Wednesday, September 20, 2017

Call to Artists and Galleries

Application Deadline:  Sunday, October 1, 2017, before midnight.


The City of Alexandria is purchasing original art to add to the City’s art collection and to display in City-owned buildings.  Artists, art galleries, and art consultants working or residing in Alexandria and the Washington, DC area are encouraged to respond to this call.Project Overview:  The Alexandria Art Purchase Awards call will be held biannually for the next four years, totaling eight calls with each call purchasing up to $4000 in artwork.  For this first call, the concept of “Neighborhoods and Gathering Places” must be conveyed in the artwork submitted.  Each call will be in three phases.
  • Phase one:  Artists submit applications online. The Art Purchase Awards project task force reviews artist applications and selects artwork to be considered for purchase awards.
  • Phase two:  Artwork considered for purchase is displayed at City Hall for three months.  Community engagement will be encouraged throughout the process.
  • Phase three:  The task force makes their purchase recommendations to the Alexandria Commission for the Arts.  After approval by the Alexandria Commission for the Arts, the purchase award(s) will be announced at a reception at City Hall.  Each artist chosen for the exhibition at City Hall but not given a purchase award will receive an honorarium of $100.
Application Deadline:  Sunday, October 1, 2017, before midnight.
Eligibility:  Applicants must be 18 years or older and reside or work in Virginia, Maryland, or Washington, DC.  Artists, galleries, art consultants are eligible to submit original art.
Submissions:  All artwork submitted must be original, available for purchase, and made within the last 5 years.  Artwork must be two-dimensions and ready to hang on a wall.  Artists are allowed to submit up to five (5) works of art for consideration.  Art galleries and art consultants are allowed to submit up to (5) works of art from any combination of two (2) or more represented artists.  The pricing of artwork must include framed and unframed options.  The City reserves the right to negotiate the final price.
Artist Statement:  In one or two paragraphs, give a first person description of the artist’s approach to their art.
Letter of Interest:  In one or two paragraphs, describe how the artwork submitted expresses the concept of neighborhoods and gathering places. 
Resume:  Include a two-page artist resume.
Selection Process:  Appointed by the Alexandria Commission for the Arts (ACA), a five-member project task force made up of two ACA representatives, two community stakeholders, and one project stakeholder will review applications submitted on CaFE and choose the artwork being considered for purchase to be displayed for three months at City Hall.  After three months of community engagement and in coordination with City staff, the project task force will make their purchase award(s) recommendation(s) to the ACA.  The ACA will then vote on the purchase award(s) at their monthly meeting.