Northern Rio Grande National Heritage Area was Congressionally delegated in 2006 to serve Rio Arriba, Taos, and Santa Fe counties by preserving, promoting, and protecting the cultures and traditions that the area values. Cultures and Creators was established in 2023 to highlight the importance of arts in our three counties and to bring opportunity to communities in more rural areas.

Application Requirements
Artist Requirements for the Show:

We invite artists residing within the vibrant cultural landscape of Taos, Rio Arriba, or Santa Fe County to showcase their original artwork in our upcoming exhibition, Cultures and Creators: Our Ancestors. Our Future. This call is a celebration of the rich artistic heritage and contemporary creativity that thrives within our region.

Eligibility Criteria:

Artists must be residents of Taos, Rio Arriba, or Santa Fe County to participate.
Only original artwork created solely by the submitting artist will be considered for inclusion.
Submission Guidelines:

Each artist may submit up to three pieces of artwork for consideration.
Submissions must be made digitally through our designated submission platform.
Please ensure that each artwork is accompanied by a title, dimensions, medium, and a brief artist statement reflecting your creative process and inspiration (max. 150 words).
Artwork Specifications:

We welcome artwork in any medium, including painting, drawing, sculpture, photography, printmaking, digital art, and mixed media.
The submitted artwork should reflect the unique perspective, culture, and spirit of our region.
Jury Process:

A panel of esteemed jurors, with a deep appreciation for the local arts scene, will carefully review all submissions.
Selections will be based on originality, artistic merit, technical skill, and relevance to the cultural landscape of Taos, Rio Arriba, and Santa Fe County.
Notification of Acceptance:

Artists whose work is selected for the exhibition will be notified via email by the designated date.
Please be prepared to provide high-resolution images of your artwork for promotional purposes upon acceptance.
Delivery and Return of Artwork:

Accepted artworks must be securely packed and delivered ready for installation.
Artists are responsible for both the delivery and pickup of their artwork to and from the exhibition venue.
Sales and Commission:

Artworks will be available for sale during the exhibition, a commission percentage may be retained by the exhibition organizers to support future artistic endeavors in our community.
Agreement to Terms:

Submission to this call for entry constitutes acceptance of all the artist requirements and terms outlined above.
We eagerly anticipate the opportunity to showcase the diverse talent and creative vision of artists within Taos, Rio Arriba, and Santa Fe County. Your participation will contribute to the vibrant tapestry of our local arts community.

Work that carries overtly political themes is not appropriate for this campaign. We are looking for work that celebrates the culture, diversity, and vibrancy of our communities within Northern New Mexico.

PROJECT OVERVIEW:
The ARC (Aquatics and Recreation Center) is located in Curtistene S. McCowan Park which is situated south of E. Parkerville Road between Uhl Street and Academy Way. It is bounded on the west by athletic fields, on the north by commercial and residential properties, on the east by DeSoto ISD’s Katherine Johnson Technology Magnate Academy and the south by a residential subdivision.

The new aquatics and recreation center is planned to be two stories with a combined area of approximately 74,600 square feet. It includes inviting spaces for physical fitness, aquatics, mental health, and overall wellness to serve the community of DeSoto. Aquatic and recreation amenities include an indoor natatorium with two separate bodies of water including a 25 meter x 25 yard lap pool along with a separate leisure pool. The facility includes a variety of water features supporting a mix of aquatics programming, dry-side recreation and community spaces including a two-court gymnasium, fitness center (cardio/ weights), indoor turf, indoor running track, multi-purpose community rooms, locker rooms, and wellness space along with administrative offices.

PROJECT DESCRIPTION:
In December 2020 the DeSoto City Council adopted the Cultural Arts Master Plan that established a process for further development of the arts in DeSoto. Within this master plan the following goals were identified:

Public art should represent the “soul of the city” and create a new identity for the city.
Help establish and identify opportunities for using DeSoto’s parks and open spaces for displaying art.
Build on the natural beauty of the DeSoto landscape to make the city more walkable.
Respondents are encouraged to review the DeSoto Culture Arts Master Plan.

