Cleveland Botanical Garden Call for Artists

Holden Forests & Gardens (HF&G) is seeking artists to exhibit their work in four galleries at the Cleveland Botanical Garden throughout the year in conjunction with our various exhibitions. While 2024 is currently booked, we are seeking artists to feature in the spaces throughout 2025.

Founded in 1930, the Cleveland Botanical Garden is a not-for-profit organization that welcomes thousands of guests each year to its 10 acres of beautiful outdoor gardens and the 18,000-square-foot Eleanor Armstrong Smith Glasshouse. The garden commits itself to serving the greater Cleveland community through various special exhibitions throughout the year, as well as outreach programs such as Green Corps, the Community Forestry Program, the Sherwin Institute of Woodland Management, and as acting as an organizing member for the Cleveland tree plan.

The purpose of these art exhibits is to further our mission of connecting “people with the wonder, beauty, and value of trees and plants, to inspire action for healthy communities.” The art exhibits present an opportunity for visitors to connect with the work of local artists while enjoying both the interior and exterior gardens. Artists’ work will be showcased in one of our four galleries, Eppig Gallery, Guren Gallery, Orientation Theatre, or the Garden Café. Artists are responsible for installing their work the week prior to the exhibition and must pick up their work the week following its closure.

Scope of Exhibit:

• HF&G is seeking artists to showcase work connecting to and inspired by botanical and natural worlds (number of work dependent on finished size).
• Work can be completed in any medium, but artists must verify the hanging system in their specific gallery.
• Artists will have the opportunity to sell any work included in the exhibit on a commission basis.
• Artists may also submit books, small works, and prints to be sold in the Garden Store on a commission basis.
• The subject matter should directly or indirectly relate to our mission as well as the season of the show it will be accompanying. We are open to interpretation and happy to explain further upon inquiry.
• Artists will receive up to 20 tickets for friends and family admission to see work in lieu of a reception.
• Pending final scope and schedule the artist may be part of a media campaign that includes press releases, mentions in forests & gardens, our quarterly members magazine, paid and organic social media posts, and eblast communications with 30,000+ subscribers.

Submission details:

Letter of interest as email are being accepted on a rolling basis, sent to Anita Burton, Administrative Coordinator, at aburton@holdenfg.org to include:

• Short artist statement or explanation of why you want to be included in this project.
• Images of at least 5 examples of your work created in the last 5 years.
• CV or resume
• Contact information including websites, social media, etc. so we can learn more about your work.

Contact with questions: please contact Anita Burton at aburton@holdenfg.org

About the Spaces:

Eppig Gallery:

Eppig Gallery is on the first floor of the Garden. Used as a pathway from the entry to the café, and back areas of the Garden, Eppig is one of the most traveled areas within the Garden. This space does not currently feature a hanging system, please verify preferred ways to hang prior to date of installation.

Garden Café

The Garden Café is also located on the first floor of the Garden. This space provides a place for visitors to enjoy food and drinks from the Garden Café while also enjoying the artwork and plants around them. This space does not currently feature a hanging system, please verify preferred ways to hang prior to date of installation.

Guren Gallery (2^nd Floor Playspace)

Guren Gallery, features our children’s play space as well 43-linear-feet of hanging space split between 2 walls. This space is outfitted with a zipper-clip hanging system, so works must be able to be ready to hang using picture wire, d-clips, or a similar hanging system.

Orientation Theatre

The Orientation Theatre is a round space that visitors walk through as they leave the main area on the first floor and head into the two biomes. This space is outfitted with a zipper-clip hanging system, so works must be able to be ready to hang using picture wire, d-clips, or a similar hanging system.