Declaring Conflicts of Interest as a Juror | Jury & Review | Crafted Call | Crafted Call
Declaring Conflicts of Interest as a Juror
JurorsUpdated Apr 17, 2026
Declaring Conflicts of Interest as a Juror
Maintaining fairness and integrity in the jury process requires transparency about conflicts of interest. This guide explains what constitutes a conflict, how to declare one, and what happens next.
What Constitutes a Conflict of Interest?
A conflict of interest exists when your relationship with an artist could bias your scoring or judgment. Common conflicts include:
Personal Relationships
Family member or close relative
Romantic partner or spouse
Close personal friend (beyond casual acquaintance)
Professional Relationships
Current or former employer/employee
Business partner or collaborator
Artist whose work you represent or collect
Financial Relationships
You own artwork by this artist
You have financial interest in their success or failure
You've purchased from this artist recently
Competitive Relationships
You're competing in the same call
The artist is competing against a close friend/family member you want to succeed
You have a vested interest in their acceptance or rejection
Institutional Conflicts
The artist is affiliated with your gallery, school, or employer
Their acceptance would benefit you or your organization
Important: If you're unsure whether something is a conflict, declare it anyway. It's better to over-disclose than to score with hidden bias.
How to Declare a Conflict of Interest
You can declare a conflict anytime during the jury review process:
At the Start of Jury Review
When you first access the jury dashboard:
Click Declare Conflicts of Interest (prominent button)
A dialog appears listing all artists/submissions
For each artist you have a conflict with:
Click the checkbox next to their name
Optionally add a brief note explaining the conflict (e.g., "Close friend," "Former colleague")
Click Confirm & Save
During Review
If you discover a conflict while reviewing:
Open the submission
Was this article helpful?
At the top of the scoring panel, click Flag Conflict of Interest
Select the conflict category (Personal, Professional, Financial, etc.)
Add optional details
Click Declare Conflict
The submission will immediately be locked from further scoring, and admins will be notified.
After Review (Catch-All)
If you realize a conflict exists after you've already scored:
Go to Jury Dashboard
Click My Conflicts of Interest
Click + Add Conflict
Search and select the artist
Explain the conflict
Click Save
Admins will review your scores on that submission and decide whether to remove them.
What Happens After Declaration?
Once you declare a conflict with an artist:
Immediate Effects
Their submission is hidden from your jury interface
You cannot view images, scores, or notes for their work
The submission doesn't count toward your review progress
You are not asked to score them
Admin Notification
Gallery admins are automatically notified
Your conflict is logged (for audit purposes)
Admins can reach out if they need clarification
Score Handling
If declared before scoring: No scores are recorded (submission is simply hidden)
If declared after scoring: Admins review your existing scores and may remove them, ensuring their work is scored only by impartial jurors
What Artists See
Artists never see your declaration or the reason for it
Conflicts are completely confidential
Their submission is still scored, just by other jurors
Tip: Declare conflicts early. If you declare after scoring, admins may have to invalidate your scores and ask other jurors to review that submission.
When to Declare (Timeline)
Best practice: Declare conflicts before or at the very start of jury review.
Timeline options:
Before review opens — You'll receive instructions via email; declare before you access the jury dashboard
First time reviewing — Declare on day 1, before you score anything
Anytime during review — You can declare conflicts as you encounter them (though this may invalidate scores)
Before deadline — Declare before the review period closes; late declarations may not be honored
The gallery will send you a Jury Review Packet with instructions and the list of all artists. Review it carefully before you start scoring.
You Can Declare at Any Time
Even if you missed the initial declaration window:
Go to your Jury Dashboard
Click Manage My Conflicts
Add any artists you missed
Submit
There's no penalty for declaring late, but early declaration ensures cleaner data and prevents invalid scores. Communicate with admins if you're unsure about timing.
Confidentiality: Who Can See Your Declaration?
Your conflict declaration is strictly confidential:
Who sees it:
Gallery admins and jury administrators only
Not other jurors
Not the artist
Not the public
How it's used:
To exclude you from scoring that artist's work
For conflict of interest audits and compliance
To ensure panel integrity
Privacy:
Your declaration reason is not shared with the artist
Artists do not learn why you couldn't score their work
Your personal relationships and other conflicts remain private
Common Scenarios
Scenario 1: You Know the Artist Personally
Declaration needed? Yes—declare as a Personal Relationship conflict
Even if you're friendly but not close, declare it
Better to be transparent than to wonder if your scoring was biased
Scenario 2: You Own Artwork by This Artist
Declaration needed? Yes—declare as a Financial Relationship
Owning their work creates an interest in their success
Even if purchased long ago, declare it
Scenario 3: The Artist Works at Your Gallery
Declaration needed? Yes—declare as an Institutional Conflict
Professional affiliation always requires disclosure
This applies even if they're junior staff or part-time
Scenario 4: You Dislike Their Work Strongly
Declaration needed? No—personal aesthetic preference is not a conflict
Jurors are expected to have varying tastes; that's the point of a panel
Disliking an artist's style does not require a conflict declaration
Scenario 5: Another Juror Is Their Friend (Not You)
Declaration needed? No—it's their conflict, not yours
Only declare conflicts about your own relationships
If you believe another juror has an undeclared conflict, contact admins
If You Have Questions
If you're unsure whether something is a conflict:
Declare it anyway. Over-disclosure is safe and transparent.
Contact the gallery. Reply to the jury invitation email with your question. Admins can clarify what counts as a conflict under their policy.
Ask before review starts. Don't wait until you're mid-review to ask.
The gallery would rather address questions upfront than discover undeclared conflicts later.