PROJECT THEME:

The proposed theme of the commissioned artwork is “So Much to Love” (About DeSoto)

PROJECT GOALS:

Piece should be of the highest technical quality and be fabricated from safe and durable materials.

BUDGET DESCRIPTION:
The project budget is $110,000 of all project costs, including artists’ fees and expenses, taxes, travel, shipping and crating, insurance, design, fabrication, installation/execution and transporting of any materials and supplies related to creating the artwork for the project site. Please carefully review the selection and timeline details below.

LOCATION:
The ARC at McCowan Park (Under Construction)
1129 South Uhl Road
DeSoto, TX 75115

Commissioned artwork will be installed on the northeast wall of the main entry lobby.

SELECTION PROCESS:

Selection committee, consisting of a three (3) to seven (7) person panel of representatives from the DeSoto Arts Commission, City Staff, Community and Architect, will review the submitted artists responses to the RFQ and will shortlist up to three (3) artist or artist teams to move forward with Phase 2 of the selection process (Concept Design Proposal).

Selection Criteria: RFQ will be evaluated in these areas:

Artistic merit and technical quality of the body of work
Strong professional qualifications and/or experience completing large scale sculpture/public works
Compatibility with the vision of City of DeSoto
Conveying an artistic interpretation of the theme
Demonstrated ability to work on time, on budget
Concept Design Proposal (CDP) criteria will be shared only with the shortlisted artist at the time of notification. Honoraria of $1,500 per artist will be allocated for the three (3) shortlisted artists.

TECHNICAL PARAMETERS FOR A SUCCESSFUL ARTWORK:

Size: 26’ High” x 18’ Wide
Artwork should have a cleat system or D rings for installation
Artists should have a proficiency in a variety of technical areas and be able to convey clearly how artwork will be integrated into interior architecture
Artist should be willing to work with City of DeSoto and make revisions as requested
Artwork that includes any breach of intellectual property, trademarks, brands, or any images of illegal activity.

TIMELINE:

Call for Artist Open: Tuesday, July 9, 2024
Call for Artist Closes: Wednesday, August 14, 2024, 10 PM CST
Notice of Shortlist: Wednesday, September 4, 2024
CDP Issued: Thursday, September 5, 2024
CDP Response Closes: Thursday, October 3, 2024
Artist Interviews: Monday, October 7 - October 11, 2024 (Virtual)
Mobilization Meeting: Week of October 21, 2024 (Virtual)
Art Installation: October 2025 (Tentative)
Application Requirements
Phase 1 – RFQ:

5-10 images of previous work. One image per page.
Annotated Image list: Including dimensions, title, location, budget, install date, medium and 1-2 sentences explaining the background of the piece. For team application, please indicate the lead artist for each piece.
Professional Resume – 2 pages maximum
Artist Statement (800-word max) for proposed City of DeSoto artwork
3 professional references with full title and contact information (Email Address and Telephone Number)
Selected artist(s) or artist team will be expected to work with City of DeSoto staff or their designee to develop and
implement the specifications and details of the commissioned art project.

Developing the final design proposal inclusive of descriptive narrative, project budget, and project timeline
Selecting appropriate materials for the artwork
Attending meetings with stakeholders as necessary (virtual or in person)
Obtaining all required permits
Maintaining appropriate general liability insurance naming the City of DeSoto as an additional insured throughout
the term of the contract.
Site access and Working on-site
Providing detailed instructions to care for and maintain the artwork
Providing detailed documentation on colors and other custom details

100 West - Corsicana Artist and Writer Residency advances the production and presentation of new work and ideas by an international community of artists and writers by providing an arena of generous support and historic space.

This residency takes place fifty miles south of Dallas, Texas in the historic downtown of Corsicana. Two oil booms in the 1890s and 1920s produced an exuberant setting which declined in care and use by the late-20th century, alongside the general compromise of small-town America. Since 2012 alongside downtown rejuvenation, founders of this project have established a collection of sites – 100 West, Storefront, Anteroom, Writers House – and the Corsicana Artist & Writer Residency supports international creative work inside this architecture and narrative bridging the cultural and geographic American South and West. The Residency shares this work in programs for education, exhibition and publication to develop transformative dialogue with audiences near and far.

