Knowledge Base
First, just fill out the form on the waiting list — it's quick, free, and doesn't require preparing a separate portfolio. We only ask for a link to your work (Instagram, website, Behance — anywhere where your style can be seen). This is enough to make you visible when the selection begins. Then everything goes step by step — you receive an invitation, apply, pay for a place, and join the process. Everything is accompanied by detailed instructions and support at every stage.
This is a pre-registration form. It does not reserve a place, but it allows us to get to know you in advance (via a link to your work) and invite you among the first when the call opens. Filling it out is easy — you don't need to prepare a separate portfolio or write a biography. Everything is minimal, so that it is easy to take the step.
We are aiming for a launch in 2026, but the exact date depends on two key factors:
when a sufficient number of artists join the waiting list, and
when funding is secured.
This will be an open window that will last for a limited time. It is better not to delay — as soon as the canvas is assembled, the recruitment will automatically end.
Here is how it works:
1. You get acquainted with the concept of the project and sign up for the waiting list through the form on the website.
2. Before sending out invitations, we look at your portfolio via the link you leave (Instagram, website, etc.). This is the preliminary curatorial selection. The portfolio can be live - a general idea of you as an artist is important.
3. Once the project is ready to launch (tentatively in 2026, after we gather enough artists and secure funding), we will begin sending out invitations.
4. You receive an invitation, submit an application, agree to the terms and pay for participation.
5. We send you a checklist, technical specifications, purchase agreement and instructions so that everything is clear and under control. We are in touch to help.
6. You prepare the work and media materials according to the checklist.
7. Send the work by mail to the specified address.
8. We check the technical compliance and condition of the work, and if everything is in order, we buy it for a symbolic $1 and integrate it into the canvas.
9. You receive an electronic certificate of participation, and your work becomes part of the large collective history of 500ARTISTS.
One artist - one place. We want to maintain the principle of polyphony. Repeated participation is possible only if you work in different mediums and want to present yourself on different canvases (for example, acrylic and watercolor), but each participation will be a separate invitation.
Yes, you can cancel. But, unfortunately, the payment is not refundable. After receiving it, a specific place on the canvas is assigned to you - and it becomes part of the general composition. Please, participate only if you are sure that you want to be part of the project. And know - if questions or doubts arise, we are always open to dialogue.
Any artist from 18 years old can participate - regardless of country, experience or education. Talent, style and a sincere desire to be part of this large canvas are important to us. We believe in polyphony and are not looking for big names, but strong works.
If someone declines or the work is not selected, the spot is returned to the general pool. We invite the next participant from the waiting list. Sometimes this happens quickly, sometimes it requires a pause - but not a single spot is lost. If you want to be among those who are invited in this case, be sure to be on the waiting list.
Everything is fine - duplicates do not interfere, and if necessary, we will contact you for clarification. If you want to update or combine records, just fill out the form to correct the data - this way we will put everything in order faster.
Yes. Seats will be sold through the website — just like you would buy a ticket to a movie or a concert. Available positions will be displayed in real time. If the desired section is already occupied, it means that someone else has already bought it. Everything is fair and transparent.
Yes, we will have a reserve list — as soon as a place becomes available (due to refusal or technical reasons), we will invite the next participant. The main thing is to stay in touch and be on the waiting list.
Yes, of course. Just fill out the same form again, indicating that you are “making changes”. We will manually check the records and take into account only the current data.
After passing the curatorial selection of artists from the waiting list, you will receive a personal invitation. In the invitation, we will send a link to the application form. There you will need to confirm your participation, agree to the terms of the project and choose a place on the canvas. Everything is intuitive, and if something is not clear, we are here to help.
Submission fee is a one-time fee for participation in the project. It covers only a small part of the organizational costs, but allows us to keep the project independent and accessible. The cost depends on the location on the canvas: from $15 to $75. Each artist can take only one place.
Payment is made when you submit your application. You choose the place and pay for it immediately during the registration process, like a movie or concert ticket. All instructions will be inside the form.
Immediately after payment confirmation, you will receive documentation, a checklist, and a technical assignment with detailed instructions: how to format the work, what needs to be sent, where, and in what form. We will lay everything out step by step - so that you do not have a single unanswered question.
Payment will only be made through the website. We will try to connect convenient methods: bank cards, PayPal, and others. The system will be as simple and international as possible. If some methods do not work in your country, write to us, we will find a solution.
All prices are in US dollars (USD). If you pay with a card in another currency, the amount will be automatically recalculated by your bank at the exchange rate on the day of payment.
