A Living Artist Network — the CaFÉ Alternative
Submission tools manage entries. Artsume builds the network that survives.
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 don’t compete on form-builder features; we add a layer those systems don’t have.
A form tool vs. a professional identity.
CaFÉ and Artsume solve the same surface problem (submitting to open calls) in fundamentally different ways. The difference compounds over an artist's career.
| CaFÉ and legacy platforms | Artsume | |
|---|---|---|
| What the artist gets | A submitted form. It disappears after the deadline. | A verified profile they keep and carry forever. |
| Who owns the data | The organization or the platform's silo. | The artist owns their passport. |
| Across opportunities | Re-enter everything, every time. | One profile, every application. |
| Credibility | An unverified PDF attached to a form. | Verified affiliations, accepted applications, real outcomes. |
| After the result | Nothing accumulates. | Every win becomes a credential that deepens the profile. |
One verified profile. Every opportunity.
Your Artsume profile is the professional identity you build once and carry everywhere.
Apply in one click
Your CV, portfolio, and statement travel with you. Open a call on Artsume and your profile is already there.
Credentials the art world trusts
Affiliations are verified, not self-reported. Every accepted application becomes a credential on your profile, not a forgotten email.
A record that compounds
Each win, each accepted call, each verified affiliation deepens your professional standing. The profile grows with your career.
Free for organizations. No subscription required.
Every Artsume feature is included at no cost: unlimited opportunities, unlimited submissions, blind review, custom rubrics, team management, and analytics. The only fee is a 10% platform fee on application payments your organization chooses to charge, and that only applies when you collect revenue.
Competitor pricing based on publicly available information as of 2026. See our full comparison for side-by-side figures.
- No monthly subscription for organizations
- No per-call setup fees
- No cost for artists to apply
- 10% fee only on optional application payments you collect
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, or if your team has deeply ingrained processes built around CaFÉ's interface, switching mid-cycle carries real coordination cost. 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, run credible open calls, and give artists something worth applying for.
Switching is easier than you think.
Artists bring their existing profiles. Organizations are live within a day. Free migration assistance is included.
- Import your existing opportunities
- Artists import existing CV and portfolio
- Free migration assistance included
- 30-minute setup call available
Questions about switching from CaFÉ.
Is Artsume cheaper than CaFÉ?
Artsume is free for all organizations. There are no subscription tiers, no per-call setup fees, and no monthly costs. The only fee is a 10% platform fee on application payments your organization chooses to collect, and that only applies if you charge artists to apply. Based on publicly available information, CaFÉ charges significant per-call and per-application fees. 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 verified professional identity the artist owns and builds over time. Affiliations are verified, accepted applications become credentials, and every outcome accumulates as proof. Organizations review a living record, not a snapshot.
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 apply to every opportunity on the platform with one click. 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 from the ground up. The review interface is visual-first, artwork is the primary data point, and the CV structure follows CAA formatting standards. It is not a generic form builder adapted for arts use.
Who manages the transition for my organization?
Artsume provides free migration assistance for organizations switching from other platforms. Most organizations are running their first call within a day. A 30-minute setup call is available at no cost.
Ready to build your verified profile?
Free for artists. Free for organizations. No credit card required.