Fees & General Guidelines
Fees
- The fee for submission to Visual or Literary is $38. You may submit up to 5 pieces of artwork for a single fee. Submission fees are non-refundable.
- Early bird fee of $20 is available for the first 2 weeks of the Call For Art.
- A second set of 5 Visual art submissions may be purchased for an addition $38 fee. You will be prompted to pay the second $38 fee when you go to upload a 6th Visual arts submission.
- No fee for Performance, Film, or Store submissions.
- No fee to apply if you are an artist living outside of North America.
- No fee for invited artists.
- Scholarships are available to anyone for whom the submission fee is a barrier to entry. Please contact artisthelp@seaf.art for more information.
General Guidelines
- Artists do not need to attend the Festival to be accepted (with the exception of performance artists).
- Artists may submit for as many categories as they wish, but note that each Call for Art has distinct requirements and may have additional submission fees.
- We encourage all artists to consider selling work in the Festival Store.
- Artists may submit work only of their own creation.
- Only electronic entries submitted via our online entry system (Submission Portal) will be accepted. Any other attempt to submit art, whether online or otherwise, will be automatically disqualified from entry and your art will not be returned.
- Submissions may be edited up until the Call for Art closes.
- Artist passes are non-transferable.
- All artists must be at least 18 years old as of January 15, 2026.
- SEAF DOES NOT accept art in any medium made with the use of Generative AI.
NO ART WILL BE ACCEPTED AFTER THE DEADLINE.
Specific Guidelines
Visual Art Specific Guidelines
All artists 18 years old and over are encouraged to submit works of erotic art in any medium. Sculptors, multimedia artists, painters, and fiber artists are particularly encouraged to apply. Submissions are made through the artist portal, and this art is considered for our juried exhibition. No submissions or changes to submissions will be accepted after the Call for Art closes. For questions, contact artisthelp@seaf.art
- Art previously accepted into or exhibited at the Festival will not be considered for the 2026 exhibition. Works previously accepted only to the Festival Store may be considered by the jury.
- Up to five (5) pieces may be submitted of any medium. Images must be included with all submissions.
- Submit other prints or merchandise to sell in the Festival Store: up to ten (10) different products may be submitted for consideration of any medium. Images must be included with all submissions.
- Images must be submitted in JPEG format, up to three images per piece of art.
- Any image with a watermark that obscures the image or identifies the artist will be rejected. Signatures on original works of art such as paintings and illustrations are allowable.
- Unfinished art or “works in progress” will not be considered by the jury.
- Submissions may be edited up until 11pm PDT on the final day of the Call for Art.
- One piece of art per submission, with up to three images of a single piece. For 2D art, only one image is necessary. For 3D art (sculptures, etc.) consider submitting additional images from different angles.
- Substitutions are not allowed; the art submitted must be exactly the same as any accepted, delivered art. Delivered art that is different from the art that was selected may not be hung.
- Artists must provide a price for each submitted piece.
- Artists may use a pseudonym or professional name; legal names are kept confidential.
- Please be clear during the submission process about which name is to be used publicly. The “Professional Name” submitted will be publicly listed in the Exhibition and in related promotions. Even if the name on your legal ID is the same as the name you use as an artist, please fill out the “Professional Name” with how you want your name displayed with your art.
- Any models depicted in photographs must be at least 18 years old at the time the photograph or image was made.
- All accepted artists who use models in photographs are required to submit a Model Age Certification form. A digital copy of this form will be emailed to fill out and sign shortly after contracts are sent. The Festival will keep this information on file to comply with United States Code, Title 18, Section 2257.
- For all accepted, invited, and store art sold during or as a direct result of the Festival, the Festival receives a 40% commission fee.
- The Festival reserves the right to refuse to hang any piece of art delivered for any reason at any time.
