Welcome to Curate NYC!  Our goal is to increase visibility, community and career opportunities for New York City visual artists, and we look forward to including you.

Submitting your entry is free and easy.  Just follow the steps we outline below and you’ll be fine.  If you run into a snag along the way, please reach us at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or via our Contact Us form, and we’ll help.

Registration is a three-step process.  Here's how it works:

Step 1: Register & Enter. Here is where you will create your account and upload your Headshot/Avatar.

Step 2: My Proof of NYC Address.  This link is located in your Artist Account Management System (see below).  Here is where you will submit your Proof.

Step 3: Add My Artwork. You can access this screen only after you've created an account in Step 1.  This link is also located in your Artist Account Management System.  See below for full details, and please upload only one (1) entry for now.

The info below will guide you through these steps in the following areas:

A. Registration

B. Login & Password

C. Artist Account Management System

D. Proof of NYC Address

E. Add My Artwork

A.  REGISTRATION  

1.  How do I register for Curate NYC?

Top Nav Link: Register & Enter

Be sure to complete all the fields on this page.  Here are a few tips:

-    Your Legal Name/Artist Name
This name can feature capital letters and spaces.  It will be publicly displayed.  

-    Your Username & Password

Please use all lowercase words with no spaces and no punctuation.  Don’t use your full name or email address.  Be sure to choose words you’ll remember: you’ll need them again to Login. For example, username: aretha / password: pinkcadilac.  Use only those access words when you Login, not your name or email address.  And if you participated in Curate NYC last year, don’t use your old password, it won’t apply. 

-    Your Bio/Artist Statement
Enter a brief statement on who you are, what you do, and why. 

-    Your Artist Photo/Avatar
Upload a photo of yourself or an image that will represent you.  There is a separate area ahead where you will upload your artwork.  You may upload this file as a JPG, GIF, or PNG, and make sure it's no bigger than 1 MB.  No PDF, JPEG, JP2 or TIFF files, please -- our system won't accept them.

-    Website
Be sure to include “http://” at the beginning or your URL, such as http://www.fridakahlo.com/.  Otherwise your link won’t work.

-    Terms and Conditions
You must check this box for your registration to be accepted. To read the Terms & Conditions, please click on that link.  

-    CAPTCHA Box
The CAPTCHA is to confirm that you're an actual person and not a computer software program. If you hit REGISTER without accurately completing the CAPTCHA, you'll receive the message, "re:CAPTCHA test error."  If that happens, just return to the page, make sure all the fields are still filled out, then accurately complete the CAPTCHA, and hit REGISTER again.   

-    REGISTER
Hit this button once you’ve completed everything above.  

B.  LOGIN & PASSWORD  

1. How do I Login to the website?  

After registering you’ll receive a Confirmation Email that reads, “Thank you for registering at CurateNYC 2011. You may now log in to http://www.curatenyc.org/ using the username and password you registered with.”

Return to the website, scroll to the Login tab at the upper right, and click it open.  Then enter your lowercase username and password as indicated.  Remember: Don’t enter your name or email address, only the personal access words you created.

2. I participated in Curate NYC last year – can I use the same password?   

Thanks for returning.  This is a new website, though, so if you're trying to Login with last year's Username or Password, they won't work.  Please click on Submit Your Entry, choose a new Username and Password, and complete all the fields.  Then you can Login to the site.  

3. What if my password and username don’t work?  

Make sure you Login using the username and password you created when you registered – a pair of lowercase words with no spaces and no punctuation, and not your legal name or email address, for example.  If you’ve tried those and they don’t work, please contact us at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it and we’ll troubleshoot the problem.

C. ARTIST ACCOUNT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

1.  What and where is my Artist Account Management system?   

Your Artist Account Management gives you access to all your essential areas of the website.   
To find it, just register and log in, then scroll down the right column.  Your Artist Account Management system should contain these five links:   

    My Proof of NYC Address
    My Entry-Artwork
    My Author Page
    My Registration Details
    Moderate comments on My Artwork

2.  What if my Artist Account Management system doesn’t have all five links?   

That may be a browser issue.  Try logging out, then logging back in, and see if that takes care of it.  If not, try returning to the site through a different browser.  For example, if you’re accessing the Internet through Explorer, try Safari.  If you’re using Safari, try Firefox.  If you’re using Firefox, try Google Chrome.  

These browsers are typically available through free, swift and safe downloads easily found through an Internet search.  If you need help finding them, just shoot us a note.

3.  Why does my Artist Account Management system say I have 0 published comments?   

That simply means no one has commented on your entry yet -- or if they have, you haven’t allowed their comments to be publicly viewed.  

D. PROOF OF ADDRESS

1.  Where and how do I upload my Proof of Address?

Artist Account Management Link: My Proof of NYC Address 

After you’ve registered and logged in, scroll down the right column to your Artist Account Management system and click on My Proof of NYC Address. That page is filled with information on how to submit your Proof, and what types of Proof are acceptable.  

All Proof of Address information will be kept private to Curate NYC administrators and will not be shared.

2.  What kind of file formats do you accept?

You may upload your Proof file as a JPG, GIF, or PNG. No PDF, JPEG, JP2 or TIFF files, please. Also make sure the file is no bigger than 1 MB.

