CAC and Dancing Grounds Announce Call for Submissions for 2022 Teen Exhibition

Calling Teen Artists!

The Contemporary Arts Center, New Orleans and Dance for Social Change (DSC) Teen Company invite young artists from across the New Orleans area to submit artwork for a Teen Open Call Exhibition, featured as a part of Dancing Ground's 2022 Dance for Social Change Festival and on view at the CAC from April 20 - June 19, 2022.

The CAC is thrilled to partner with Dancing Grounds to host the annual Dance for Social Change Festival, featuring curated performance and installation by the DSC Teen Company. Bringing together the CAC Annual Teen Open Call with Dance for Social Change expands the scope of both projects and increases our capacity to provide a platform for youth artists in New Orleans. Last year, the DSC Teen Company created a film entitled Ya Heard Meh? Youth Stories in a Global Pandemic, (an official selection of the 2021 New Orleans Film Festival and winner of Special Jury mention in the documentary short category). In this work, these brilliant artists explore their oscillating emotions while navigating through the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic.

In continuation of this theme, as well as the themes of the CAC's 2021 Teen Open Call: Isolation/Connection, we invite youth artists ages 14-23 from across the city to share original artwork addressing the range of emotions and experiences youth have had during the pandemic, alongside work that envisions a path for healing and recovery moving forward.

Submissions will be accepted teen artists living in the Greater New Orleans region, including Washington, Jefferson, Tangipahoa, St. Tammany. St. John the Baptist, St. James, St. Charles, St. Bernard, and Orleans parishes.

We seek artwork that addresses the following questions:

• What are the lingering feelings you have surrounding the pandemic ?
• What do you envision for yourself and your community in the future?
• How do we collectively manifest these dreams?

Work will be curated by the DSC Teen Company in collaboration with Dancing Grounds and CAC Staff. Youth artists will receive a $50-100 stipend. Availability of funds will depend on the number of submissions received.

Submission Deadline: Submissions will be accepted until February 18, 2022 at 11:59 pm. Accepted artists will be announced March 25, 2022.

Submission Details:

• Submissions will be accepted teen artists living in the Greater New Orleans region, including Washington, Jefferson, Tangipahoa, St. Tammany. St. John the Baptist, St. James, St. Charles, St. Bernard, and Orleans parishes.
• Works of all mediums are allowed. Performances must be on video.
• All work will be professionally installed in the first floor hallway gallery of the CAC
• All work must be 3 minutes or less and align with the Festival theme.
• You may submit up to three pieces.

How to Apply:

Complete this Teen Open Call Submission Form which must include your name, grade, school, email address, phone number, a 100 word bio and a 50-100 word description of what your submitted works are about as they relate to the exhibition.

• Each submitted piece must include:
• High resolution, well lit photographs of your artwork
• Dimensions of the works must be listed in inches (length x width x height)
• Include medium (for ex., ink on canvas, film, digital photograph, sculpture, writing, performance on video)

Compensation:

We are working to raise funds for a $50-100 stipend to compensate youth artists. Availability of funds will depend on the number of submissions we receive and meeting fundraising goals.

Questions?

Contact Chanice Holmes, DSC Program Manager, at chanice@dancingrounds.org or with any questions about the submission process and festival.

If you are not interested in submitting work but would like to attend the festival, we will be in touch with more news about free youth ticketing and events.