Accepted Visual artists will:
- Be part of an exhibition with high art sales and competitive commissions
- Be featured in the Festival Catalog
- Receive a single pass to the three-day Festival for their personal use
- Receive an invitation for self and a guest to our exclusive Behind the Curtain Artist Reception with our Art Activists, VIPs, and other artists
- Be featured in the Festival, for an audience of thousands
- Be promoted on the Festival website
Literary Art Specific Guidelines
All characters featured in a sexual way must be at least 18 years of age. The SEAF Literary Anthology accepts all genres and styles of work in the following categories: Poetry, Flash, and Short Works. Submissions are made through the artist portal, and literary art is chosen by the Literary Art Curator. Chapter excerpts may be submitted provided it is a comprehensible standalone read.
No submissions will be accepted after the close of the Call for Art. No changes will be allowed after the close of the call for art unless it is in order to comply with a request from our editing team. If you have previously published books, chapbooks, or magazines, please submit them to the Festival Store to sell during the event. For questions contact: literary@seaf.art.
- A single literary work per file must be submitted using .docx file format.
- Literary submissions have a word limit of 1000 words or less for Poetry or Flash, and 1000-5000 words for Short Works.
- Writers may submit pieces that were previously published elsewhere provided they can provide proper assurance or proof that they have retained the rights to their work.
- Submissions must be made in a standard manuscript format: 8.5 x 11 paper size; monospaced font such as Courier, Times New Roman, or Calibri; 0.5 inch indentation at the start of each paragraph for non-poetry works; 1 inch margins; author name (as you would like to be credited), category, and word count on first page with the title of the piece and the page number in the upper right corner of each consecutive page. Submissions not in this format may not be considered.
- No special formatting such a non-monospaced fonts, footnotes, font colors, etc.
- Accepted literary submissions may be returned to the author for edits if the Literary Director and editing team deem it necessary.
- Authors are encouraged to submit other books or merchandise to sell in the Festival Store: up to ten (10) different products may be submitted for consideration of any medium. Images must be included with all submissions.
- Artists may use a pseudonym or professional name; legal names are kept confidential. Please only use the name you wish to be publicly credited as in the submission document.
- Please be clear during the submission process about which name is to be used publicly. The “Professional Name” submitted will be publicly listed in the Anthology, Exhibition, and in related promotions.
Accepted Literary artists will:
- Receive a copy of the professionally produced Anthology.
- Have an opportunity to be a part of stage readings, workshops, and presentations in the Library.
- Have the opportunity to purchase additional author copies of the Anthology at cost.
- Receive a single pass to the three-day Festival for their personal use
- Receive an invitation for self and a guest to our exclusive Behind the Curtain Artist Reception with our Art Activists, VIPs, and other artists
- Be featured in the Festival, for an audience of thousands
- Be promoted on the Festival website
Interactive Art Specific Guidelines
Proposals for attended and unattended Interactive Art are introductory descriptions of something that you think would be an amazing experience at SEAF. You are encouraged to include as much detail as possible. Interactive Art need not be completed at the time of submitting your proposal, and may be submitted as “ideas.” You may submit up to three (3) proposals. Limited grant funding is available.
Proposals must be initially submitted via Google form. Artists must submit an introductory description of their piece in as much detail as possible for each proposal. Use the bullet list below as a guideline for the information you should be including in your proposal. Attachments, such as photos, concept drawings, and budget spreadsheets, are much appreciated.
Before starting your proposal, be sure to review the SEAF Interactive Art Guidelines to know what is unacceptable and what needs special consideration.
- Proposal Details: Name your project. It is understandable to have only a working title at this stage. Naming your project “untitled” makes it difficult for identification and tracking purposes.
- Explicitly describe how one can interact with your project or you.
- Are you requesting assistance or material support before or during the festival?
- Delivery and installation of your project is expected on Wednesday, April 29, 2026. Describe when you want to schedule your install in order to be ready for the Friday 6pm opening on May 1, 2026.