No. Each artist applies for participation independently and pays for a place in their own name. This is important for creating a correct certificate, provenance and accounting of works.
No problem — the main thing is that you are on the waiting list. When you receive an invitation, you can apply when you are ready. But remember that places are not reserved without payment, and their number is limited.
If the payment did not go through, try again in a few minutes or with a different card. Sometimes changing the browser or device helps. If it still doesn't work, write to us and we will help you figure it out. We will not leave you alone.
After payment, your place is considered purchased. We will send a confirmation, and along with it - documentation, a checklist, instructions and technical specifications. If you have not received an email within 24 hours, be sure to check the Spam folder and contact us.
Yes, you can make changes. Just write to us - we will update everything manually. It is better to do this before sending the work so that all documents and entries in the system match and there is no confusion when registering participation.
Immediately after payment, you will receive an automatic invoice with a payment mark - this will be your official confirmation. It is enough for tax reporting and to be sure that the application has been accepted and the place on the canvas has been secured.
The size is strictly fixed: 2.5 x 3.5 inches (64 x 89 mm). This is the standard ACEO (Art Cards Editions and Originals) format and a single size for all works in the project. Please do not make it larger or smaller, otherwise we will not be able to fit your work into the canvas.
Horizontal. That is, the long side is along the bottom edge. This is important so that all 500 works in the canvas are visually consistent. Pay attention when framing, especially if the work does not have a clear compositional orientation.
The project has three canvases: oil, acrylic and watercolor. Only one medium is allowed - oil, acrylic or watercolor, without mixing them. Depending on the medium you choose, you will get to the corresponding canvas.
Acceptable materials depend on the chosen canvas: "oil", "acrylic" or "watercolor". Each medium has its own specific requirements — please follow the guide:
If you work with oil:
📌 Requirements:
• Oil paints only
• Base — primed oil paper, 400 gsm
• Smooth painting or with minimal relief up to 1.5 mm
• Surface is dry, non-sticky, without gloss
• Format: 2.5 × 3.5 inches (6.4 × 8.9 cm), straight edges
🚫 Not allowed:
• Canvas, wood, fabric
• Paper without primer
• Strong impasto
• Sticky or greasy areas
• Gloss varnish
• Any other paints except oil
If you work with acrylic:
📌 Requirements:
• Acrylic paints
• Paper for acrylic, at least 360 gsm
• Additional priming is not required
• Smooth or moderately textured surface
• Maximum relief - up to 1.5 mm
• Surface is dry, does not crumble
• Format: 2.5 × 3.5 inches (6.4 × 8.9 cm), straight edges
🚫 Not allowed:
• Paper less than 300 g / m²
• Collages, sand, texture pastes, gel
• Mixing with other paints
• Loose or unstable materials
• Elements higher than 1.5 mm
If you work with watercolors:
📌 Requirements:
• Only watercolors (non-office, special art ones are allowed: liners or permanent markers with archival, pigment, waterproof ink; high-quality pigment ink based on soot)
• Paper 100% cotton, cold pressing, 300 g / m²
• Additional priming is not required
• Dry work
• Finishing fixative is mandatory (e.g. Schmincke AQUA Fix, Winsor & Newton Professional Fixative)
• Surface must be smooth and not crumbling
• Format: 2.5 x 3.5 inches (6.4 x 8.9 cm), straight edges
🚫 Not allowed:
• Wet work without fixing
• Paper less than 300 g/m²
• Pastel, gouache, ink, charcoal
• Mixed media
• No fixing
📦 General conditions for all:
• All works will be placed in cellophane pockets
• Surface must not stick, crumble or scratch
• Inappropriate materials, formats or condition of work are not allowed
No. Any protruding elements are prohibited in the project: collages, stickers, sand, gel, texture pastes and similar materials.
Only relief from paint is allowed - no more than 1.5 mm high. All works will be placed in individual cellophane pockets, and protruding elements can damage the pocket - such works will not be accepted.
Yes, a signature on the back is required. Your data is needed for identification, internal documentation and concluding a purchase agreement.
📌 The data format is strictly fixed (example):
Maria Novak (or pseudonym), Spain, [author's signature], 2026, 1/1, acr, 2.5'' x 3.5''
(in that order)
If you work under a pseudonym and do not want to indicate your real name on the work itself, this is acceptable. But in the application, you will still indicate your legal information so that we can correctly process the purchase.
After submitting the application, you will receive a sample with the exact placement of data on the back.
Unfortunately, such works are not accepted. The size must be exactly 2.5 × 3.5 inches (64 × 89 mm) - no more, no less. This is important for accurate installation in the canvas. If in doubt, it is better to cut it to size in advance.
