AN INTERNATIONAL JURIED EXHIBITION BY ARTISTS WITH DISAILITIES

CALL FOR ENTRIES

DEADLINE: April 30, 2009 midnight (MST)

www.vsarts.org/revealingculture

THEME:

VSA arts is seeking visual artists who are interested in participating in the VSA arts International Festival to be held in 2010. Revealing Culture will be the most comprehensive survey of international artists with disabilities brought to the United States.

Applicants from a wide range of artistic practices are encouraged to apply. Disability is a requirement for eligibility, but will not be disclosed during the jury process. Artists will be selected on the aesthetic merits of their work. Artists are asked to consider the theme "Revealing Culture" as it relates to their submission, but a relationship to the theme does not have to be explicit or obvious in the work itself.

VSA arts will use the exhibition to consider the influence of disability: What connections are established between the artist and the local disability community? How has the experience of disability shaped the artistic process or resulting work - if at all? These influences in conjunction with artists' responses will help to further refine the theme of the exhibition. Exploring how artists negotiate the sometimes competing claims of responsibility to art and to self-identification, the international exhibition will also examine the unique attributes of disability communities in the artists' respective countries.

The exhibition will include approximately 50 artists from around the world and will be showcased at the International Gallery of the Smithsonian Institution.

ELIGIBILITY:

Open to artists (ages 18 and over) who have physical, cognitive, or mental disability. Work entered must be completed after the onset of disability.

A disability is defined as an impairment that substantially limits a major life activity. For more information about disabilities that apply, please review the VSA arts Disability Awareness Guide, located under Resources at www.vsarts.org

SUBMISSIONS:

Submissions must be original work that have been completed in the last five (5) years and after the onset of disability.

Work must have a visual component. Eligible media include, but are not limited to:

• two- and three-dimensional art (painting, sculpture, photography, printmaking)
  
• craft (jewelry, textile, glass)
  
• digital art
  
• installation
  
• time-based media (video, film)

Fragile or precious materials that cannot withstand handling, storage, and transportation will not be accepted. VSA arts serves K–12 students as well as adults with disabilities. VSA arts reserves the right not to adjudicate any individual work(s) deemed inappropriate for our mission and/or our audience. Artists should not submit artwork that contains religious or political themes, inappropriate language, and/or excessive nudity.

For further application details and guidelines click the link below:

http://www.vsarts.org/PreBuilt/showcase/gallery/exhibits/Calls/culture/

ENTRY INSTRUCTIONS:

http://www.vsarts.org/PreBuilt/showcase/gallery/exhibits/Calls/culture/Entry.html

DOWNLOADS:

PDF FORMAT FOR REVEALING CULTURE CALL FOR ENTRIES:

Revealing Culture PDF 736KB

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