- Identify any power, lighting, or sound needs including, but not limited to, details of wattage, duration, and volume level.
- Will your project make use of liquids, gels, food, blood, slime, etc.?
- Identify potential allergens, such as latex, peanuts, heavy scents, etc., and information demonstrating how you will be mitigating the impact of these to attendees
- Do you intend to include breaking of the skin or involvement of blood or saliva? Application should include details on how mitigation of contact by others will be achieved, containment, clean up, etc.
- Identify any other potential safety hazards associated with your project and how you will mitigate them.
- Do you need to secure any of your equipment? Please note, no one may attach anything to the floors, walls, or ceiling of the facility.
- What is your plan for reducing the possibility of transmitting infectious diseases that may be spread through interaction with your project?
There is no theme that we ask artists to work from, however, we have a few special requests for SEAF2026:
- Projects that focus on integrating pronoun education and usage at SEAF.
- Immersive photo spots to help participant’s create memories & document experiences
While artists must be willing to work closely with the SEAF staff with regard to appropriate lighting, size, materials, safety, etc., artists should be self-sufficient, requiring little to no assistance from SEAF staff to bring your project to fruition. Assistance during set-up and strike must be specifically requested and the type of assistance must be described in detail and in advance. Unfortunately, assistance cannot be guaranteed.
Artists must be available to be on site for installing the interactive element the Wednesday prior to the festival as well as the Sunday evening after the festival for packing up the interactive element. Installing of works and removal will be by appointment only, by contacting ash@seaf.art. Exceptions must be submitted with the proposal along with details as to why an exception is being sought. For questions or additional information on creating a submission for this please email the Exhibition Curator at info@seaf.art.
Accepted Interactive artists will:
- Have your interactive element documented by our team of photographers
- Be featured in the Festival Catalog
- Receive a single pass to the three-day Festival for their personal use
- Receive an invitation for self and a guest to our exclusive Behind the Curtain Artist Reception with our Art Activists, VIPs, and other artists
- Be featured in the Festival, for an audience of thousands
- Be promoted on the Festival website
Performance Art Specific Guidelines
Each performer at SEAF is a part of a diverse and compelling landscape of performance art that elevates and expands the Festival. While we have multiple performance categories, all performers use the same Google Form to submit their pieces.
COVID-19 precautions will particularly affect the structure and format of live performance art at SEAF. SEAF will follow all state and local guidance. We are monitoring guidance specifically pertaining to live performance events. We welcome performance submissions at this time, while recognizing that guidelines, and the risk assessments and choices that individual performers might make, are evolving. Our performance curators will communicate with artists regarding requirements and guidelines for live performance art as they are clarified.
Submissions are made through a Google form here, and all performances will be selected by a curatorial team. Selections will be made both from the pool of submissions and by invitation. Performers may be asked by their curator to attend an audition and/or rehearsals, date(s) TBA. Be sure to have all of your information submitted on time and correctly as late submissions will not be accepted. Up to three (3) performance proposals may be submitted. Please email all Performance related questions to performance@seaf.art.
- Accepted performers must be at least 21 years old by April 30, 2026.
- Artists may only submit performance art of their own creation.
- Prior performance experience is not required to apply to SEAF, but we ask that all performers adhere to our code of conduct and performance guidelines, linked within the Performance Proposal form.
Things you will need to have prepared for your proposal:
- Professional / performer name (if different from legal name) can include all performers or be a troupe name.
- Be clear about which name you prefer to be billed on schedules and website
- Performer/Ensemble Bio
- Promotional photo (If submitting as an ensemble and no group photos exists yet, please indicate this and send a photo representative of the work)
- Performance description (250 words max)
- Supporting materials (please include all available): Photo, Video (YouTube link preferred), Music (if applicable), Performer website URL, Artist’s statement
- Something that moved you either as a performer or viewer that you’d like to incorporate into your performance to move your viewers at SEAF.