No. The support must strictly comply with the requirements specified in the guide for your medium. We do not accept canvas, wood, fabric, paper without primer (for oils) or too thin paper. Using non-standard materials will result in rejection of the work.
❌ Prohibited: gold leaf, collage, sequins, glitter, fabric or paper inserts, texture pastes, sand, gel and any unstable decorative materials - regardless of the medium. Such elements can damage other works and the pocket.
✅ Acceptable:
- Fixative for watercolors - mandatory
- Matte varnish for acrylics - acceptable
- Gloss varnish for oils - prohibited
Such work will not be accepted for participation. We will send you a guide and a checklist in advance so that you can check everything. If we have any doubts, we will contact you before installation. Please, pay close attention to the requirements from the very beginning.
Yes, it is necessary. The watercolor work must be treated with a finishing fixative (for example: Schmincke AQUA Fix, Winsor & Newton Professional Fixative). This will protect it from crumbling and ensure its safety in the canvas.
No. The edges must be straight and cleanly trimmed. Rounded corners, torn or uneven edges, and white margins along the edges are not allowed. Trim the work exactly to the format:
2.5 x 3.5 inches (64 x 89 mm).
Yes, you can, as long as the signature does not disrupt the composition. This is entirely at your discretion.
But a signature on the back in the established format is required.
A slight embossing is allowed - up to 1.5 mm.
Higher elements are not allowed: they can damage the cellophane pocket in which each work will be placed.
Please avoid strong impasto and any protruding materials.
No. Frames, mounts, mats, corners, and other design elements are not allowed. We only accept original work, trimmed to 2.5 x 3.5 inches (64 x 89 mm).
All works are mounted on a common canvas - it is important that nothing interferes with this process.
No. The project accepts only original, handmade pieces.
Each work must be created specifically for 500ARTISTS - unique, never published anywhere before, and not included in other projects.
Prints, photographs, digital paintings, and NFT works are not allowed.
This is important: your work becomes part of a physical canvas and an artistic statement that values authenticity and the artist's live touch.
If the work is not accepted for participation, it is not subject to redemption and can be transferred to the project support fund - that is, it remains in the project archive as a gift (all property rights are transferred to the curator, the copyright is retained by you).
If you do not want to donate the work, you will have 1 month from the moment of arrival to request its return at your own expense.
We will definitely write to you if the work does not pass the selection, and offer possible actions.
After payment, you will receive instructions, a checklist and technical specifications - everything in as much detail as possible.
In addition, we are always in touch and ready to answer any questions. It is better to clarify than to worry!
No. The project accepts only original works made by hand.
We do not allow the use of generative neural networks (including Midjourney, DALL E, Stable Diffusion and others) either at the sketch stage or as a basis.
500ARTISTS is a statement of a person, not an algorithm. It is important to us that each work is created by traditional means and reflects personal artistic thinking.
We realize that AI is rapidly entering our lives and that it is the future. But, with a high degree of probability, you are a representative of the last generation of artists who create paintings on their own.
Address for sending: USA, Illinois, Chicago.
The full address and instructions will be sent to you immediately after payment for participation, along with the technical task.
Please do not send anything in advance or in parts, everything must be sent in one package.
Your window for sending will open after receiving the invitation and payment.
Approximate deadlines:
– a week for watercolors and acrylics
– up to a month for oil paintings (in case drying time is needed)
The deadlines will be indicated in the letter, and you can always check with us.
The artist pays for shipping to the curator.
We chose this format to make shipping as easy as possible: the work is small, unframed, and lightweight — it’s cheap and easy to send by regular mail.
Yes, if you’re in Chicago and it’s convenient for you, we can arrange for a personal delivery.
Just write to us when you receive the invitation and checklist. We’ll discuss the details and find a way to deliver the work in person.
The best option is a bubble wrap bag that’s the right size for the work, checklist, and documents.
Place the work itself between two slightly larger pieces of cardboard and tape it around the perimeter with masking tape — this will prevent it from shifting and help avoid corner creases during transportation.
Follow the instructions you will receive after payment. Inside should be:
- your work
- a signed checklist
- documents for the purchase of the work
- a certificate of authenticity (we will send a template - you will need to enter your details and sign)
No special marks are required on the packaging. Just indicate the address we will send.
This is not necessary, but if you are sending an international letter, you can add a note:
"Artist’s sample. No commercial value."
This helps at customs and reduces the risk of delays.
The tracking number is a tracking code that you will be given when sending a letter.
Please send it through the form on the website - the link will be in the letter with instructions.
