Open call submission form: accept artist images without the Google sign-in
Updated 2026-10-17. Every fact links to its source; prices are as published on each vendor's page on that date.
Short answer: a Google Form is fine for the artist's details, statement and price list, but not for the images if you want every artist to be able to apply. A File upload question makes every applicant sign in to a Google account (Google), and there's no setting to switch that off. Keep the form, replace the upload question, and collect images one of the ways below.
What we found checking real open calls
In October 2026, while researching organizers, we opened the public submission forms of about 20 open calls and contests that collect images or documents through Google Forms, as a signed-out visitor. Every one showed Google's sign-in screen before the form appeared. Many organizers warn artists in advance, for example: “Google Forms requires you to be signed into a Google account to open the form” (Milford Arts Council), “To apply online and upload images, you must be signed into a Google account” (The Next Picture Show) and “A Google Account is required to upload images. This requirement is imposed by Google Forms.” (I Love Photography Festival). Artists who won't make an account either give up or email the files, and you file them by hand.
Your options for an open call submission form
| Option | Entrants need an account? | Where files end up | Cost (as published) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Google Form with a File upload question | Yes, a Google account | Your Drive, in a folder per question | Free |
| Google Form + short-answer “link to your images” | No | Wherever the artist hosts them; you download each set | Free |
| Google Form + Dropbox File Request for images | No | Your Dropbox | Free on Dropbox plans that include requests |
| Call-for-entry platform (EntryThingy) | Yes, an account on the platform | The platform | Charged to the organizer per entry (1 token per entry) |
| Submission manager (Submittable Basic) | Yes, a Submittable account | The platform | $999/year or $119/month, 300 submissions/year |
| CatchFolder upload link + your Google Form | No | Your own Google Drive, plus a Sheet row per file | $12 one-time per 30-day call; $59/year for unlimited links |
Free setup: Google Form + “link to your images”
- In your form, delete the File upload question. If no other setting requires sign-in (“Limit to 1 response”, verified email collection), the form now opens for everyone. Check it with our free Google Form sign-in checker.
- Add a Short answer question: “Link to your submission images (Dropbox, Google Drive, WeTransfer, website)” and set Response validation → Text → URL.
- In the description, say the link must be viewable by anyone and stay live until results are announced.
The catch: links arrive private or expire, and you download every set by hand before jurying.
Keep direct uploads without the sign-in
If you want the original files in one place for the jury, put a no-login upload link in the form description (“Upload your images here”) and ask for the artist's email in both places. With CatchFolder the upload page runs inside your Google account: artists upload from any phone or computer without signing in, the files land in a Drive folder you choose, and each upload gets a Sheet row with the artist's name and email. It's built for calls that open and close: $12 covers one 30-day call (500 uploads, files up to 50 MB each), or $59 a year for galleries that run several calls.
Related
- Google Form file upload without sign-in: what works
- Contest entry form with file upload (photo, film, art)
- Collect files without a Google account: 2026 comparison
- Google Forms file upload limits calculator
FAQ
Can artists submit to my open call without a Google account?
Not if your Google Form has a File upload question: Google requires respondents to sign in to answer it (Google Docs Editors Help). Remove the upload question and ask for a portfolio link, or collect the images with a separate no-login upload link.
What is the cheapest way to run an open call?
Free: a Google Form with a short-answer 'link to your images' question, or a Dropbox File Request for the images (uploaders don't need a Dropbox account: Dropbox Help). Paid platforms charge per entry or per year; CatchFolder is $12 one-time for a 30-day call.
How do I match uploaded images to each artist's form response?
Ask for the same identifier (the artist's email) in both the form and the upload page. CatchFolder logs each upload in a Google Sheet with the name and email fields you ask for, so you can join the two sheets with a lookup.
What file size limit should an open call use?
Set it to fit full-resolution JPGs or PDFs. CatchFolder accepts files up to 50 MB each; Google Forms lets you choose 1 MB, 10 MB, 100 MB, 1 GB or 10 GB per file.