You are also encouraged to address the following (list is not comprehensive):
- Theme(s)
- Mood and other general aesthetic qualities
- Subject matter
- Performance format
- Duration
- Number of performers
- Costuming
- Props/set pieces needed (and whether you will be able to provide them)
- Technologies used (any additional technology that requires power or sound must be identified prior to acceptance of piece)
- Influencing works, artists, techniques, etc.
Accepted Performance artists will:
- Receive a pass to the Festival on the evening of their performance(s) for their personal use
- Receive an additional day or night ticket for their personal use
- Be promoted on the Festival website
Film Specific Guidelines
The Pan Eros Film Festival is a film festival within SEAF. We are partnered with FilmFreeway and our festival posting is now active (https://filmfreeway.com/PanErosFilmFestival). You can create a filmmaker profile and submit your films here. There is no fee to submit your films for consideration. There is no limit to the number of films a filmmaker can submit, so long as your erotic art films meet our submission requirements. For questions please contact: film@seaf.art
- We have two categories. Short Film and Silent Film.
- Short films will be screened in-person at the Pan Eros Film Festival in SIFF Film Center. We strongly encourage story-telling that tells unique narratives across the broad spectrum of gender and human sexuality. Short films of all genres are permitted (fiction, documentary, animated, etc).
- Silent films will be shown continuously for three full days at the Seattle Erotic Art Festival in the Exhibition Hall. Films not intended to be silent films at their creation but have audio removed are acceptable as entries.
- All performers must be 18 years of age or older at time of production.
- All entries must be under 15 minutes in length.
- All projects must be original works and submitted through FilmFreeway by March 1, 2026.
- If music is used, you must have the rights to the music used in your film.
- Unfinished films will not be considered.
- Filmmakers will be notified of their Selection Status by March 15, 2026.
Store Art/Merchandise Specific Guidelines
For 2026, all artists wanting to submit work for consideration into the Store must do so during the call for art. Store submissions will not be extended. There is no fee to submit your art for consideration. Store art includes:
Prints
Postcards
Photos
Small canvas prints
Smaller works
Jewelry
Books
Magazines
Handmade goods
Ceramics
Sculptures
Stickers
All artists who submit works to Visual, Literary, Interactive, Performance, and Film are encouraged to also submit works to the Store. Submitting additional art to the store offers a unique opportunity to artists to sell a greater variety of art, which may not be represented in the juried show. We particularly encourage Interactive and Performance artists to submit physical works to the Festival Store.
All artists 18 years old or older may submit to the Festival Store. The individual sale price of store items cannot exceed a maximum of $300. For questions please contact: artisthelp@seaf.art
- Artists may submit up to 10 different items to the Store (e.g. postcards, prints, posters, jewelry, statues, etc), with a quantity ranging from 1 to 15 of each item.
- All merchandise must arrive ready for display. Barcodes will be emailed out to accepted artists prior to the Festival. Artists must affix barcodes to the art for sale in order to be sold in the Festival Store. Art that arrives without barcodes affixed will not be available for sale in the Festival Store. Proper presentation is the responsibility of the artist.
- Items that are the same medium, price, and size may be grouped together; with a maximum of 3 different variations. (For example, if you want the Store to feature three different postcards with a quantity of 5 each, then create one submission entry for postcards and say the quantity is 15, and then upload an image for each variation.) Please note, each variation will be sold under the same art title.
- All art featured in the Festival Store will be curated by the Store Curators, and is selected and showcased at the discretion of the Festival.
- Unfinished art or “works in progress” will not be considered.
- Prints should have a stiff backing and be packaged in clear, protective packaging, such as cellophane sleeves, etc.
- Accepted artists are encouraged to provide display units for their work. Any small items such as (post)cards or jewelry should, if possible, be accompanied by an appropriate display.
- Work will be displayed on a space available basis. Efforts will be made to display a sample of everything supplied.
- The Festival reserves the right to refuse or limit items displayed depending on space availability.
