*All applications received through Anyartist.org

APPLY HERE

 

Call Summary
Red Dot is the Contemporary at Blue Star’s signature fundraiser, raising vital funds to support the breadth of our programs. The Contemporary believes in the transformative power of the arts. Artists participating in Red Dot are investing in the Contemporary and contributing 50% of the sale of one of their works to the museum. 50% of art sales go back to the artist. Artists can also elect to donate 100% of sale to the Contemporary. Funds raised through Red Dot help the Contemporary to support artists of all ages through education, professional development, and exhibition programs. Approximately 100 artworks by 100 different artists are on sale each year at Red Dot and the fundraiser plays a key role in nurturing the health of our creative ecosystem and sustaining a venue for contemporary art. Red Dot includes a one night event happening November 11, 2026 from 6-10pm–where collectors, artists, sponsors, and art lovers celebrate and artworks are sold, and the subsequent Red Dot Show is on view to the public through January 3, 2027. Works remain available for purchase the entire run of the fundraiser, through January 3, 2027. All selected works remain on view for the full duration of the show

Description
Selected artists will have ONE of their artworks on view in the Red Dot Art Sale and Show.
Red Dot 2026 runs November 11, 2026 – January 3, 2027.
Work must remain on view the entire run of the show.

If artwork is selected, 50% of the proceeds go to the Contemporary and 50% to the artist.
Although only one artwork is on view in the show, artists have a few ways to sell more than one work through Red Dot, with the first two work being a 50-50 split and subsequent works for collected artists or editioned works being a 30% (the Contemporary) / 70% (the artist) split.

Artists may also elect for sales to be a 100% donation to the Contemporary to support its exhibitions and programs.

How artists participate

Artists participate in Red Dot by contributing one artwork for sale. The work will be on view in the Red Dot Art Sale and Show. Artworks are selected by the Contemporary’s curator. Participating artists donate 50% of the sale of their work to the Contemporary to support its non-profit mission.
Work submitted in your any artist application are the works actually being selected from for the show. If selected for the sale and show, one of your submissions will be the one on exhibition. ONLY WORKS THAT WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR THE EVENT AND SHOW AND AVAILABLE (NOV 11-JAN 5) SHOULD BE SUBMITTED TO THIS APPLICATION!

Artist participate with one of the following designations:
INVITED ARTISTS– Artists who are invited by Contemporary to contribute one artwork for sale based on their submission of 3-5 artworks. Artists are invited based on their AnyArtist submission. The work selected is one of the works from the Artist’s submission. Work is selected by the Contemporary’s curator and if sold, 50% of proceeds go to the Contemporary and 50% to the artist. The selected artwork is sold through the Contemporary.

COLLECTED ARTIST– A collector commits to purchasing a work by an artist in ADVANCE of the event and by the collector deadline. This work is sold through the Contemporary with 50% of the proceeds going to the Contemporary and 50% to the artist. The collected work DOES NOT hang in Red Dot, but a secondary work is selected by the Contemporary’s curator for inclusion in the event and show. This secondary work must also be available for purchase with 50% of proceeds going to the Contemporary and 50% to the artist.

NOTE ON EDITIONED WORKS: If artist is submitting an editioned print, photograph, sculpture, etc. on their loan form they will note if they want to make multiples of the edition available for purchased through Red Dot and if so how many. The first two works and editioned sold are a 50-50 split and subsequent sales are a 30-70 (to artist) split.

Artists are responsible for delivering their work to the Contemporary at 116 Blue Star, San Antonio, TX 78204. Works must be exhibition ready, meaning they are ready to hang with the appropriate hardware and instructions if needed. Works will be delivered to Contemporary at Blue Star by the artist. If artwork does not sell the artists is responsible for picking up their work. Works remain on view and available for purchase during the entire Red Dot fundraising season.In addition to delivering their work artists are responsible for complete loan which includes a code of ethics, payment paperwork and an artist demographic survey.

