SlideRoom vs Submittable vs Artsume: Comparing Art Application Platforms

SlideRoom vs Submittable vs Artsume: Comparing Art Application Platforms

Whether you're an organization managing applications or an artist submitting work, the platform you use matters. SlideRoom, Submittable, and Artsume each take different approaches to art applications - with significant differences in cost, features, and user experience.

This guide provides an honest comparison to help both organizations choose the right platform and artists understand what to expect when applying.

Understanding the Cost Structure

Before comparing platforms, it's important to understand how costs work in this space:

For Organizations

Organizations pay platform fees to use submission management software. These can be structured as:

• Annual subscriptions (SlideRoom, Submittable)
• Per-submission fees charged to the organization
• Feature-based tiers with different capabilities
• Or free tiers with optional paid upgrades (Artsume)

The platform you choose affects your budget, your applicant experience, and your workflow.

For Artists

Artists may encounter two distinct types of fees:

1. Platform fees: What the platform itself charges to submit (e.g., SlideRoom's $10-15/submission)
2. Application fees: What the organization charges for their opportunity (e.g., $25 entry fee for a juried exhibition)

These are separate costs, though they're often confused:

On SlideRoom: Artists pay platform fees ($10-15) PLUS any application fees the organization charges. A $25 juried show costs $35-40 total.

On Submittable: Artists pay whatever the organization sets. The platform fee is built into the organization's pricing, not charged separately to artists.

On Artsume: Artists pay NO platform fees. Organizations CAN charge application fees if they choose (and keep 100% of those fees), but many Artsume organizations offer free applications.

Platform Overview

SlideRoom

SlideRoom was founded in 2008 and is now owned by Liaison International, a company specializing in higher education technology. The platform is primarily used by:

• Art schools and universities for admissions
• Museums and large institutions for fellowship applications
• Some grant programs and residencies

Business model: Charges both organizations (annual subscription) AND artists (per-submission fees)

Primary market: Higher education and academic admissions

Company background: SlideRoom was acquired by Liaison International in 2016, which explains its strong focus on academic admissions workflows. The platform integrates with student information systems and serves over 1,000 programs.

Submittable

Submittable launched in 2010 as a general submission management platform. It serves a broad range of industries:

• Literary magazines and publishers
• Grant programs and foundations
• Film festivals and conferences
• Corporate social responsibility programs
• Some visual arts organizations

Business model: Charges organizations based on usage tiers; artist fees set by each organization

Primary market: Publishing, grants, and general submissions across all industries

Company background: Based in Missoula, Montana, Submittable has raised over $20 million in funding and serves thousands of organizations. Its generalist approach means it's not specialized for any particular industry.

Artsume

Artsume is the newest platform, built specifically for visual and performing arts:

• Galleries and exhibition spaces
• Artist residency programs
• Grant organizations
• Public art programs
• Arts councils and foundations

Business model: Free tier for organizations with unlimited opportunities; paid tiers for advanced features. Artists never pay platform fees.

Primary market: Visual and performing arts organizations

Company background: Artsume was founded by artists and arts administrators who experienced the frustrations of existing platforms firsthand. The platform is designed around how artists and arts organizations actually work.

Comparison for Organizations

If you're an organization choosing a platform, here's what matters:

Cost Analysis for Organizations

Let's compare annual costs for a typical arts organization running 4 opportunities per year with 500 total applications:

*Artsume's free tier includes unlimited opportunities. Paid tiers ($49-199/mo) add advanced features like full CRM, analytics, and priority support.

What Organizations Should Consider

Choose SlideRoom if:

• You're an academic institution with admissions needs
• You need integration with student information systems
• Your applicants expect SlideRoom (MFA programs, academic positions)
• You have budget for $3,000-10,000+/year

Choose Submittable if:

• You run literary or multi-disciplinary programs
• You need a general-purpose tool across departments
• You're already using Submittable for other programs
• You serve multiple industries, not just visual arts

Choose Artsume if:

• You're a visual/performing arts organization
• You want to reduce or eliminate platform costs
• You want applicants to have a modern, visual-first experience
• You value the CRM and applicant relationship features
• You want to keep 100% of any application fees you charge

For a detailed organization comparison with interactive pricing calculator, visit our platform comparison page.

Comparison for Artists

If you're an artist applying to opportunities, here's what to expect on each platform:

Understanding What You Pay as an Artist

This is important - the difference between platform fees and application fees:

On SlideRoom:

• Platform fee: $10-15 per submission (you always pay this to SlideRoom)
• PLUS application fee: Whatever the organization charges ($0-50+)
• Example: $12 platform fee + $25 application fee = $37 total

On Submittable:

• Platform fee: $0 (built into organization pricing)
• Application fee: Whatever the organization charges ($0-50+)
• Example: $0 platform fee + $25 application fee = $25 total

On Artsume:

• Platform fee: $0 (always free for artists)
• Application fee: Whatever the organization charges ($0-50+)
• Example: $0 platform fee + $25 application fee = $25 total
• Note: Many Artsume organizations charge $0, making total = $0

Annual Cost Comparison for Active Artists

For an artist applying to 30 opportunities in a year:

*Many Artsume opportunities have no entry fee, potentially reducing this significantly.

