How do the work samples function in the application and review process?
- Reviewers are looking for work samples that offer a view of an artist's career.
- What the artist considers their best work.
- "Best" here means not just high in quality, but also most able to reflect the artist's story told in the rest of the application.
- Applications are not evaluated in terms of production values. The tools for high quality documentation (cameras, lighting, sound) are not necessarily available to us all.
- That demonstrate the artist's commitment to their discipline and practice.
- The work samples are only a part of an overall application.
- Work samples don't need to reflect the artists service to Houston's BIPOC communities.
- Work samples don't necessarily need to focus on a particular artwork or project.
- The work samples don't need to encapsulate an entire career, offering a view instead of a career in terms of the narrative responses, which helps to tell the story of where the artist is today.
Are there tips for selecting and submitting work samples?
Make use of the work sample descriptions! Provide context to help the reviewers understand what they are seeing: dates, titles, media, dimensions, your role in a performance, time cues for videos, or any other useful description.
Think about how successfully your images represent the best qualities of your work, identify a compelling excerpt from your novel, or capture the essence of a time-based piece.
Have your work samples reviewed by other artists or peers, to get a fresh perspective.
Be aware of the maximum lengths allowed in the application and plan accordingly.
Keep in mind that the work samples are just one part of the selection process.
What kind of work samples are most recommended?
BANF offers no further recommendations on kinds of work samples. The application is open to as many kinds as possible, and the reviewers are ready to consider all kinds of work samples.