100 WEST is a former Odd Fellows lodge virtually unaltered since its 1890s construction, preserved and minimally furnished for intensely focused studio and living space, with pieces designed and built by founding artists in the first-floor wood shop. Across the street is ANTEROOM for window-front exhibitions, and two-blocks south is the Residency’s STOREFRONT for books and art. The WRITERS HOUSE accommodates alumni ten-blocks west of downtown.

Funding is extended to all accepted applicants and satisfies all studio and housing accommodations, following the paid $200 Administration Fee. Residents do not receive funding in the form of direct payment. Instead, funding is absorbed by the residency, and granted to residents by providing generous accommodations for studio and domestic space and residency programming. The value of funding per resident per two-month term is estimated between $4,000 and $6,000, depending on writer or artist studio accommodations and programing.
Accepted applicants who commit to a residency term are responsible for a one-time, non-refundable $200 Administration Fee paid to the residency before November 1, 2022. Residents incur no additional costs to attend.

Travel, meal and research expenses are not covered.

The Artadia Awards provide financial support, exposure and recognition to artists. The awards are unrestricted, allowing artists to use the funds in any way they choose.

Each year, an open-call application is made available in each of the seven active partner cities. Supporting artists equitably is a critical part of the Artadia Award process: we consider the unique populations of each community and are proud to reflect our country’s diversity with an Awardee pool that is over 50 percent female and over 40 percent persons of color.

In addition to financial support, Awardees can participate in the Artadia Network to receive structured opportunities for valuable new connections and resource sharing as well as receive a dedicated webpage on Artadia’s online Artist Registry. Connections fostered by Artadia have facilitated major steps in Awardees’ careers, such as inclusion in prominent exhibitions (e.g. five Awardees were featured in the 2017 Whitney Biennial, and six in 2019).

The dual artistic mentoring program run by Tlaxcala 3 + Lab Program, facilitates a partnership to develop critical skills and sensitive tools, where the concept of archive is presented as an opportunity to experiment and reflect on the role of memory in artistic creation.

This dual program aims to unravel the hidden layers of meaning, secrecy, and control often found within institutions, discourses, and social and spatial practices addressed in the conventional notion of archive.

Hierarchies and contradictions presented in texts and discourses, which, through simulation and the modern concept of reality, allow us to question concepts such as authenticity and truth in an era of simultaneous images, signs, multiple temporalities, and spaces. The cost of the residency is $25,000 MXN or 1,700 USD.
Studio Facilities are provided in collaboration with peer self-run art spaces in the city. This is a modality that encourage engagement with the wide and diverse art communities in Mexico City.

Three times per year, downtown OKC IT firm amshot hosts an art opening featuring the art work of a local artist. The event benefits a local charitable organization and artists retain 90 percent of their sales.

As a local business, amshot typically focuses on IT services and software development, but our team is also passionate about supporting the local art community. With this in mind, we created exhibITion to promote local artists, give back to our community, and enjoy the company of fellow art-lovers.

Three times per year, we feature a local artist’s work on our office walls, host an art exhibition and sale, invite a local brewery, serve wine and hors d’oeuvres, and donate the proceeds of the event to a charitable organization.

The art show is hosted at amshot’s office in Downtown OKC. Admission to the gallery is free, but those 21+ can donate $5 to the featured charitable organization in exchange for a wristband that will allow them beer from the featured local brewery and wine. Light hors d’oeuvres are also served. All art displayed will be for sale and can be purchased with card or cash. The sold and unsold art will then hang in amshot’s office until the next exhibITion for all to enjoy.

Cultural sector workers based in Greater Austin facing verifiable and immediate housing, food or healthcare insecurity (including travel, lodging and procedure expenses related to reproductive care) may apply for up to $1000 in unrestricted funds. The funding pool is limited, so applicants are asked to carefully consider the amount they request. Applications are reviewed on an ongoing basis, and are subject to verification and available funds. A short phone interview may be required. Priority will be given to ACA members. Repayment is not required, but artists who receive funding may be asked to support the ACA Community in the future.

DEADLINE IS ONGOING