Collective Healing Through Art 08/2021 - Online and In Person
Collective Healing Through Art: 2021 Overdose Awareness Day Exhibit
Featuring work from community artists that have experienced the impact of the drug overdose crisis.
We appreciate the artists and all who made this exhibit possible!
News coverage:
Video of the event:
Selected artists will receive up to $2000 in commission for exhibiting their work!
The Downriver Council for the Arts (DCA), in partnership with the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) Opioids Task Force and Vital Strategies, a global public health organization, will commission up to thirty artists that have been impacted by the opioid epidemic to complete two pieces of work reflecting their stories.
In 2000, 183 Michiganders died of an overdose. By 2019, that number was more than nine times higher. Overdose Awareness Day is recognized globally on August 31st to raise awareness about the risks of overdose, honor the individuals whose lives have been lost, reduce stigma of drug-related harm, and acknowledge the collective grief felt by friends, families, and communities impacted by the epidemic.
This is a call for community artists that have experienced the impact of the opioid epidemic to submit works of art. The exhibition seeks to elevate the voices of artists who are people with lived experience directly impacted with substance use and/or recovery, and in particular artists of color. The exhibited pieces may be on any theme about personal or community stories and may, but do not necessarily need to be, on the theme of drug use and recovery. Disabled, Black, Indigenous, people of color, trans and gender non-conforming artists are highly encouraged to apply.
Please note that this is a family-friendly exhibition space and any art to be shown must take this into consideration. The exhibit will run online and in-person from August 31, 2021 through September 18, 2021 and will be open for public viewing. Artists will retain ownership of their pieces and have the option to sell their works during the exhibition.
This call for artists is open to artists of all experience levels, from amateur emerging artists to established artists.
**Updated Entry Deadline: Monday, August 23, 2021 by midnight
Download the complete guidelines by clicking on the image above. Entries are only accepted online through artcall.org
TO APPLY – Artists will be selected to participate through an online rolling juried process. Interested artists must submit the following items:
1. A brief artist statement explaining your art and how it relates to the theme of representing the impact of the drug overdose epidemic.
2. One (1) - Three (3) images either as a representation of the type of art you will be creating to exhibit OR completed artwork that demonstrates your ability to design, create and exhibit quality art. If the application is to receive a commission for new artwork, the artists should submit a description of the concept for the new piece.
3. Artist bio and any relevant links.
FINALIST AWARD – Thirty (30) artists from the applicant pool will be commissioned to produce up to 2 final artworks to be displayed in a group exhibit at the DCA. Each artist will receive $500 payment total for exhibition of previous work, and an additional $1,500 if the commission is for creation of new work. Artists will be given the option to sell their work.
SCHEDULE/TIMELINE {updated}
Deadline for artists to submit qualifications online....... Monday, August 23, 2021 by midnight
Online jurying of artists and entries.............................. Ongoing with submissions
Notification sent to accepted artists............................. Ongoing with submissions
Deadline for artists to accept participation................... Ongoing with submissions
Artists drop off completed artworks at the DCA............ August 25-27, 2021
Opening reception...................................................... Tuesday, August 31, 2021
Exhibit run.................................................................. August 31-September 18, 2021
Artists pick-up unsold artworks.................................... September 22-24, 2021
