Not a Monolith
APPLICATION OPEN: Tuesday, February 9, 2021, 12:01 AM EST
APPLICATION DEADLINE: Sunday, February 28, 2021, 11:59 PM EST
APPLICANT NOTIFICATION: Friday, March 26, 2021 (*subject to change)
Introduction
We’re thrilled to announce Not a Monolith, a forthcoming public art and professional development initiative presented in partnership with Facebook Open Arts (@facebookopenarts) and We The Culture (@wetheculture).
Not a Monolith aims to amplify a diversity of Black voices and perspectives and show that Black identities are more complex, nuanced, and abundant than their traditional representations.
Five NYC-based, emerging Black artists will be selected through a public open call process and provided with outdoor canvases in prominent public spaces throughout New York City, along with 1:1 guidance from art world professionals and support from local community organizations.
Selected artists will receive a $12,000 artist fee and $2,000 credit in Winsor & Newton supplies (@winsorandnewton).
Artist Criteria
♦ Must be an emerging Black visual artist or artist teams who have not yet had a solo show with a major institution or gallery, and who have not had consistent gallery representation
♦Must live or work in one of the five boroughs
♦Must be able to commit to a working period through May 2021, including short term (2-4 weeks) availability for installation in the Summer or early Fall.
♦Priority will be given to those not currently enrolled in an MFA program, but MFA students are still encouraged to apply.
Artist Selection Process
Submissions will be reviewed by the ArtBridge and Facebook Open Arts curatorial teams and final selection will be made by a five-person advisory committee consisting of Black professionals with expertise in various aspects of the art world ecosystem. Each advisor will also conduct 1:1 meetings with the artists during the course of the initiative and will participate in a review of all final artworks.
Applicants will be screened for the following criteria:
♦ Artist’s own original creative work
♦ Artist statement and short description of proposed artwork ideas
Proposed artwork can feature a broad range of styles (figurative, representational, abstract, etc)
Artist Benefits
♦ Artist fee: $12,000
♦ $2,000 credit in Winsor & Newton supplies
♦Printing, installation, and production costs covered
♦1:1 consultations with members of advisory committee
♦Curatorial and production support from ArtBridge and Facebook Open Arts teams
♦Free access to studio space
♦Professional documentation of process and installation, including multimedia assets
About ArtBridge
ArtBridge empowers emerging artists to transform public spaces. New York City currently has 310 miles of street-level construction scaffolding. Since 2008, ArtBridge has transformed these otherwise underutilized spaces into a canvas for local emerging artists. ArtBridge is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in Chelsea. Learn more at art-bridge.org and find us on Instagram at @artbridge.
About Facebook Open Arts
Facebook Open Arts builds community through creativity. As a company dedicated to bringing people closer together, Facebook recognizes that creativity is essential to our collective wellbeing. Within our walls and around the globe, Facebook Open Arts cultivates creative engagements that offer new ways of thinking about ourselves, our communities, and the world at large. Learn more at fb.com/facebookopenarts and find us on Instagram at @FacebookOpenArts.