Arts council issues call for works on paper to bolster public collection

Graphic from Arts & Humanities Council of Montgomery County.

The Arts and Humanities Council of Montgomery County and the Montgomery County Public Art Trust have issued a call for art to reactivate The Contemporary Works on Paper Collection with new acquisitions from artists living in the county and the Washington metropolitan area.

The county owns the artwork in this collection under the Public Art Trust program and loans works to county agencies for exhibition in public buildings.

The call is “specifically for the purchase of original, unframed two-dimensional works of art that are contemporary and modern in style.”

The works may include, but are not limited to, paintings in various media, drawings in various media, photographs, mixed media, and limited edition prints.

“These works should help create inspiring spaces that foster innovation, creative excellence and personal reflection,” according to the announcement. “The Public Art Trust is especially interested in artworks that reflect the unique and diverse character of Montgomery County.”

There is no fee to submit works and artists responding to this call will not be reimbursed for any expenses incurred. Original works on paper at various price points not to exceed $1,500 each are eligible. An artist may make no more than five submissions to this call; each submission will be considered for selection.

The submissions will be judged by professionals with backgrounds in the visual arts who will consider the quality of the work, as well as how the artwork “increases the inclusive nature of the collection in terms of artist background, materials, media and subject matter.”

Application materials must contain:

  • Artist information (full name, current contact information)
  • Artist statement and biography (one page maximum
  • Artist resumé (one page maximum)
  • Images: High quality JPEG image files are preferred; professionally taken photographs of the artwork may be submitted.
  • Exhibition list: A numbered list of submitted artworks that includes the following information:
    • artist name
    • title of artwork, year, media, dimensions (unframed), price and edition number (if applicable)
    • price shall reflect a 20 percent discount.

The deadline for applying is 11:59 p.m. Friday, April 20. Incomplete or late applications will not be accepted or evaluated.

For additional information, or for interested artists needing additional assistance, please contact AHCMC Public Art Manager Amina Cooper at [email protected] or 301.565.3807.

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