Thank you for your interest in exhibiting at NUMU!
About NUMU and its Exhibitions:
Founded in 1965, New Museum Los Gatos (NUMU), formerly the Museums of Los Gatos, is a public non-profit art and history museum located in the Civic Center Plaza in downtown Los Gatos. NUMU's mission is to engage its community at the intersection of art, history and education through innovative, locally connected and globally relevant exhibitions, programs and experiences.
NUMU is committed to exhibit, educate, collect, and provide scholarship relative to Los Gatos history as well as visual arts focusing on arts and artists located in the Greater Bay Area (Monterey, Santa Cruz, Santa Clara, San Mateo, Alameda, San Francisco, Contra Costa, Marin, Solano, Napa, and Sonoma Counties.) NUMU offers a diverse range of art and history exhibitions and educational programs. It is a remarkable yet accessible, welcoming institution that serves as a cultural, collaborative, and educational hub for the community.
NUMU’s art exhibitions represent artists and artworks that address various social and environmental issues, and other diverse themes in a variety of mediums. Artists and guest curators may propose solo or group exhibitions that hold significance to the Museum’s mission and its vision of offering equal and equitable representation and access, opportunities, and services to all stakeholders. Exhibitions representing a diversity of genders, ethnicities, sexual orientations, and backgrounds are encouraged.
NUMU’s history exhibitions have both strong regional ties and a broader intellectual reach that foster a sense of civic pride while providing visitors to the area with insight about Los Gatos and the surrounding communities. By telling stories of the town, our history exhibitions offer a place for children and adults to gain a deeper understanding and appreciation of its history, and the individuals and groups who laid the foundations of their communities and built their lives and legacies in Los Gatos and the surrounding areas. Exhibitions representing untold or under-told stories of historically marginalized and underrepresented peoples of Los Gatos and the Greater Bay Area are highly encouraged.
Potential exhibiting artists and guest curators who are unfamiliar with NUMU’s exhibitions or physical space are encouraged to visit the museum and review previous exhibitions online prior to submitting a proposal.
In general, we solidify exhibitions in the museum two years in advance. When crafting exhibition proposals, this timeline should be taken into account. Scheduling and duration are at the discretion of the museum.
Required information and materials can be found in the following submission form.
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Selection Process and Criteria:
Proposals are reviewed on a quarterly basis by NUMU’s Curatorial Committee, made up of curatorial staff and board members.
All concepts submitted should be aligned with NUMU’s mission and vision.
The following are examples of criteria that will be used by the Curatorial Committee in evaluating proposals:
Does this exhibition:
- present an opportunity to have important conversations about social issues with our audience?
- decentralize the museum voice and uplift marginalized voices?
- ensure balanced representation of BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, differently abled people, and/or women?
- feature a relevance to Los Gatos and/or the Greater Bay Area?
- present an opportunity to expand our audience into the Greater Bay Area?
- present an opportunity to engage with youth?
- present aesthetically or historically rigorous work?
- offer collaboration on fundraising and sponsorship?
- offer something new to be seen and taught that has not been examined recently by a similar exhibition featured at NUMU? (We strive for diverse art styles, various cultures, media, as well as relevant and challenging ideas.)
- present an exciting and engaging opportunity for NUMU?
- Can the demands of the exhibition be met by the museum’s resources and available staff?
Notification:
Please do not call or email regarding the status of your submission. You will receive an email notification once your proposal has been fully reviewed by the committee. If interested, a curatorial representative will contact you with next steps. Due to the volume of proposals we receive and the frequency of review, notifications may take up to four to six months.
If Selected, NUMU Will Provide:
- Gallery space and design for a designated period of time.
- Marketing and promotion.
- Installation/de-installation.
- Display and archive exhibition images on NUMU’s website.
- Coordination of artwork/artifact shipment.
- Insurance for artwork/artifacts.
- Educational programs facilitation in coordination with the museum’s Education Department.
- Partnership on funding and sponsorship opportunities.
New Museum Los Gatos (NUMU) invites high school students across Santa Clara County to submit a work of art responding to the theme Dreamscapes. How can art reflect our dreams, and how do our dreams reflect our hopes, fears, values, environment, and aspirations?
Dreaming is a fascinating aspect of the human condition. From daydreams to our deepest ambitions, whether fantasies or nightmares, we are all connected by this shared phenomenon. Dreams don’t only happen when we sleep, they can take place on any scale, from personal goals to collective movements that inspire change.