Accepted Store artists will:
- Have their artworks and merchandise offered for sale to thousands of visitors and eager collectors during the event
Artist FAQ
Where do I submit my art?
If you are submitting to Visual, Literary, or the Store, head to our Artist Submission Portal (often referred to as the Portal). The Portal is where you will pay your fee(s) and enter information about yourself and your art.
If you are submitting to Interactive or Performance, Google Forms will become available during the Call for Art. Links will be posted in prominent locations on the website.
If you are submitting to Film, head over to Film Freeway.
Who can submit art to the Festival?
All artists from across the globe aged 18 years or older, of any gender, orientation, ethnicity, proclivity, religion, background, etc., are encouraged to submit their art for consideration. We accept visual art of all mediums, film, interactive art, literary art, performance art, and work for sale in the Festival Store. Note that you must be the artist or copyright holder of the piece in order to submit the work. If you submit art and are not the artist or own the copyright, you will be disqualified.
What should I submit to SEAF?
Anything that addresses eroticism and the endless spectrum of human sexuality.
We have new curators and jury members every year. We don’t know what images or works will appeal to them the most until they start viewing at the end of the call. We encourage you to submit the images/art that you are most passionate about. We encourage you to show the jury why something is erotic to you or your models. Art that was submitted previously, but declined, is allowed to be submitted again.
Does SEAF accept AI generated art?
No. You need to be able to prove that any art you submit is an original piece (or a print/replication of an original piece). Original in this context means the first authentic example of an artist’s work. In short, you have to be able to prove that you created it and it was your idea. That cannot be done with AI generated art.
I create art under a pseudonym. Is that acceptable?
Yes. Many of our artists separate their erotic work from other aspects of their lives by exhibiting under professional or pen names, or pseudonyms. Our Festival systems are set up to protect your identity, and our staff and volunteers are sensitive to this confidentiality. Our administrative staff does need to know your legal name, however, so don’t be surprised when we ask for that when you make your art submission(s). This is for bookkeeping and legal reasons only. All external references to artists use the name in the “Professional Name” field of the artist profile you created during the submission process. It is very important to us that you feel safe sharing your art with us and the world.
Why do you ask for a legal name?
Your legal name is required to ensure your entry as a selected artist at the Festival, and for payment if we sell your art works or store items. If you prefer to use a professional name that is different from your legal name, this will be used for any public purposes (wall cards, name tags, catalog, website, etc).
Who “owns” the art and therefore can submit it?
For most art, the creator or maker owns the art. In the case of photography, the person who took the picture/clicked the shutter of the camera is the person who owns the copyright to the photograph and can submit the piece, unless a contract has been signed indicating otherwise. In the case of collage art, typically there is no concern over the ownership, as it tends to be covered under “fair use” laws. That said, collages need to be sufficiently your own art/creation, and are considered on a case by case basis by the jury.
Do I retain the rights to my work?
Yes, you always retain all rights to your work. You will be asked to authorize us to publish your work in our catalog and on our website (and in the literary anthology if you are a literary artist), and we only have permission to publish in a limited capacity. You may submit your work to other festivals and events without restriction. All art that is featured on the website is watermarked or credited.
Can I leave my works untitled?
No. Please choose a unique title for each piece of art, even if it is just a simple description, such as “Almost Nude Figure”, that will help our staff and volunteers to identify art quickly and avoid confusion. Having multiple artworks called “Untitled” makes it more difficult for our docents to locate and sell your art.
What do I do if the artwork is collaborative and I wish to credit others?
If your artwork is collaborative, decide which artist will be the main contact person, and that person will submit the artwork and put their name in the legal name fields of the artist profile. In the “Professional Name” field write all artists’ names as you want them to appear in any public facing media. Do not include your collaborator’s name(s) in the “Notes”. Once your work is accepted, you can have your collaborator added to the official paperwork, however all communication will be with the artist designated as the primary point of contact.
