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CaFÉ Alternative

The CaFÉ alternative built on the professional art resume

CaFÉ collects entries one call at a time. On Artsume an artist carries the same profile into every call they apply to.

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Layer, not replacement

Submission tools manage entries. Artsume builds the network that survives.

Most platforms in this space treat artist data as a one-time pipeline: collect it, score it, forget it. Artsume treats it as a relationship. We add a layer those systems don’t have.

A form tool vs. a professional art resume.

CaFÉ and Artsume solve the same surface problem (submitting to open calls) in different ways. The difference compounds over an artist's career.

CaFÉ and legacy platformsArtsume
What the artist getsA submitted form. It disappears after the deadline.An artist-controlled profile they keep and carry.
Who owns the dataThe organization or the platform's silo.The artist owns their profile.
Across programsRe-enter everything, every time.One profile, every application.
CredibilityAn unverified PDF attached to a form.Confirmed credits and application history, with the outcomes.
After the resultNothing accumulates.Each confirmed credit adds context to the profile.

One artist-controlled profile. Every opportunity.

Your Artsume is the professional art resume you build once and carry everywhere.

Reuse your Artsume

Artists reuse their Artsume when they apply. Programs can ask for additional answers or selected work.

A career record people can review

Organizations confirm your affiliations. Every accepted application stays connected to your profile.

A record that compounds

Every credit and relationship adds context to your professional standing. The profile grows with your career.

Start free. Upgrade when you need more.

Starting is free: unlimited programs, unlimited submissions, unlimited team members, your artist network, and simple accept/reject review. Artsume Pro for organizations ($500 a year) adds recommended artists, invitations to artists you find on Artsume, applicant fit, one promotion for each paid year, blind reviews and juries, and reports. Besides optional promotions, the only other fee is a 10% platform fee on application payments your organization chooses to charge, and that only applies when you collect revenue. That 10% is all-in: Artsume covers the card processing, with no monthly minimum and no per-payout charge.

Primary pricing sources checked October 9, 2026. See our full comparison for side-by-side figures.

What you get:

  • There is no subscription charge to start.
  • Open a call with no setup fee.
  • Artists pay Artsume nothing to apply.

A 10% fee applies to application payments you collect. It covers card processing, so there is no separate processing fee.

Who CaFÉ is still a good fit for.

CaFÉ has been running since 2002 and has a large installed base, particularly in public-sector and government arts programs. If your organization relies on CaFÉ's jury workflow integrations with specific state or municipal arts agencies, switching mid-cycle carries real coordination cost. The same holds if your team has ingrained processes built around CaFÉ's interface. Organizations running a small number of annual calls with predictable, fixed-fee budgets may also find the switch less pressing. Artsume is the stronger choice for organizations that want to attract and retain high-quality applicants, and to give artists something worth applying for.

Questions about switching from CaFÉ.

How do Artsume and CaFÉ prices compare?

Artsume is free to start for every organization. There are no per-call setup fees. Starting needs no subscription. Besides subscriptions and optional promotions, the only fee is a 10% platform fee on application payments you collect, and it applies only if you charge artists to apply. That 10% is all-in: Artsume covers the card processing, with no monthly minimum and no per-payout charge. An optional Artsume Pro for organizations subscription ($500 a year) adds recommended artists, invitations to artists you find on Artsume, applicant fit, one promotion for each paid year, blind reviews and juries, and reports. CaFÉ lists its prices in US dollars. At initial signup, both plans charge a $225 onboarding fee. Pro costs $250 per call plus $2.49 per application. Plus costs $475 per call, includes the first 250 applications, then costs $2.49 per additional application. For later years, CaFÉ lists a $120 annual renewal fee instead of the initial onboarding fee. Electronic processing costs 3.25% on card and PayPal payments. Source: CaFÉ pricing, read October 9, 2026, at https://www.callforentry.org/how-it-works/pricing/. See our full comparison at artsume.com/compare.

What makes an Artsume profile more credible than a CaFÉ submission?

A CaFÉ submission is a one-time form. Once the deadline passes, it exists only in the organization's database. An Artsume profile is a professional record the artist owns and builds over time. Organizations can confirm individual credits, and reviewers can read the artist's work and career history together.

Can I move my existing work to Artsume?

Yes. Artists can import existing CV content and portfolio work into Artsume. You build your profile once, then reuse it when you apply to programs on Artsume. Programs can ask for additional answers or selected work. You never re-enter your biography, CV, or portfolio from scratch.

Is Artsume built specifically for the arts?

Yes. Artsume is built for the visual and performing arts. The review interface is visual-first, artwork is the primary data point, and the CV structure follows CAA formatting standards.

What should my organization compare before switching?

Compare the call setup, review workflow, exports and complete price. Test the workflow with one program before moving active work.

Ready to build your artist profile?

Artists can build a free profile. Organizations can start free.

Build your ArtsumeFull platform comparison