Artwork submissions must include ACCURATE artwork description information. This information is used to determine layout, potential collector price points, and planning of the show.

-Artwork title
-Year work was produced
-Medium
-Size in inches (HxWxD)
-Edition number
-Price in USD
-Courtesy of
-About this piece
-If an editioned work, is the Contemporary authorized to sell more than one work? YES or NO? If yes, how many?

Eligibility
– Artist must have at least 5 years of relevant experience and/or specialized arts training, such as a degree or certificate.
– Demonstrate a clear investment of time and resources into their artistic practice and/or derive a portion of individual earned income from their artistic practice or areas related to their field.
– Have professional portfolios that include publicly displayed and possibly published works.
– Must not be a current student.
– Must currently reside in Bexar County and/or conduct a significant portion of your artistic practice/outreach in San Antonio, or has exhibited at the Contemporary in the last 5 years.

*please note Red Dot is a FUNDRAISER and not a part of our exhibition program, thus the Contemporary DOES NOT offer a honoraria, cover production, finishing, or shipping/delivery costs for artworks included in the fundraiser as with normal exhibition support. It is at the artists discretion if they choose to submit older, existing works, or newly completed work.

Application Requirements

Biography
Resume: 2 page(s) maximum
Work submissions: 4 – 5 options
Artist Statement: 400 word maximum

Selection Process
Artwork is selected by the Contemporary’s curator in a single round review of all the application materials. Selected works are also shared with interested collectors. Collectors choose which works they wish to collected in advance of the event. Should an artist’s work be selected by a collector the Contemporary’s curator will choose a secondary work from the application to hang in the show or reach out to the artist for additional options. Each year between 150-200 artists apply to participate in Red Dot and around 100 are selected for participation. The number of selected artists varies with the scale of works, honoree presentations, current gallery layout and available wall space. In some instances artwork is selected for alternative presentation, such as online only in the Red Dot store, in app based activations of Red Dot, or sometime for artists making more commercial work, along side with Contemporary and Red Dot merchandising. Presentation choices are at discretion of the Contemporary’s Curator and Exhibitions Director. Artists are always consulted with if a presentation idea varies for stand gallery and exhibition practices.

Selection Criteria
Red Dot is a FUNDRAISER, and the Contemporary is first and foremost grateful to all artists who wish to support the organization by donating 50% of a possible sale of the work to the organization. We are humbled to have more artist who wish to support than there is wall space for physical works and than we can welcome to this popular event. In the selection process we consider a multiplicity of variables, some considerations include (but are not limited to) the following:

-Salability of the work.
-Potential for collector matching.
-Craft, content, concept
-Works alignment with organizations mission and exhibition programming.
-Entire Red Dot sale offering a diversity of style, media, concepts, price points, perspectives, topics, and themes.
-Diverse artist representation including race, age, gender, career level.
-Artists ongoing relationship with the organization and wider San Antonio art community
-Artists professionalism, including the care taken in developing work and presenting in past exhibitions and/or the care taken with crafting their application if emerging artist

Timeline

April 15, 2026 Red Dot Open Call open for applications
Application deadline May 15, 2026, 5:00pm.
Artist notification by June 15, 2026
Artist paperwork due two weeks following invitation to participate
Artwork delivery to the Contemporary September 20- October 1, 2026
Red Dot Installation by Contemporary staff October 2026
Red Dot Art Sale party November 11, 2026, 6-10pm
January 3, 2027 Red Dot Closes
January 4-8, 2027 Artwork pick up by artists for any unsold works and by collectors for sold works

Contact

Jacqueline Saragoza McGilvray
Curator and Exhibitions Director
116 Blue Star
San Antonio TX 78204 United States
jack@contemporarysa.org
(210) 227-6960

Join the Contemporary for breakfast tacos and a gallery walk-through with our Red Dot Artist Honoree, Meredith Dean. The walk-through will focus on Dean’s multifaceted artistic practice spanning the last 40 years and will dive into her work and process. This event is free with registration and open to everyone.