I was accepted, but I need to change the price/name/dimensions of my work. Can I do that?
We understand that sometimes things come up, and that factors such as framing, shipping, and so on may affect your submission. You can change the price and name of your piece at any point up until the Black Tie Affair. At the Black Tie Affair, art is shown to our Art Activists and the art is officially for sale at that point.
Small changes to the dimensions of a piece due to framing, etc., are acceptable within a margin of 2-3 inches or 5-8 centimeters. Anything greater than that will need to be approved by the Exhibition Curator and the Festival Director.
I will not be attending the Festival, can I give my artist pass and/or discounted ticket to someone else or get a refund?
You cannot give your artist pass to someone else or get a refund. These are offered as a special thank-you for your submission; they are non-transferable and non-refundable.
Your discount code for your submission fee is completely transferable.
Will you ask for model age certification?
Yes. In order for photographic works to be displayed at the Festival, we require a form of declaration from all accepted artists regarding the age of their models. Artists will receive this form digitally to fill and sign after their art is accepted. All models whose images are displayed in the Festival must have given consent to be photographed and were at least 18 years old when photographed. This applies to photographic (digital and film) art. It also applies to any mixed media art that contains photographic images of people. On the form, you will certify that you have personally verified age by witnessing documentation, such as a driver’s license or passport with photo, that the model was over 18 years old at the time the image was taken, and that you have collected and maintained individually identifiable records for each model. Those records must contain the models’ names, dates of birth, stage names, and any other names they have ever performed or modeled under. This certification is necessary regardless of the apparent age, identifiability, or the completeness of the image of the model(s). We will not ask for a copy of your model release. A sample form can be found here: Model Age Certification (Only needed for photography.)
What does “publish in promotional materials” mean?
Promotional materials include the Festival website, posters, postcards, advertisements, programs, etc. We recognize that not everyone wants all information published; therefore, we have given you the option of providing permission to publish information regarding your website, email address, state/country of residence and individual images. We only publish professional information for accepted and invited artists, keeping all personal information such as legal names and home addresses confidential. Giving the Festival permission to publish your information also enables our staff to assist patrons in contacting you if they are interested in your art. Similarly, we will not publish your images on the Festival website or in any catalog or catalog-substitute if you deny permission for image publication.
Does SEAF charge a commission for selling my art?
Yes, a commission fee of 40% of the sale price goes to the Festival for art works sold in the exhibition, Festival store, or as a direct result of being shown in the Festival.
My art sold, when will I receive payment?
Checks will be mailed to artists located in the United States for any art sales, minus the 40% commission, within 30 days of the end of the Festival. Artists residing outside of the United States will be contacted to arrange the disbursement of funds of art sales electronically, minus the 40% commission, within 30 days of the end of the Festival. If you haven’t received payment for your sold art and it is more than 30 days after the last day of the Festival, please email director@seaf.art or call (206)-229-2185.
What happens to unsold art?
Artists have several options for unsold art.
- Artists can donate any unsold work to the Pan Eros Foundation, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization and producer of the Festival. ( A letter of donation will be provided for tax purposes.)
- Artists can pick up artwork in person during the designated time, or have an authorized agent pick it up.
- For return shipping, artists must provide a return shipping label with the original shipment of art (with the carrier of their choice). Note that FedEx shipping labels are not billed until the label is scanned and processed for return shipping, so if the art sells and there is no return, there is no charge.
- Note that if no return shipping label is provided and no one picks up the art, it will be considered a donation to the Pan Eros Foundation, as indicated in the contract.
May I contact the person who purchased my work?
Art patrons and collectors are given the opportunity at the time of purchase to give permission to be contacted by the artist. Contact the Artist Liaison to request purchaser contact information at artisthelp@seaf.art.
Who do I contact if I have questions that are not answered here?
Please email info@seaf.art for all other questions or concerns and your email will be forwarded to the appropriate person.