Over a 5-year career, the difference in platform fees alone is $1,800 - money better spent on materials, studio rent, or professional development.

The Profile Portability Advantage

Beyond cost, the biggest practical difference for artists is profile portability:

SlideRoom: Some information saves between applications, but you often need to re-upload and reorganize materials for each submission. Time savings are minimal.

Submittable: Essentially starts fresh each time. No persistent portfolio, no saved CV, no artist statement that carries over. Every application is a blank form.

Artsume: Build your profile once - CV entries, portfolio works, artist statement - and reuse across all applications. When you add a new exhibition to your CV, it's automatically available for every future application. Download your CAA-formatted CV as a PDF anytime.

Detailed Platform Reviews

SlideRoom: The Academic Standard

SlideRoom has been the default for academic art applications since 2008. Its strengths and weaknesses reflect that heritage.

Strengths:

• Deep integration with higher education systems and student information systems
• Established reputation in the academic art world
• Robust media handling built and refined over 15+ years
• Required by most MFA programs and many academic positions
• Reliable infrastructure for large application volumes

Weaknesses:

• Expensive for organizations ($3,000-10,000+ annually)
• Charges artists per submission ($10-15), which adds up quickly
• Education-centric design; not optimized for galleries, residencies, or grants
• Interface feels dated compared to modern web applications
• Limited profile portability for artists

Best for: MFA admissions, university teaching positions, large institutional fellowships that require academic-style applications

Submittable: The Generalist Platform

Submittable serves a broad market, which means it's good at many things but specialized in none.

Strengths:

• Works across industries (literary, film, grants, corporate, arts)
• One account covers many different submission types
• Flexible form building for organizations
• No platform fees charged directly to artists
• Large installed base with familiar interface

Weaknesses:

• Not built for visual art specifically - treats everything as generic file uploads
• No persistent artist profile or portfolio system
• Generic file upload experience that doesn't showcase artwork well
• No CV generation, formatting, or management
• Every application starts from scratch with no data portability

Best for: Literary submissions (poetry, fiction, essays), multi-disciplinary organizations, general grants, film festivals

Artsume: The Arts-Specific Platform

Artsume is newer but purpose-built for how the visual and performing arts world actually works.

Strengths:

• Built specifically for visual and performing arts
• Free for artists - no platform fees ever
• Free tier available for organizations
• Reusable artist profiles with full CV and portfolio management
• Automatic CAA-format CV generation
• Visual-first review experience designed for artwork
• Modern interface with gallery-style presentation
• Artists apply with saved profiles, not blank forms
• Organizations keep 100% of any entry fees they charge

Weaknesses:

• Newer platform means a growing but smaller opportunity pool
• Limited presence in academic admissions (MFA programs still require SlideRoom)
• Some advanced features still in development
• Less name recognition than legacy platforms

Best for: Galleries, residencies, grants, public art programs, arts councils, foundations; artists who apply frequently and want to save time and money

Making the Switch

For Organizations

Switching platforms is easier than you might expect:

1. Evaluate your needs - What features actually matter for your workflow?
2. Compare real costs - Calculate your actual annual spend including hidden fees
3. Test the platform - Most offer trials, demos, or free tiers
4. Plan your migration - Export applicant data from your current platform if needed
5. Communicate to applicants - Let your community know about the change
6. Start with one opportunity - Test the new platform before migrating everything

Organizations report the switch typically takes a few hours to a day. Contact us for personalized migration support and a demo.

For Artists

You can - and should - use multiple platforms based on where opportunities are:

1. Create an Artsume profile - It's free, and you can download your CV immediately even if you never apply to anything
2. Maintain your master CV and portfolio - Keep one complete, organized version (Artsume is good for this)
3. Apply where opportunities are - Use whatever platform the specific opportunity requires
4. Track your applications - Note which platform you used for each submission
5. Update as you go - Add new work and exhibitions to your master profile immediately

Frequently Asked Questions

Conclusion

The right platform depends on your role and specific needs:

For Organizations:

• SlideRoom for academic admissions with education system integration
• Submittable for multi-disciplinary programs or literary focus
• Artsume for visual/performing arts with modern features and the lowest costs

For Artists:

• Use whatever platform each opportunity requires
• Maintain your profile on Artsume (free) for CV generation and as your master record
• Understand the difference between platform fees and application fees
• Budget accordingly if using SlideRoom frequently

Ready to explore? Create a free account to see the platform for yourself - whether you're an organization evaluating options or an artist building your professional profile.

Last updated: January 2025

Related Resources:

• Platform Comparison for Organizations
• The Complete Guide to Artist CVs
• How to Apply for Artist Residencies
• Artist Portfolio Best Practices
• Browse Open Opportunities