OUR ANNUAL OPEN CALL FOR NEW COLLECTIVE MEMBERS IS NOW OPEN. APPLICATIONS WILL BE ACCEPTED THROUGH FEB 8, 2026.

Ground Floor Contemporary (GFC) is an artist-run and supported collective with galleries and studio spaces. We are currently composed of 30 local and out-of-state artists.

Details about GFC Membership:

GFC artists commit to a year-long membership at a time and show twice in that year: once in a three-artist group show and in the final all-artist exhibition. 

We are a commission-free gallery, and artists retain 100% of their sales. Membership dues are $780 per year/season. These dues can be paid monthly, quarterly, bi-annually or annually. 

Our upcoming year/exhibition season will be June 2026 through May 2027. 

Exhibition planning meetings begin in the summer, and member exhibitions typically run from August through April. In May 2027, we will have our final all-artist/full-building exhibition and open studios night.

With GFC, artists are challenged to develop their studio and professional practice and to collaborate with other artists. We do member-run internal programming and typically have an annual member meeting and smaller meetings/dinners throughout the year. For those seeking experience and community involvement, official gallery/collective management positions and committee positions may be available, but are unpaid. 

Artists living outside of the Birmingham area and in GA, TN, FL, MS, and LA are considered and encouraged to apply, but local artists are given top priority. International and out-of-region submissions cannot be considered at this time.

Requirements:

Ideally, artists will be able to attend their installation, opening, and artist talk. Installs are on a weekend day before the opening, and the artist talk is on the closing weekend. Artists in each group show also cover the Saturday gallery hours during their show. This coverage is shared among the group. We are flexible and work with everyone’s schedule, but artists should anticipate a good amount of time spent at the gallery during their show.  Artists living outside of Birmingham must be willing to travel and attend the installation, opening, and artist talk.

Commitment and Availability:

GFC member artists are asked to commit to one exhibition season/year at a time. Once artists have joined and completed the first year with the collective, reapplication is not required for subsequent consecutive years. The exhibition schedule is built in March after new members are accepted. Members are asked to express any schedule conflicts, and the group shows are built around said conflicts.    

Application:

To apply, please email your CV, bio, artist statement, and online portfolios (website and Instagram).  All documents are required, and at least one online portfolio. Demonstrated participation in your arts community, a rigorous studio practice, and good artwork documentation are essential. In your subject line, please indicate that you are applying for the 2026-2027 GFC membership and include your current city and state of residence in the email.

Email: groundfloorcontemporary@gmail.com

Studios:

We currently do not have any available studios. Send us an email if you’d like to be put on the waitlist. The building currently has eight individual and/or shared studios.

Visiting Artists and Curators:

Our season also includes one exhibition with a visiting artist or curator. We do not officially accept submissions for our visiting artist/curator exhibitions. However, we will review emails from artists and curators interested in this program, but not during our open membership calls when we receive a high volume of applications. We are primarily looking for visiting artists who reside in the Southeast region of the US, but also live outside of Alabama. Funding for this exhibition is not extensive, so travel and art shipping must be doable.