Throughout history, scientists, storytellers, artists, and mystics have tried to understand why dreaming happens and what it means for humanity. Dreams can be fun or whimsical, but they can also be uncomfortable, grotesque, or downright confusing. In each case, they have the power to evoke strong emotions and inspire profound creative expression.
What do you dream of?
ArtNow 2025 submissions will open Friday, November 1, 2024 and close on Sunday, February 2, 2025, at 11:59 PM. Stay tuned for a Dreamscapes toolkit co-created with our Teen Council that will dive deeper into the theme, showcasing art historical references, artwork examples, submission resources, guiding questions, and quotes.
See our toolkit for further resources & tips on crafting your best submission.
SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS
- Students may submit one work of art. Late or incomplete submissions will not be considered.
- A fully completed submission form and an artist statement of no more than 100 words must accompany the artwork. Submissions accepted online only.
- Must be a Santa Clara County High School student. Public, private, and homeschoolers are all welcome to apply.
- Create an original work of art in response to this year’s theme, and write an accompanying artist’s statement.
- Artwork is accepted in the following categories: Drawing, Digital Art, Mixed Media, Painting, Photography, Printmaking, Sculpture, & Video/Animation.
- By submitting to ArtNow you allow NUMU to use images of your artwork for promotional purposes.
IMAGE UPLOAD REQUIREMENT
- All files must be labeled as follows "Artist Last Name_ Artist First Name_Artwork Title" (Doe_Jane_TreeOfLife.jpg, for example)
- Images must be in .jpg format. jpg, mp4, mov, and m4v files are accepted.
- Images should be sized at a minimum of 1250 pixels on the shortest side with an image quality of at least 300 DPI.
- Final .jpg file must be less than 5 MB.
- Video/Animation submissions must be 2 minutes or shorter, and exported as .mp4. Short .gif files must be looped and exported to follow Video/Animation requirements.
- An individual artwork with multiple components (diptych, triptych, series) will be considered as one submission and must be submitted as a composite (single) file.
- If you are submitting a 3D artwork you may upload a single image collage with up to 3 angles of your work.
- Judges will use this image to judge your artwork. Ensure that it is rotated and sized according to the way you want the judges to view your piece.
- If your artwork is accepted we will use this image in the exhibition catalog. Please ensure that your image is high quality: no glare, well lit, cropped to include your full artwork, and at least 300 DPI
JUDGING CRITERIA
Submissions are accepted based on the following criteria:
- Significant and thoughtful investigation of the theme
- Imaginative communication of ideas
- Meaningful use of materials
- Demonstrates technical skill and artistic merit
- Artist statement is well-articulated
FAQs
Is there a size restriction for my original (physical) piece?
There are no size restrictions.
How many pieces can I submit?
Each student may only submit one work in the category of their choice.
Can I make a change or correction to my submission?
Unfortunately, no. Once the form has been submitted, there will be no opportunity to edit. Please make sure all files and information are correct before submitting.
Can I add to my artwork after I have been accepted as an exhibiting artist?
Making changes to the artwork may jeopardize artwork, as it was judged in the original state it was submitted. Slight modifications such as varnishing a painting or fixing something that has broken are acceptable and encouraged.
When will I know if my work was accepted into the exhibition?
Accepted artists will be announced on February 28, 2025.
When will I need to drop off my artwork to NUMU?
Students whose artwork is juried into the exhibition will need to drop off their artwork during museum open hours March 14-16 & 21-23, 2025. All artworks need to be received ready-to-be-installed and properly wrapped. Exhibiting artists will be emailed detailed information on the drop-off process and artwork preparation requirements.
How long will my artwork be on display?
Works will be displayed from April 4, 2025 to July 20, 2025. However, works will remain at NUMU from the time of drop-off (March 14-16 & 21-23), to the scheduled pick-up dates (July 24-27 & July 31-Aug 3).
Can I submit a piece in collaboration with another student?
No, ArtNow only accepts individual submissions.
Can I use AI in my submission?
NUMU acknowledges that AI (artificial intelligence) is now a part of media and may be used as an artistic tool. AI-generated submissions without major artistic manipulation will not be accepted. AI may be applied meaningfully as part of an artist’s process to express an original concept conceived by the artist. If AI is included, students should acknowledge that in their artist statement.
AI should not be used to write your artist’s statement, however, proofreading tools like Grammarly may be used to refine the artist’s own words. Please reach out if you have any specific questions.
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Have more questions? Email artnow@numulosgatos.org