EntryThingy is a service for artwork portfolios, discovering calls and managing art applications. For organisers, it provides entry and jury tools. For artists, the useful questions are what is free, what belongs to an optional account service and what a particular organiser charges.
What is free and what can cost extra?
EntryThingy's artist subscription guidance describes a free tier and optional paid portfolio tiers. The free tier supports applications and a limited stored portfolio; higher tiers expand storage and related features. Check the current plan comparison before purchasing because limits and prices can change.
Those optional plans are separate from an organiser's entry fee. A service described as free to browse or apply through can still host calls whose organisers charge for entry. Read the call and the actual checkout rather than assuming every component has the same price.
If you only need to submit to a specific call, check what that entry requires before buying a broader portfolio plan. Pay for extra storage or features because you need them, not because a free account and a paid call have been confused.
Compare the three different costs
An EntryThingy cost comparison should distinguish the account, the entry and the eventual exhibition.
| Cost | What it relates to | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Optional portfolio plan | Account storage or extra portfolio features | Current limits, billing period and renewal terms |
| Organiser entry fee | Consideration for a particular call | Number of works, discounts and refund policy |
| Participation costs | Delivering selected work or attending | Transport, framing, installation and sales commission |
A hypothetical example makes the distinction clearer: an artist uses a free account, enters a call charging £20, then discovers that selected work needs £90 return transport. The account price has not changed, but the application and participation costs are real. These example figures are not EntryThingy prices or a market estimate.
Do not include an optional subscription in the price of every call unless it is actually needed for your intended workflow. Equally, do not omit a compulsory organiser charge because the platform advertises a free service.
What does its call directory include?
EntryThingy's calls directory describes aggregation from EntryThingy, CaFÉ, Zapplication, ArtCall, ShowSubmit and independent galleries. It is therefore inaccurate to describe every result as a call run through EntryThingy's own submission software.
The number of visible calls changes with filters, dates and the directory's inventory. Use the live directory instead of treating an old marketing count as a stable measure of coverage. No single count proves that a service covers the whole field.
Open the call and identify where application actually occurs. A listing can lead to an external platform with another account, file specification or checkout. Confirm the official organiser source before relying on the directory's summary.
Prepare a portfolio that can be reused accurately
A reusable portfolio saves repeated data entry when its records are well maintained. Store accurate titles, dates, media and dimensions alongside the correct images. Keep original files outside the service so you can create exports for different requirements.
Use clear relationships between full-work images and details. Describe team contributions precisely. If an older work has sold or become unavailable, update the information before selecting it for another exhibition entry.
A portfolio archive and a submission should be reviewed separately. Choosing a record for a call is a decision about eligibility, relevance and availability, not simply a way to fill the permitted slots. The portfolio guide explains how to build that evidence.
Check the application before the final step
An application check starts with the exact call and edition. Read whether fees apply per entry or per work, how many samples are required and whether supplementary information must be supplied.
| Check | Evidence to inspect | Avoid assuming |
|---|---|---|
| Correct call | Title, organiser and current cycle | A saved old link is still open |
| Work samples | Files and captions attached to this entry | The whole portfolio is automatically included |
| Required information | Completed questions and requested documents | A profile answers every call-specific question |
| Final status | Submission record and any payment confirmation | A saved form is a completed entry |
Save the confirmation, submitted files and terms. If an external platform handles the actual application, keep its entry reference too. That reference is more useful for support than a screenshot of a discovery result.
What does EntryThingy verify?
Do not infer an endorsement merely from the presence of a listing or a jury tool. The organiser's claims about an event, prize, audience and selection process need their own evidence. If verification is claimed, inspect the stated scope of that check.
EntryThingy's FAQ describes configurable jury tools, including anonymous review and different voting formats. The existence of those options does not establish which process a specific organiser has enabled. Read the call's actual selection procedure.
Who should you contact if something goes wrong?
Use platform support for account, portfolio, billing or technical problems. Ask the organiser about eligibility, judging, participation, withdrawal and call-specific refunds. For externally hosted entries, the relevant technical support may be another platform entirely.
State the call, entry reference and the problem precisely. Keep a factual record of what you attempted and what the system confirmed. Avoid submitting repeatedly or paying again until you know whether the first attempt succeeded.
Is EntryThingy enough for a complete opportunity search?
It can be one useful route. Complement it with funders' official programmes, institution websites and the opportunities index, especially when seeking support beyond juried exhibitions.
Choose discovery tools for the calls they help you find and choose applications for their fit. A familiar account should make submission easier, rather than limit the opportunities you consider.