s Official Selection. This is a complimentary, juried contest and exhibition. The subject matter is the choice of the artist. The work does not have to be holiday-themed. All artists will also be entered into a draw to win 1 of 10 Free-Entry Vouchers. Artist eligibility: - Must be 18 years or older - Can be emerging or established - Must be able to communicate in English or Spanish Fee: - FREE - one artwork per artist is permitted for free - Optional — $20 US for additional 1-2 artworks (artists can enter as many times as desired - there isn’t a limit) - Entry fees are NOT REFUNDABLE (even if made in error) and DO NOT guarantee entry into the show Awards: - December 1st to December 14th - Official Selections in random order - December 15th to December 20th - 10th to 5th place CRYSTAL SNOWFLAKES AWARDS - December 21st - 4th place EMERALD SNOWFLAKE AWARD - December 22nd - 3rd place RUBY SNOWFLAKE AWARD - December 23rd - 2nd place SAPPHIRE SNOWFLAKE AWARD - December 24th - 1st place DIAMOND SNOWFLAKE AWARD - All 24 artists receive a digital Award Certificate and will be promoted on Gallery Ring’s Instagram and newsletter - Top four winners will also receive a special digital Award Page announcing the news, which is ideal for use in portfolios, websites, clientele newsletters and social media - Snowflake Award winners will be featured in a special Winners Video on Gallery Ring’s new Youtube channel Media: - Two-dimensional work done by hand are eligible such as paintings and drawings - Photography, digital, mixed-media, print work and collage are eligible - Sculpture, crafts, jewellery, fabric art and similar media are ineligible - Video and sound are ineligible Criteria: Gallery Ring looks for originality, mastery of medium, strong overall design and composition, creative and clear interpretation of theme and a solid, arresting impression and intention in each artwork. Artist Statement (recommended but not required): - Maximum 150 words - An artist statement is written in the first person and explains the artist’s purpose and inspiration for his or her overall practice or for the pieces submitted. It does NOT give the life story of the artist - that is a biography. - Will not be a factor during the jurying process but will be used in Award Pages for the top winners and will be posted in the show for the Best In Show winner - Will be edited if they surpass the word limit or if they are structurally and/or grammatically incorrect Image requirements: - Only 1 artwork and 1 frontal viewpoint per image is permissible - Cannot exceed 2MB - In jpg format - Files must be labeled as Last name-Title of Art.jpg (example: Jones-Sunrise.jpg) - Cropped to show only the artwork - frames, mat, other backgrounds and watermarks are unacceptable - Clear, without glares and in focus Results: - It is the responsibility of artists to monitor the show daily to see results. - Only official selections and winners will receive email notifications (which will contain their certificates and/or Award Pages) after the show is complete. - Only winners of the draw will be notified. Sales: Artwork does not have to be for sale. Gallery Ring does not handle sales of art or take a commission but will direct inquiries to the artist. Newsletter subscription: Upon submission, artists will automatically be added to Gallery Ring’s email list and will receive future announcements and newsletters. If the artist prefers not to be on this list, he or she can email Gallery Ring and be removed. Policy: - Once the submission deadline has been reached, no image substitutions or changes will be permitted - All artwork must be original and not done with help from teachers or be copied from work by other artists or photographers - Artwork that's offensive, violent, vulgar, distasteful or negative in any way against humans or animals is unacceptable - Artwork that is political is unacceptable - Artwork must not have been previously shown on this site - All decisions regarding exhibitions and winners are final - All selected artwork must remain in the exhibition for the entire duration - early withdrawals are not permitted - Artists' contact information will not be shared with external parties or groups - Gallery Ring reserves the right to cancel, extend or change deadline or exhibition dates or content at any time Usage Rights: By submitting above, the artist who has his or her artwork selected for an exhibition agrees that Gallery Ring is granted usage of the artwork for display, promotion, marketing, email newsletters, press releases and for use on the Gallery Ring website and Instagram. The artist's name will be displayed with the artwork. The artwork and artist's name will also be archived on this site and will be available for public view. The artist maintains all copyrights of the images of artworks. Images will not be resold, copied, exchanged or downloaded from this site.

What is Offered

All 24 artists receive a digital Award Certificate and will be promoted on Gallery Ring’s Instagram and newsletter. Top four winners will also receive a special digital Award Page, ideal for portfolios, websites, clientele newsletters and social media. Snowflake Award winners will be featured in a special Winners Video on Gallery Ring’s new Youtube channel. All artists entered into a draw to win 1 of 10 Free-Entry Vouchers.

Requirements

Artists must be 18 years or older and be able to communicate in English or Spanish. Eligible media include two-dimensional work (paintings, drawings), photography, digital art, mixed-media, print work, and collage. Sculpture, crafts, jewellery, fabric art, video, and sound are ineligible. Submitted artwork must be original, not previously shown on Gallery Ring's site, and must not be offensive, violent, vulgar, distasteful, negative, or political. Image requirements include: one artwork and one frontal viewpoint per image, maximum 2MB, JPG format, labeled as 'Last name-Title of Art.jpg', cropped to show only the artwork (no frames, mats, backgrounds, or watermarks), clear, without glares, and in focus.

How to Apply

Artists must complete an online entry form providing personal details (name, email, social media links, country) and artwork information (title, medium, dimensions, image file). An optional artist statement (max 150 words) can also be included. The first artwork entry is free. Artists wishing to submit additional artworks (1-2 more) can do so for an optional fee of $20 USD per additional artwork, processed via PayPal.