

"NEW BEGINNINGS"
PROSPECTUS
The Wheaton Arts Parade (WAP) Gallery will hold an art exhibition from April 17 to June 7, 2026. "New Beginnings" is an opportunity for 20 to 25 visual artists in Montgomery County and surrounding areas to participate in an eight week exhibition and sale of original, professional quality artwork at a new gallery in the heart of Wheaton's Central Business District.
We encourage artists to consider the theme "New Beginnings" from a broad perspective. This is a great opportunity to showcase your original point of view. Artwork that does not relate to the theme will still be considered by the curator.
Applications opened on March 11, 2026 and will close on April 7, 2026. There is no fee to apply. There is a $90 fee to participate in the 8 week exhibit. All acceptance notifications will be emailed no later than April 8th, 2026. Art drop-off will take place immediately after on April 10 & 11, 2026.
1. Purpose. Wheaton Arts Parade serves as the agent for the artist for the display and sale of their art that is listed on their registration form. The art will be exhibited at the Wheaton Arts Parade Gallery, 11325 Georgia Ave, Wheaton MD, 20902.
KEY DATES
Applications Close
Acceptance Notice
Art Drop-off
Exhibit Opens
Reception
Exhibit Closes
April 7
April 8
April 10-11
April 17
April 19
June 7
2. Artwork. The Gallery aims to maintain a diverse representation of local artists. All media of original art will be considered: painting, drawing, photography, sculpture, fiber etc. Artists can exhibit from 4 to 6 works to occupy display space equivalent to four 24"x24" paintings. All art must be for sale and remain on display for the duration of the exhibition. Artwork that violates copyright laws or that has been created using AI will not be considered.
3. Eligibility. Artists must be at least 18 years old and reside or create their artwork in Maryland, DC, or Virginia and must have reliable means of transportation to get to the gallery space.
4. Warranty. The Artist warrants that their artwork is original, that they created it and possess an unencumbered title to the artwork and that their descriptions of the artwork are true and accurate.
5. Duration of Consignment. The term of consignment for the art is from April 17 through June 7th, 2026.
6. Business Hours: The gallery plans to be open on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays at a minimum. Business hours will depend on the number and availability of volunteers.
7. Gallery Fee. The participation fee is $90 and is due before or at the time of artwork drop-off. Artists who gallery sit for 3, 3-hour shifts will have their fee refunded.
8. Artist Responsibilities: The gallery relies upon artist volunteers in order to operate. Artists must volunteer for at least 9 hours (3, 3-hour shifts) to help operate the gallery.
9. Artist Benefits.
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10% off all gallery purchases of items priced at $50 or more
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Use of the gallery space for art making during volunteer shifts
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Artists and their artwork are featured in WAP's online gallery and social media
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Priority for participation in pop-up sale events, leading art workshops, etc.
10. Pricing, Commission and Terms of Payment. The Gallery will sell Artwork only at the Retail Price specified by the Artist. The Gallery’s commission on the Artist’s sales revenue is 10%. Fees charged by Square for credit card purchases will be deducted from the sales revenue before the gallery commission is calculated. Payment to the Artist shall be made within 2 weeks after the close of the exhibition.
11. Display Policy. The Gallery aims to maintain a diverse representation of local artists. Depending on the number of artists in the show and the size of their paintings, the number of paintings per artist may vary. The Gallery maintains sole authority over the display, placement, lighting and labeling of the artwork under consignment. The Gallery reserves the right to select artwork based on size, medium, and content.
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Artwork for hanging (framed and unframed) must be wired using eye hooks or d-rings screwed directly into a sturdy frame and wire that is a sufficient gauge to hold the weight of the artwork. Wire should not be brittle or visible when the painting is hung on the wall. No sawtooth hangers, glue, tape or other types of fashioning wire will be accepted.
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Unframed art, such as a canvas, must be dry and have finished edges in the medium used to create the work. Artwork that is not ready for hanging may not be accepted.
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Artwork must be labeled inside the back with the artist's name, title of the artwork. We ask that you also affix temporary labels to the front and back of the work for drop off and curation purposes. The Gallery will produce uniform labels for all art on display. Any temporary label will be discarded for final display. The gallery has a limited amount of counter/shelf space for three dimensional work that will be allocated by the gallery as equitably as possible.
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Artists selling prints shall provide a standard print rack (20x24x36, black with steel frame.) All prints must be matted and prints and cards must be protected by a plastic sleeve. The artist must label all prints and cards individually with its price, title and artist's name affixed to the back. The gallery also has a limited number of card racks that will be used for card display.
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Artists may sell "gift shop" style merchandise (original or designed by them) such as cards, tote bags, decorative items, stickers, zines/comics, wearable items, etc. All items must be individually tagged with artist's name, item title or description, price and material/medium. Tag should note whether item is an original or reproduction. Gift shop items subject to curator's approval.
12. Images for registration. Images of artwork must be uploaded with the artist's application form. Use jpeg or png file formats ONLY. Please do not submit images from a mobile device in order to ensure files are labeled properly for submission. The maximum size is 10MB. Images should be cleanly cropped and exclude frames. The name of the image file should be formatted as follows:
ArtistsLastName_TitleKeyWord
Example: Munch_The Scream
13. Exclusivity. The artist agrees that all artwork under consignment will be for sale exclusively through the WAP Gallery. Artwork may be promoted on the artist’s website or social media or other commercial platforms, however Artist agrees that the purchase of any artwork under consignment will be made only through the WAP Gallery point of sale.
14. Transportation Responsibilities. All artists will be notified by email of the times and procedures for delivering their art. Artists are responsible for delivering their artwork to the gallery during the designated times and for retrieving their unsold artwork at the end of the show. If anyone other than the Artist is to pick up works of art, written authorization from the Artist must be presented. All responsibility for the safe transfer of the Artwork remains with the Artist.
15. Responsibility for Loss or Damage, Insurance Coverage. The Gallery shall not be responsible for the safekeeping of consigned Artworks while they are in its custody. Due to the Gallery’s inability to establish the value of consigned Artwork for insurance purposes, the Gallery assumes no liability for loss or damage that may occur. The Artist shall maintain insurance coverage at their own discretion. The gallery is monitored and security alarms were installed by ADT Security.
16. Promotion. The Gallery and artists will promote this show through their social media channels. The Gallery will promote the sale of artwork in its newsletter and on its website.
17. Reproduction. The Artist reserves all rights to the reproduction of the Artworks except as noted in writing to the contrary. The Artist grants the Gallery the right to use images of artwork to publicize and promote the Artworks through social media, web pages, print advertising and newsletters. In every instance of such use, the Artist shall be acknowledged as the creator and copyright owner of the Artwork.
The application form requires a gmail account to upload images. If you do not have a gmail account, please contact us at info@wheatonartsparade.org subject: WAP Gallery Application so we can give you instructions on how to submit your images.