 

About the Exhibition 

The Red Dot Show is an annual survey exhibition of San Antonio-based artists contributing their work to Red Dot in support of the Contemporary. It features more than 100 artworks exhibited throughout all four of the Contemporary’s galleries. As Above, So Below is a small survey of work by 2025 Red Dot Honorary Artist Meredith Dean, which highlights her multifaceted practice of the past 40 years. It foregrounds her approaches to observation and mark making as vehicles to connect to deep time and place. Meredith often references various types of maps in the structure of her compositions while building her own language of record keeping. The formal relationship to star charts, topographic and geologic maps, aerial and microscopic imagery are ever present, yet shifted into gestural and abstracted impressions, reliant on color, repetition, and the presence of the hand.

 

Thank You, H-E-B!

This event is made possible with the generous support of H-E-B, celebrating 10 years of South Flores Market! The South Flores Market is home to multiple artworks by the late, great, local artist Chuck Ramirez. Before the artworks debuted at the South Flores Market for its grand opening, they were presented right here at the Contemporary for a special preview. We are so grateful for their support of this and upcoming programs in celebration of the South Flores Market!

Contemporary at Blue Star is thrilled to announce the exciting return of the Red Dot Shop: a curated collection of specialty artworks available for sale alongside our annual Red Dot exhibition.

We are seeking artists to contribute works such as prints, ceramics, accessories, small objects, and other unique pieceswithin the price range of $20 to $250. The goal of the Red Dot Shop is to offer accessible, collectible artworks for art lovers of all budgets.

️Red Dot Shop Dates: November 12, 2025 – January 4, 2026

All sales will be split 70% back to the artist and 30% to Contemporary at Blue Star. This commission supports our year-round exhibitions, education programs, and artist opportunities.

If you’re interested in participating, please submit your information using the form below by Friday, August 1, 2025.

The Contemporary is excited to welcome visitors to a reception of In Our Own Worlds, a special MOSAIC Student Artist exhibition on view in our inaugural Red Dot Shop.

In Our Own Worlds is a collection of artworks created by the Contemporary’s MOSAIC Student Artists. Working alongside visiting artist Kat Cadena, students reflected on the concept of voice to discuss topics such as human rights and home. The painting workshop encouraged students to research and create their own mini murals on wood panels with alternatively shaped surfaces and textures, providing students a chance to practice problem solving as a muralist.

About the Artists:

River Castillo studies plants, animals, and the way nature coexists with people. They take every opportunity to create art and be a voice for the environment.

Taylor Montemayor is a native San Antonian who took an interest in art at the age of three. She has since been dedicated to sharpening her artistic skills to effectively express her voice and tell her story.

Oscar Magaña is an aspiring illustrator that expresses his personality through silly and original characters. His work is often playful with the goal of cultivating joy and happiness in the world, reconnecting viewers with their inner child.

On the Sunday following Thanksgiving, over 2,100 museum stores representing all fifty states and the District of Columbia, twenty five countries, and five continents will offer inspired shopping at your favorite museums and cultural institutions.

Celebrate Museum Store Sunday with the Contemporary by visiting the Red Dot Shop! The Red Dot Shop features a curated selection of specialty artwork available for sale, with pricing between $20 and $250. This initiative aims to cater to art enthusiasts and collectors, especially young or emerging collectors, across all budget ranges. The Red Dot Shop is the perfect place to find unique, locally-made gifts for yourself and anyone on your holiday list, all while supporting local artists.

Save the Date! Our Annual Red Dot Art Sale is happening in November this year. Stay tuned for ticket information.