This will help us track the arrival of the work in time.
You will be able to track the delivery using the tracking number.
We will also write to you as soon as we receive and check your work. This usually takes up to 15 days after arrival.
If something went wrong:
– Check the tracking
– Contact your post office and open a search
– Write to us so that we know that the work is on the way or needs to be sent again
If the letter really cannot be found, we will offer a solution.
All. The project is open to artists from all over the world.
The main thing is that your country has the ability to send a letter to the USA. We have no country restrictions.
NFT (non-fungible token) is a digital certificate that helps to save information about the work: authorship, participation in the project and important details.
At 500ARTISTS, we use NFT as a way to record your work in a digital archive and emphasize its uniqueness. This is an additional layer of protection and memory that accompanies the original, but does not replace it.
You will not need to do any technical actions - we will take care of this, we will issue everything and upload it ourselves.
We plan to issue three types of NFT:
1. NFT certificate of authenticity - only for the original canvas (1 pc.).
2. A digital copy of the entire painting — 1 unique NFT without capsules.
3. 500 NFT reproductions — each includes an image of one work and 1 question from the time capsule.
Each of the 500 NFT reproductions includes:
- a digital image of your mini-painting
- one question from the time capsule
- your name (or pseudonym)
- country
- medium
- year of participation
This gives your work additional digital life, expands its audience and strengthens its digital footprint.
All NFTs are created and issued by the project curator.
The owner of the NFT becomes the one who purchases it on the platform (if the NFT goes on sale).
The artist remains the author of the work and can indicate participation in the NFT archive.
All participants automatically agree to the creation of a digital version of their work as part of NFT reproductions.
This is part of the terms of participation in the project and an important part of the general archive. You cannot refuse this separately.
Yes, you can create your own NFTs based on your other works.
But NFTs issued by the curator based on the results of the project remain part of a single collection and cannot be duplicated or reproduced separately.
Each work is accompanied by a short answer to a question from the “time capsule” - this is your personal message to the future. This answer is included in a personal NFT dedicated to a specific work.
The full version of the capsule with all the questions and answers is saved only in the main NFT of the project - a digital certificate of authenticity for the entire canvas, as well as in a limited printed catalog.
The artist remains the author of the work, but cannot sell or recreate the NFT based on the image transferred to the project.
NFT of the 500ARTISTS project is a unique archive that cannot be replicated outside its framework.
We plan that the collection will be released on the Polygon platform - an environmentally friendly and accessible blockchain network that supports open standards and low fees.
The release of the collection is planned after the acceptance of all works is completed and the final canvas is formed.
Approximately in 2027. The exact dates will be announced in advance.
NFTs are created and released by the project curator.
The proceeds from their sale are not distributed among the artists - this is part of the digital archive of the project.
We understand that participation in NFTs can raise questions, so we emphasize that:
- authorship is always yours
- the work and your voice will remain in the public digital history of the project
- the purpose of NFTs is to preserve your contribution in the digital archive of the project, record authorship and create a trace for future generations
This is a short text that you will leave as an artist for the future. We will ask you to answer several meaningful questions - about yourself, your path and message to others. These texts will become part of the final archive of the project and will be revealed only after all stages are completed.
1. Who will I become as an artist in 10 years?
2. What exhibition do I dream of doing or seeing?
3. What do I want to say to the next generations of artists?
The number of characters will be limited, so please answer consciously and in detail. This is not a questionnaire or a formality - your voice is important, and we want it to be heard.
The artists' answers will be published in:
- an NFT certificate of authenticity of the painting, which comes with the original
- a limited printed catalog of the project
- a personal NFT reproduction of your work, which will include one question with your answer
The essence of the project is to give each artist the opportunity to be seen and heard.
Therefore, participation in the time capsule is mandatory. If you work under a pseudonym, indicate it. But the text must still be original and sincere.
This limited collector's edition is a luxury printed catalog, which will be worked on by a separate team of editors and designers.
It will include images of all the miniatures, a curatorial text, a visual overview of the canvas, and fragments of the time capsule — the artists' responses, recorded forever.
The catalog is not intended as an album to flip through, but as a collection item — a full-fledged art book reflecting the spirit and concept of the project.
📌 Spoiler: we are considering the possibility of collaborating with a major art publisher, including TASCHEN.
Yes. After the exhibition cycle is over, we will open a pre-order.
Artists will receive a separate letter with the order conditions, price, and the possibility of worldwide delivery.
The digital version of the catalog is not planned to be freely available. We are planning it as a limited collector's edition - with an emphasis on the quality, design and value of the printed object. The full digital archive will remain inside the main NFT project, but the catalog itself is a unique thing created for collectors.
