A Call for Art
The West Falmouth Library Art Fundraiser and Community Art Show
August 12-23, 2025
We’re all fortunate to live in a beautiful place where that beauty is captured in many and varied ways by all of you. Thank you for beautifying our lives! The West Falmouth Library invites you to showcase your artistry during our upcoming Art Fundraiser and Community Art Show to be held from August 12-23, 2025.
As an independent library and 501(c)(3) non-profit, 90% of our funding comes from our patrons and fundraising events like this. Without this support, we cannot continue to offer diverse programming to the community, thoughtfully curated books and media to our patrons, and a beautiful space that all can enjoy throughout the year. Now, more than ever, we need your help.
Funding cuts are impacting all community arts and humanities programs, and we strive to continue to support Falmouth and beyond as we have since 1879. We need your help.
Whether you participated in this event in the past as an established or aspiring artist or are new to our roster we are grateful for your participation. Your support makes an important contribution to our annual operating budget.
In an effort to support the local art community’s needs and better meet those of the West Falmouth Library, we are exploring ways to enliven our presentation of artwork.
Thank you for your continuing partnership and support for the West Falmouth Library and please consider joining us, especially if you’ve exhibited with us in the past and want to experience a new take on a fun summer tradition
Please read carefully as we have made some important changes in how we’ve operated in the past.
Jim McIlvain
WFL Board Member and Art Show Chairperson
Molly Akin
Executive Director, West Falmouth Library
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- Donated Art: We’re gratefully accepting donated art for which 100% of the proceeds will benefit the West Falmouth Library. While we’ve offered this opportunity in the past, we’ll be acknowledging artists who donate their work by displaying the artist’s photograph, a brief biography, and a link to the artist’s website, if appropriate and desired.
- The library reserves the right to see all donated art before accepting it.
- Unsold donated work will be returned to the artist.
- Silent Auction: All artwork submitted will be part of a silent auction, where visitors will have the opportunity to view and bid on your work, which will be tastefully hung throughout the library. This portion of the art fundraiser will last for two days. Our analysis of prior years’ shows reveals that most art is bought on the first and last days of the show. But, as noted below, even if your piece does not sell during the two day auction, it will continue to be available until the close of the show.
- WFL will retain the standard 40% commission of the list price; artists will receive 60% of the list price.
- WFL will retain 100% of the balance of any successful action bid beyond the list price.
- Reception: We will host a reception on the second day of the silent auction for the general public with abundant food and wine. This reception has historically spurred buyers to purchase.
- Sales: Successful bids may be picked up at the end of the reception.
- All remaining works will be available for sale until the close of the event on August 23. In other words, if your piece doesn’t sell during the two day silent auction, it may still be purchased; signs will direct visitors to the art displays positioned throughout the library.
- Framed Art: We will limit the number of framed art work to one per artist, due to artist feedback regarding less than ideal display locations when too many pieces need to be hung in a relatively small space.
- Artists will be invited to replace sold art with another work of art of similar size.
- A specific registration link for replacement artwork will be emailed prior to drop off at the library. No additional registration fee required.
- Increased Promotion: We will heavily promote the Art Fundraiser and Community Art Show via a targeted mailing to library patrons and supporters, newspapers, and on line with a dedicated landing page for the event on our website.
- Works on Paper: We have increased the allowable number of flat/matted/mounted/ unframed works on paper that are sleeved (packaged) from 5 to 10 works per artist.
- Donated Art: We’re gratefully accepting donated art for which 100% of the proceeds will benefit the West Falmouth Library. While we’ve offered this opportunity in the past, we’ll be acknowledging artists who donate their work by displaying the artist’s photograph, a brief biography, and a link to the artist’s website, if appropriate and desired.
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Important Dates
Online registration: Monday, June 9 – Sunday, August 3, 2025
(Please note that if online registration is a barrier to your participation, contact us at events@westfalmouthlibrary.org to set up a time to register in person at the library.)
REGISTRATION NOW OPEN – CLICK TO SUBMIT YOUR ART
In-person receiving day: Monday, August 11, 10 – 5 pm
First Day of Silent Auction: Tuesday, August 12
On-site Silent Auction: begins on Tuesday August 12 and ends with our reception on Wednesday August 13. Unsold pieces will be available until the close of the show at 5 pm on Saturday, August 23.
Opening Reception: Wednesday, August 13, 5-7pm
Closing Coffee: Saturday, August 23, 10am-12pm
Artist pickup: Sunday-Monday, Aug 24-25, 2025, 1- 4 pm. If you are unable to pick up on these days, please make arrangements with us for pick up during regular operating hours the following week. Art not retrieved within 14 days will be disposed of at the library’s discretion.
If you have any questions about submission requirements, please contact events@westfalmouthlibrary.org
Submission Guidelines
Framed, gallery-wrapped, and three-dimensional art
Maximum of 1 piece due to limited hanging /placement space
√ 2-D Art
Maximum Size: 24” x 36”
- All submitted artwork must be dry and ready to hang. The picture frame wire should not be above the frame. It should be a multi-strand wire; do not use monofilament.
- No sawtooth hangers.
- Stretcher bars are the preferred method for hanging framed canvas works.
- Screw eyes/D-rings and hanging wire MUST be attached firmly to the back of the piece with screws.
√ 3-D Art
Maximum of 1 piece due to limited space
Maximum Size: 10” wide x 8” depth x 24” high
Maximum Weight: 30lb
√ Matted Art**
Maximum Size: 24” x 30”
- **PLEASE NOTE: Matted Art is a work on paper, i.e., unframed (no stretcher frames) and is flat mounted on mat board or consists of thin rigid material
- Art must be wrapped (bagged.) We will not accept loose art work. Works will be placed in cradles for patrons to sort through.
- Maximum of 10 pieces. Please, no 3D art work in this category
Online Registration and Payment
Registration Fees
- Framed, gallery-wrapped paintings and 3D: $15
- Matted only: $10 maximum of 10 pieces
- Donated Work: no fee
- Submission fees are non-refundable.
Sales
All exhibited work must be for sale.
- Please consider donating your work. There will be no registration fee for donated work. WFL will retain 100% of sale proceeds.
- Artists will retain 60% of the minimum sale price as posted by the artist, with the remaining 40% being retained by WFL.
- WFL will retain 100% of the auction price above the listed minimum sale price.
3D and Framed 2D Art Event Promotion Images
Please consider providing images of your framed or 3D artwork upon registration. We would like to feature some of our artist’s work in promoting the event on our web page. However, we cannot guarantee that yours will be selected. If we do select your work, you will, of course, be appropriately acknowledged.
Please upload photos of your work(s) using the link on the online registration page.
- 2D works should be close-ups showing as little background as possible, i.e., fill the picture frame.
- 3D works should be placed in front of a solid background
- Cell phone images are perfectly acceptable.
- JPG format
- Under 1 MB file size
If you have any questions about submission requirements, please contact events@westfalmouthlibrary.org
Thank you for continuing to support of our Library Fundraiser and Community Art Show. We hope to see you and your work there!
LIBRARY HOURS
Sunday & Monday: closed
Tuesday: 10am-5pm
Wednesday: 10am-5pm
Thursday: 2-8pm
Friday: 10am-5pm
Saturday: 10am-1pm
MAKE A GIFT OF SUPPORT
EIN: 04-2214857
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