MEPAINTSME

OPEN CALL 2025

MEPAINTSME is pleased to announce that we are now accepting submissions for the 2025 Open Call Exhibition. Selected artworks will be featured in an online exhibition at mepaintsme.com and posted on the @mepaintsme instagram feed.

This is a competition-based opportunity. All submissions will be reviewed by mepaintsme.

Please read the following instructions carefully. Submissions sent by email or DM will not be reviewed.

Early Submission Deadline: April 30, 2025

FINAL Submission Deadline: May 31, 2025

Notification: July 11, 2025

Exhibition Dates: Aug 7 - Sept 10, 2025

Eligibility

Open to International Artists over the age of 18. Limit (1) submission of 1-3 Artworks, per Artist.

ARTWORKS must be:

in any media (painting, drawing, photography, sculpture, etc…)
of any subject matter (figurative, abstract, landscape, etc.)
2D artwork: less than 40 inches (100 cm) in length and less than 40 inches (100 cm) in width.
3D artwork: less than 20 inches (50 cm) and less than 20 inches (50 cm) in width.
made within the last year (2024 or 2025)
available for sale on mepaintsme.com during the run of the exhibition, and for 2 months thereafter.

Sales/Commission

For any sales, the artist is responsible for packing and shipping the Artwork to the client using a prepaid shipping label. Mepaintsme pays for all shipping expenses including a stipend for packing materials. The Artist/Gallery commission split is 60/40 with the Artist receiving 60% of the Sales Price for sold Artworks. Artists are not obligated to, but may choose to donate a portion or all of their commission to this year’s beneficiary organization (see below).

Submission Fee

Early Deadline (April 30): $20 US artist / $25 international artist (VAT included)

FINAL Deadline (May 31): $25 US artist / $30 international artist (VAT included)

In addition to supporting the below listed charitable organization, the submission fee helps to support MEPAINTSME’s programming and to make opportunities like this possible. If you're experiencing hardship and cannot pay the application fee, please email us at mpm@mepaintsme.com. We have waived and reduced fee applications available to artists in need.

Submission Instructions

Submissions can be made via the online Submission Form.

You will be required to submit:

Artist Information: Name, mailing address, phone, email, website (optional), instagram handle (optional)

Artwork Images: Your best quality image(s) at a minimum of 2400 pixels wide. One image per artwork.

Artwork Caption: Title, Year, Medium, Dimensions, Price (in USD) for each artwork

You will be notified of your acceptance or non-acceptance no later than July 11, 2025.

Before entering your Submission, please review the complete Open Call 2025 Terms & Conditions, which contains important information regarding sales & shipping, insurance and copyright.

If you have any questions, please contact mpm@mepaintsme.com.

APPLY NOW

ABOUT THE PROGRAM

MEPAINTSME's Annual Open Call is a juried exhibition and fundraiser aimed at providing a platform for emerging and mid-career artists, while also supporting important social and humanitarian causes. Since its inception in 2022, the Open Call program has featured the artwork of 130 international artists, and raised over $16,000 support to important charitable causes — in 2022, Ukrainian Relief organizations; in 2023, groups working to end gun violence in America; and in 2024, to support the great work of three non profit organizations that provide inclusive and enriching programming for artists with disabilities. The Open Call 2025 Exhibition and Fundraiser will support disaster relief for the creative and culinary communities of Western North Carolina through WNC Tip It Forward, a recovery effort organized by ArtsAVL and AIR.

We developed the Open Call program because we care deeply about providing equal opportunities for artists to expand their audience and reach. As the gallery does not accept unsolicited submissions, the annual Open Call is the best way to submit your artwork for consideration by the artist and curator, mepaintsme. A number of artists selected for Open Call Exhibitions were invited by mepaintsme to join future group and solo exhibitions at the gallery.

2025 BENEFICIARY

WNC Tip It Forward

Providing Critical Relief for Culinary & Creative Workers & Small Businesses in Western North Carolina

MEPAINTSME is based in Asheville, North Carolina, a small city celebrated for its thriving arts and music scene, award-winning farm to table restaurants, and independently owned small businesses. Its unofficial slogan, “Keep Asheville Weird”, is a symbol of the city’s unique character, and encourages locals and visitors alike to embrace individuality, eccentricity and diversity. In September of 2024, Hurricane Helene struck the area and caused widespread damage, profoundly impacting the community and disproportionately affecting the livelihoods of those who make Asheville and its surrounding areas special—it’s artists, musicians and restaurant workers.

In response to this widespread devastation, GBX Group has partnered with Asheville Independent Restaurants (AIR) and the Asheville Area Arts Council (ArtsAVL) to launch the "WNC Tip It Forward" campaign, an urgent relief fund to provide critical, fast financial support for local artists and food service workers who have been directly impacted, and to support the ongoing charitable efforts of ArtsAVL and AIR in their work towards long term recovery.

Proceeds from the 2025 MEPAINTSME Open Call Exhibition and Fundraiser will be donated to the WNC Tip It Forward campaign, which aims to raise $1,000,000 by the end of 2025 to provide relief grants to culinary and creative workers, and small, independent arts & culinary businesses in Western North Carolina.

Please join us in supporting a cause close to our hearts and home. #WNCTipItForward

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