Open Call for Creatives, Visual Storytellers, Performers.
Emerging artists and hobbyists are welcome!
co:census and DivComm have joined forces to host a spring art gathering for our communities. All interested artists, planners, designers, creatives, and performers are invited to submit completed works or ideas for new art for the “Unbound Blueprint: The Art of Liberation” exhibit and community gathering. Our aim is to interrogate equity and justice in urban planning from the point of view of data, art, urbanistics, anthropology, and design.
The theme for this event is [The Meaning of Freedom]. Artists will explore the idea of urban spaces being confined by rigid planning, symbolized by chains, grids, and constraints. They will also confront the phenomenon of reactance and the processes triggered when individuals face threats to their freedom. Through juxtaposing the concept of natural urban development with enforced order, artists seek to employ their art as a means to examine the necessity of strict planning regulations, with a primary emphasis on the theme of freedom. Examining the contrast between the idea of organic urban expansion and enforced order, artists will employ their artwork to challenge the need for rigid planning regulations.
Artwork Goals
A question to spur inspiration and identify alignment: When confronted by the grand challenge of dismantling systems, there will be exhaustion and the need for rest. What does it mean to forge boundless joy, pleasure, safety, and self-determination as Black, Brown, Asian, Trans, Queer, Religious bodies? Conventional urban design is marked by rigidity, confined by grids, dictated by constraints - what can unshackling ourselves and diving into flow, fusion, and chaos provide?
Who is eligible:
We hold an expansive and informal idea of who is an artist. Are you an urban planner who’s a crafter or maker in your spare time? A data scientist who gets a thrill from making accessible graphics or interactive media? An organizer or facilitator who uses improv and found materials to create shared community meaning? Whether you are an experienced artist, a hobbyist or something in between, we welcome your submissions.
Application Requirements + How to Apply
We encourage submissions that represent a diversity of experiences, viewpoints and mediums. This may take the form of photographs, design projects, infographics, interviews, performance art. What works for you, works for us. Respond to the Call for Artists.
Selection Criteria + Process
The organizing team will select about 10 artists to showcase their work during the exhibit. Selection will be made based on alignment with the event theme, and cohesion with other selected artists. A small stipend will be available for selected artists
Dates to Remember
April 20th: Selected artists notified
April 30th: Midpoint check in
May 21st:Exhibit event
Get in Touch
If you have questions or would like to talk through a particular submission, please feel free to contact us at divcommnyc@gmail.com
This event would not be possible without the generous support by co:census. Learn more about co:census..