For over three decades, the Contemporary at Blue Star has presented its signature fundraiser, Red Dot, to foster connections between local artists and our community of art supporters. For its 34^th year, the Contemporary will recognize the significant contributions of people that have shaped our cultural community in significant ways:

Artist Mark Hogensen

Patrons Martha Martinez-Flores & Dr. Mike Flores

Arts Education Champion Kronkosky

Visit our Red Dot website for more information.

Hello Artist! Thank you for your interest in participating in Contemporary at Blue Star’s 33rd annual Red Dot Art Sale Fundraiser. All submissions must be received by May 19, 2023, 11:59pm.

Apply

You may submit up 3-5 artworks for review. These submissions must be works you are actually able to contribute to the fundraiser if invited to participate. Contemporary at Blue Star’s Curator will select one work to be included in the Red Dot Art Sale and subsequent show.

Your submission will include:
-Biography
-Resume: 2 page(s) maximum
-Work examples: 3 – 5
-Artist Statement: 300 word maximum
-High resolution photographs of artwork
-Description information

-Artwork title
-Year work was produced
-Medium
-Size in inches (HxWxD)
-Edition number
-Price in USD
-Courtesy of
-About this piece
-If an editioned work, is the Contemporary authorized to sell more than one work? YES or NO? If yes, how many?

Eligibility:
– Have at least 5 years of relevant experience and/or specialized arts training, such as a degree or certificate.
– Demonstrate a clear investment of time and resources into their artistic practice and/or derive a portion of individual earned income from their artistic practice or areas related to their field.
– Have professional portfolios that include publicly displayed and possibly published works.
– Must not be a current student.
– Must currently reside in Bexar County and/or conduct a significant portion of your artistic practice/outreach in San Antonio, or has exhibited at the Contemporary in the last 5 years.

*please note Red Dot is a FUNDRAISER and not a part of our exhibition program, thus the Contemporary does not cover production, finishing, or shipping/delivery costs for artworks included in the fundraiser. It is at the artists discretion if they choose to submit older, existing works or newly completed work.

Timeline:
-Application deadline May 19, 2023, 11:59pm.
-Artist Notification June 2023
-Artwork delivery to the Contemporary August 25- September 1, 2023
-Red Dot Installation by Contemporary staff September 2023
-Red Dot party October 4, 2023, 6-10pm (selected artists receive 2 tickets)
-January 7, 2024 Red Dot Closes
-January 10-12 Artwork pick up by artists for any unsold works

Red Dot is our beloved annual art sale fundraiser! Join us for the 33rd Annual Red Dot! Featuring artwork for sale from more than 100 San Antonio artists, the beloved art sale fundraiser provides vital support for the Contemporary’s exhibitions and art education programs year round.

This year’s event recognizes these outstanding honorees who make a big impact on our creative community:

Honorary Artist Cathy Cunningham-Little

Honorary Arts Patron Andi Rodriguez

Arts Education Honoree MOSAIC Student Artist Program

 

Event Schedule

6 – 7 pm: Sponsors and Collectors Preview

Open to Red Dot Sponsors and Collectors only

In appreciation for your generous support, Red Dot Sponsors and Collectors enjoy a preview hour featuring High Gun wine and specialty cocktails from Beach Whiskey.

 

7 – 10 pm: 33rd Annual Red Dot art sale

Open to all ticket holders

With over 104 Red Dot artists and a career-spanning presentation of the work of artist honoree Cathy Cunningham-Little, this year’s art sale is the best yet. Add to your collection while enjoying food courtesy of Pulp, Maeve, El Sauzeno, Saha, and Mini Fine. Express yourself to the soulful set of DJ JJ Lopez.

 

9 pm – 12 am: Red Dot After-party

Open to all ticket holders

Follow us to neighboring Brick for an after-party sponsored by Whataburger and Brick. Grab your headset and tune to the beats of three live DJs at this silent disco, surrounded by artwork from the Whataburger Museum of Art.

 

For information, please visit bluestarreddot.org or contact Elaine Leahy at elaine@contemporarysa.org.