Call for Artist Submissions

Call for Artists: Imagining Our Futures Artifact Collection

Proposals Deadline: Fri. May 24, 2024

Art Submission Deadline: Fri. Sept. 6, 2024

Exhibition Dates: late September 2024 (TBA)

Call: In April 2024, the AfroRithm Futures Group, an Afrofuturist consultancy and oral narratives collective, engaged members of the Lawrence and KU communities in gamified storytelling sessions to facilitate contemplating more equitable futures. We now invite local artists, whether formally trained or hobbyists, to create tangible “artifacts”(billboards, postcards, bumper stickers, games, sculptures, clothing, picture books, etc.) that communicate their own visions of the future. Artists might consider items from afuture era that reveal the cultures of that time’s particular needs, values, and desires; creators might also consider items from the present that will resonate in particularly interesting ways for future communities. Artifacts will be displayed at the Lawrence Arts Center in Fall 2024. 

Eligibility: This Call is open to proposals for works of art in any medium (paint, ceramics, metal, textiles, video, music, multimedia, etc.). Artists of all ages are invited to apply. Open to all U.S. residents. The jury will select a variety of proposals for up to $300 funding each, to create an exhibition that demonstrates the variety of ways people from diverse backgrounds and experiences contemplate the future. 

To Enter: Email your proposal to <imaginingourfutures@gmail.com>

--Only one submission per applicant. 

--Proposals must be submitted digitally/by email and may be accompanied by up to three (3) PDF images representing the artist’s previous work or vision for the project. 

--Proposals must include: 

 * Media;

 * anticipated Height, Width, Depth, and Weight of final piece;

 * Budget (See below for more details.)

 * Description of how proposed piece tackles theme of “Imagining Our Futures” 

Entry Fee: none

Evaluation process: Proposals will be judged on:

  1) Relevance: the proposed artwork’s connection to the theme of “Imagining Our Futures”

  2) Originality: consideration of the theme from unique perspectives

  3) Quality: artistic skill; innovative use of materials

  4) Feasibility: likelihood of project completion by deadline and suitability for display at the LAC.

Jurors: Margaret Weisbrod Morris is the Chief Executive Officer of the Lawrence Arts Center, an active studio artist, instructor, and former art therapist. Giselle Anatol is the Director of the Hall Center for the Humanities and a professor of English at the University of Kansas. Celka Straughn is Deputy Director for Public Practice and Andrew W. Mellon Director of Academic Programs at the Spencer Museum of Art.

Application Deadline: May 24, 2024. Proposals must be received by 11:59 pm on this date.

Receiving Deadline of art accepted for exhibition: Thurs. Sept. 5th through Mon. Sept. 9th between 9 am and 8 pm. All pieces must be received no later than these dates. 

Delivery of art accepted for exhibition: Completed projects must be delivered to the Lawrence Arts Center at 946 New Hampshire, Lawrence, KS. 

Delivery and associated costs are the responsibility of the artist. Work damaged during transport and delivery will not be presented. Detailed unpacking/handling instructions must accompany all fragile works. Please label all exterior and interior boxes and crates with the artist’s name and title of work. 

No personnel will be available to assist with delivery into the storage space.Storage space is secure but not archival quality.

Conditions: All entries must be original and completed within the last 2 years. Weight may not exceed 50 lbs. All accepted work must have proper identification. The Lawrence Arts Center reserves the right to reject any submission that does not meet these requirements, is deemed unstable, or if the final submission does not align with the exhibition theme. 

Work damaged in transport/delivery will regretfully not be presented. No accepted work may be picked up before the closing of the exhibition.

Work may be available for sale or must be identified as NFS. The retail price or insurance value provided on the entry form will be used; no changes may be made after the work is received.

Sales/Insurance: A 40% commission on all sales will be retained by the Lawrence ArtsCenter. Artists must indicate sale price and insurance value or, if NFS, just insurance value. Submission of work to this exhibit is done so at the artist’s risk and implies an agreement on the part of the artist to all the conditions of this Call for Proposals. LAC will not be responsible for loss or damage to work in transit; however, work will be insured while in the Lawrence Arts Center facility.

Publicity: The Lawrence Arts Center and the Hall Center for the Humanities reserve the right to photograph entries for the purposes of documentation, education and publicity. Accepted artists are encouraged to send to the Center a resume and artist statement for publicity purposes.

Timeline:

Proposal due                                   Friday, May 24

Artist notification                            Friday, June 7  

Receiving                                        Monday, September 9

(940 New Hampshire, Lawrence, KS)

Exhibition Opening                          late September 2024 (TBA)

Closing/Deinstallation begins            early October 2024 (TBA)

For more information please contact the Lawrence Arts Center at 785-843-2787, or visit www.lawrenceartscenter.org.