Artist Membership

Artist Membership in the American Academy of Equine Art, Inc. is based on artistic merit, achievement and a commitment to the mission of the Academy. National or ethnic origin, race, religion, gender or disabilities are never considerations in awarding Academy membership.

Membership Guidelines and Criteria for Artist Membership

Associate Membership

Associate membership in the American Academy of Equine Art, Inc.is awarded to artists who have consistently demonstrated the ability to represent the horse in a work of art, and are interested in furthering the mission of the Academy.

An artist is eligible to apply for AAEA Associate membership after having three different works accepted and shown in AAEA juried exhibitions. Candidates for Associate membership are required to send a formal letter of application to the membership committee, which must be accompanied by the following supporting materials:

• A sheet of ten slides which should include all previously accepted artworks from AAEA exhibitions. Each slide must be marked with the title, size, medium, and date of creation.
• Sculptors must send a sheet of 20 slides [10 artworks, with two different views of each artwork].
• Complete biography, which should include information on all education and other art training completed.
• List of professional memberships held.
• Listing of all exhibitions you have participated in and awards you have won.
• List of commission work.
• List of private and public collections your artwork is in.
• Copies of reviews or articles about you/your artwork.

The membership committee will endeavor to prove a quick response to all applications, but the process may take several months. When a candidate is accepted for Association membership, all application materials will remain in the permanent collection of the Academy, so do not send your only copy of any item.

Associate members may include "AAEA" after their name, signature, etc., but it must be followed by the word "Associate".

Associate member annual dues are currently $175.00; outside the U.S. $50.00*
* Dues for members outside the U.S. have been reduced by vote of the Executive Committee on February 1, 2002. This adjustment was made as a result of the exceptionally high cost of shipping artwork into and back from the U.S., as well as inconsistent exchange rates of foreign currency against the U.S. dollar.

Full Membership

AAEA Full membership is awarded only by invitation of the artist membership committees (painting or sculpture), and by approval of the Board of Directors. Full membership recognizes artists who have continually demonstrated artistic excellence and maturity, have achieved distinction in their career through the equine genre, are dedicated to the Academy's purposes and are committed to the organization's education mission.

Though invitation to this level of membership is normally offered to Associate members who have distinguished themselves with the above qualities, an AAEA membership committee may offer membership to non-Associates based on what it considers to be a lifetime of achievement or exceptional artistic ability.

Candidates for Full membership are required to provide:

• A sheet of twenty slides which should include all previously accepted artworks from AAEA exhibitions (if applicable). Each slide must be marked with the title, size, medium, and date of creation. [Sculptors must send two different views of each artwork].
• Complete biography, which should include information on all education and other art training completed.
• List of professional memberships held.
• Listing of all exhibitions you have participated in and awards you have won.
• List of commission work.
• List of private and public collections your artwork is in.
• Copies of reviews or articles about you/your artwork.

Only Academy Founding and Full members may use the initials "AAEA" after their name, signature, etc.

Full member annual dues are currently $350.00; outside the U.S. $100.00*
* Dues for members outside the U.S. have been reduced by vote of the Executive Committee on February 1, 2002. This adjustment was made as a result of the exceptionally high cost of shipping artwork into and back from the U.S., as well as inconsistent exchange rates of foreign currency against the U.S. dollar.

Full Member Benefits

PATRON MEMBERSHIP

AAEA Patron Membership welcomes everyone who appreciates fine art and is interested in the advancement of excellence in contemporary equine art. This category of membership is made up of supporters dedicated to the Academy's mission and standards and to the furtherance of AAEA programs.

Friend of the Academy
$25.00 annual donation
Receive our twice-yearly newsletter.

Supporting Member
$50.00 annual donation
Receive our newsletters, open exhibition prospectus, workshop listings, and invitations to all AAEA events.

Donor Member
$100.00 annual donation
Receive all of the above, plus a 10% discount on workshops.

Corporate Member
$500.00 annual donation
Receive all of the above, plus listings in our newsletters and on our website.

LIFE Member
$3,000.00 one-time donation
Patron receives all of the above for life for a one-time donation.