3.  What kind of Proofs are acceptable?

You need submit only one (1) proof of address.  It should be current, or dated no earlier than May 2011. Examples of acceptable Proofs may be found at My Proof of NYC Address.

4. Why do you need my Proof of Address?

The Proof of Address is to verify that you live or create work in NYC, and not, say, Memphis.

5.  I’m concerned that my Proof of Address hasn’t uploaded – what should I do?  

After you upload your Proof, a message will appear at the upper left of your screen to read, "Record added/updated."  

Don’t worry if you missed it.  If your file was less than 1M, and either a JPG, GIF, or PNG, then we have it.  If the Proof of Address link in your Account Management system is highlighted, it’s only because you've previously clicked on that link.  We’ll let you know if there’s a problem with your Proof;, but if you're still concerned, you can email it to us at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , or fax it to us at (347) 464-0936.

6.  What if I don’t live in New York City, but my studio is here -- can I participate?  
 
Yep.  Just send us Proof of your NYC studio address, and you’re set.

7.  What if I rent in New York City and I don’t have my own Proof of Address?  

Please submit a letter from your landlord affirming that you live there, and include some official proof of their address.  Then you're all set.

8.  What if I live upstate, or in New Jersey, or overseas -- can I participate?    

Sorry, but no.  Curate NYC is funded by NYC tax dollars, so only NYC residents may participate. We’d love to bring the project to your town, though, so feel free to contact us if you’d like to see that happen.   

E.  ADD MY ARTWORK

Select one (1) Entry-Artwork that best represents you as an artist.  This entry will be viewed by our Panel of Judges, our Guest Curators, and all visitors to the site. 

If our Judges rank your artwork as one of the top 150 entries, it will be exhibited as a museum-quality postcard at Rush Arts Gallery in Chelsea.  If one of our partnering Borough Galleries selects your entry, it will be exhibited at that gallery in its actual form.  If one of our Guest Curators selects your entry, it will be featured at the site in a special online show.

Please upload only one (1) Entry for now.  We look forward to receiving your Additional Artworks in the future, and we'll soon tell you when to upload them.  But for now, just one!  Extra works will be removed to maintain the jury process.

1.  Where and how do I upload my art?

Artist Account Management Link: My Entry-Artwork 

You can reach the Add My Artwork screen only after you've completed Registration and created an account.  Once you have, just Login and scroll down the right column of your screen to your Artist Account Management system.  Click on the My Entry-Artwork link and a pop-up screen will appear, “ADD MY ARTWORK.”

This screen’s upper area contains three fields, Title; Publish Entry – Yes/No; and Category.  The middle area contains three tabs: Artwork Description; Entry Image; and Info Details.  

Here are a few tips:

-    Title
Enter the title of your artwork.

-    Category
Choose your primary medium from this drop-down menu (e.g. painting, photography, sculpture, etc.).

-    Publish Entry – Yes/No
When you’ve completed all the fields, you’ll choose Publish Entry – Yes, and hit SAVE.  

-    Artwork Description
Here you can provide visitors with a bit of insight or perspective on your entry. After you complete this field, hit SAVE in the upper right corner.

-    Entry Image / Upload
Click on the Browse/Choose File button to select and upload your entry. You may upload your artwork file as a JPG, GIF, or PNG. No PDF, JPEG, JP2 or TIFF files, please. Make sure your file is hi-res. Between 600K-1MB is ideal, but no bigger than 1 MB. For best viewing, make your file 500-800 pixels wide and 72 DPI. To adjust your file or pixel size, try a free service like www.picresize.com.

After you select and upload your file, hit SAVE in the upper right corner.

-    Info Details
Here is where you’ll provide detailed info on your entry: Title, Dimensions, Materials, Primary Medium, and Year Created.  Once you complete this task, hit SAVE.  

And you’re done.

2.  How do I close the Add My Artwork screen when I’m finished?  

To close the screen, click the Black X, or click backscreen on your computer, or just click on another website link.

3.  I don’t see the Black X – how do I save my entry?

Don’t worry if you don't see a black X above the Add My Artwork screen.  It’s only there to close the pop-up screen, not to save your entry.  If you’ve followed the above steps, and hit SAVE after completing each tab, your entry is in the system.  

4.  Where and how do I find my entry?

Once you’ve uploaded your art, lease check View Entries in the top nav -- or consult the sub-menu for your image category (e.g. painting, photography, etc.) -- and browse through the artwork.  You’ll see your entry there, probably near the top if you look right away.

5.  How do I edit my entry?

You can edit your entry anytime by returning to the Add My Artwork link in your Artist Account Management system, although that link will now read Edit Your Artwork.  

6.  I accidentally created a duplicate entry – how do I remove it?   

To remove duplicate entries, please Login, scroll down the right column to your Account Management System, and click on My Author Page.  When that page opens, scroll to the bottom of the screen to find your duplicate entries.  Click on Edit My Entry and a pop-up screen will appear.  Choose PUBLISH ENTRY – NO, then hit SAVE, and you're done.  Return to View Entries to see the results. 

REMEMBER: Please upload only one entry for now.  Thanks.

Questions or comments?  Reach us at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , or via our Contact Us form. Thanks.