Emerging Artists Program

Thank you for your interest in the Avant Garde’s Emerging Artists program! It is the mission of Avant Garde to raise funds and awareness for the Tampa Museum of Art while promoting local artists in the Tampa Bay area. In order to complete this mission, Avant Garde selects a pool of artists to promote at AG events held all over Tampa Bay, and at select Tampa Museum of Art Art after Dark with Starbucks events. We do not discriminate in regards to medium or subject matter. However, in order promote your work and fulfill our mission properly, we have some requirements that you must comply with. Please read these carefully before submitting this application. Note: You may be invited to present your work in person at an Avant Garde steering committee meeting.

Avant Garde collects a 20% commission on all art sales at their events. This is a direct donation to TMA. TMA can supply documentation for tax purposes if required.

Avant Garde will inform you within 4-6 weeks of receipt of your application whether you have been chosen or not. We request that you refrain from contacting the museum or Avant Garde members to inquire about your status before then. Please be patient with our selection process.

If chosen, you will be in our pool of artists for two consecutive years. Although there is the opportunity to show several times, we cannot commit to featuring your artwork more than once out of fairness to your fellow artists. There is no restriction on how many times an artist may apply to the emerging artist program.

The maximum price artists can sell their work at events is $750. This is to ensure sales since our members are young professionals and just beginning their own collections. Please note that for us to use your work at a show you must have a substantial collection of art to sell (7 or more pieces) priced at $750 or below.

Once selected, all new Avant Garde pool artists are required to become a member of Avant Garde. The price is nominal ($15, in addition to museum membership) and AG views this as reciprocal support for all the hard work we do to promote you. We will notify you upon selection of your art when membership dues are expected.

To apply, please download the Emerging Artists Program application form. Once completed, please send the form and samples of your work to:

Avant Garde/Tampa Museum of Art
Attn: Emerging Artists Program
600 N. Ashley Drive
Tampa, FL 33602