Yes. Each participant will receive an electronic certificate of participation in the project.
It can be printed, attached to a portfolio or simply saved as part of your history.
Provenance is the history of the origin of a work of art: who created it, when, under what conditions it was exhibited, transferred or sold. As part of the 500ARTISTS project, we record participation, redemption, artist data, medium, date of receipt, as well as events related to the display of the painting. This forms the archival value and confirms the authenticity of the work.
You retain all copyrights. This means that you are still the author of the work. The curator receives the property rights necessary for exhibiting, digitizing, publishing, creating NFTs and archival use. All this is spelled out in the purchase agreement.
The curator receives the property rights necessary for the implementation of the project: the right to display, reproduce, publish, digitize and create NFT. These rights are transferred under a purchase agreement and allow your work to be included in the general canvas, archive, catalog and digital collection. The copyright remains with you.
This is a legal document that confirms that the work was purchased by the curator for a symbolic amount. It records the transfer of property rights and allows you to create a single provenance for the entire canvas. Without it, it is impossible to ensure the legal use of your work within the project.
Your participation is legally confirmed by three documents:
1. The purchase agreement, which you sign when sending the work. It records the fact of the purchase for $1 and the transfer of property rights to the curator.
2. The certificate of authenticity, which accompanies your work and proves its participation in the project, originality and compliance with all requirements.
3. An electronic certificate of participation, which you receive after accepting the work. It serves as confirmation of participation and remains with you.
All these documents form part of the official history of the project (provenance) and confirm your involvement in the canvas and archive.
No. The work is created specifically for 500ARTISTS and becomes part of a unique collective canvas. We ask that it not be published anywhere before or used in other projects, including contests, NFT collections or exhibitions. This is important to preserve the uniqueness and legal purity of the archive.
If the work does not pass the final selection, it is not bought out and is not included in the canvas. Within a month after receiving it, we will give you the opportunity to take it back (at the artist's expense). If a return is not requested, the work goes to the project support fund (to the curator) with the artist retaining the copyright.
If the work is not accepted and you do not want to transfer it to the project fund, you can request a return within 30 days after we received it. In this case, we will send it back at your expense. Mandatory conditions are a written request, prepayment of return shipping and a correct address.
There are two types of certificates in the project:
Participant certificate - an electronic document confirming your participation in the project. It contains your name, country, project name and a unique number.
Certificate of authenticity - is created for each work and confirms that it was created specifically for 500ARTISTS, passed the selection, was purchased by the curator and included in the general canvas. This is part of the provenance - the history and origin of the work.
Additionally, there is an NFT certificate - it accompanies the entire canvas in digital format, but is not directly tied to individual artists.
If you get confused - do not worry, we are always ready to help.
We only accept shipments with a tracking number. Choose a reliable international postal service (e.g. USPS, DHL, FedEx, UPS, etc.). We do not accept regular letters without tracking.
The deadline depends on the medium:
• watercolor and acrylic - within a week,
• oil - within a month.
Media materials are photos, videos and text that will present your work on social networks, in the catalog and on the project website. They help viewers get to know you better, and the project to maintain a unified visual and archival style. This is part of the professional presentation of your participation.
You will receive a clear technical assignment for media materials, which will indicate:
• format and angle of the photo work,
• video (optional) - a short process of creation or greeting,
• text about you and your work (using a template).
We have simplified the task as much as possible - just follow the checklist.
No. We ask that everything be formatted according to a template — so that the media matches the style and structure of the project. This is important for the overall visual integrity. But you can use existing fragments if they meet the requirements.
• On Instagram and other social networks of the project
• In the catalog
• In the digital archive
• On the website
• In the media
• In advertising
• In press releases
All publications are made with respect to the author, and in the case of individual materials — always with your name or pseudonym.
First, check your spam and promotions folder. Sometimes emails get lost in filters. If you haven’t received anything, write to us via the feedback form on the website or in the chat on the website. We’ll check the status promptly.
We’re always in touch. Just fill out the form on the website or write in the chat — and we’ll try to respond within 1–2 business days. No need to duplicate messages on all platforms — one request is enough.
Yes. You can write in the chat on the website or leave a question via the form. If you need personal contact, we will offer a convenient way of communication (email, voice message or call by arrangement). It is better to check basic questions in the FAQ first.
Try refreshing the page, using a different browser or disabling the VPN. If the problem persists, send a screenshot with a description of the error via the form, in the chat on the site or to the email indicated at the bottom of the page.