How to Enter a NESBA Exhibit - Info & Resources

NESBA offers its members many opportunities to exhibit their botanical artwork in venues throughout the region. Calls for Entry will be sent via the NESBA Newsletter and posted in the Exhibit Calendar, and any active member in good standing can enter.

While specific exhibit details (including dates, themes or plant lists, and drop-off instructions) will be included in the Call for Entries for each show, NESBA has general guidelines for submission that our members should follow to facilitate the entry process.

Below the entry steps, please find links to all of our NESBA exhibit resources.

To enter a NESBA Member Exhibit, follow these steps:

EXHIBIT CHECKLIST (click here for a printable version)

  1. Read the “Call for Entries” details and choose your artwork.  Make sure your work conforms to NESBA Botanical Art Guidelines.

  2. Be sure your artwork specimen is named correctly. Read the Botanical Labeling Guidelines if you are unsure about how to display the Latin name vs the common name.

  3. Prepare a digital image of your work following NESBA Digital Image Guidelines

  4. Submit the online Intent to Exhibit form found in the Call for Entries.  

  5. If you are including an Artist’s Statement/Bio, please read the Artist Statement Guide, print a good-quality one-page statement and include it in your bubble wrap envelop along with your artwork.

  6. Frame your artwork according to NESBA Framing Guidelines. Artwork that does not meet NESBA framing guidelines will not be included in the exhibit.

  7. Package your artwork in a bubble wrap envelope.  Follow instructions provided here.  No boxes or packing peanuts please, or artwork will be returned.

  8. Label your artwork using NESBA Exhibit Labels. Print and fill out two labels.  Attach one label to the back corner of your artwork. Attach the second to the front of your bubble wrap envelope, so your artwork can be returned in your envelope.

  9. Pay the entry fee on-line following instructions in the Call for Entries.

  10. Deliver your artwork to your drop-off person by the drop-off due date listed in the Call for Entries.

Thank you for helping NESBA create beautiful botanical art exhibits! We appreciate our members participating in these shows and supporting NESBA’s mission

Botanical Art Guidelines

How to make sure your work meets basic guidelines

 

exhibit labels

Printable artwork labels for exhibit submission

framing guidelines

NESBA framing requirements for exhibits

 

Bubble Wrap envelope instructions

How to make a bubble wrap envelope to transport your artwork safely for exhibits

Artist’s statement guide

Helpful tips for writing an artist’s statement/bio

 

Digital Image Guidelines

Specifics preparing a digital image for your intent to exhibit

Prints & Cards Guidelines

For displaying prints and cards for sale at exhibit venues

 

Botanical labeling guidelines

Specifics on how to label your plant name for your artwork