STAY IN THE LOOP
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OPEN CALL FOR
WE WERE ALWAYS HERE
The past, present, and future of queerness. Featuring LGBTQIA+ artists from the Tennessee River Valley.
The Chattanooga Queer Empowerment Collective is proud to present We Were Always
Here in partnership with ClearStory Arts and in celebration of Pride month. We Were
Always Here honors the joy, expansiveness, and belonging that being part of the LGBTQIA+
community brings.
These works will explore queerness in nature and highlight the struggles and achievements
made throughout our history. These works will celebrate the simplicity and complexity of
the human experience and journey in a LGBTQIA+ body and delight in a vision of our
collective queer future.
We Were Always Here acknowledges the deep emotion that comes with being LGBTQIA+
and welcomes all works that reflect the breadth of that emotion. We invite artists to submit
work that proudly proclaims their presence in a time that is seeking to erase LGBTQIA+
identities.
We Were Always Here seeks to showcase work that, like the LGBTQIA+ experience, pushes
boundaries, breaks rules, and is rich in texture and variety. Artists are encouraged to
submit works that reflect queer history, present experiences of being LGBTQIA+, and
imaginings of a queer future.
If this description aligns with your work, we would be honored to showcase your artworks
in our Gallery during our Pride month exhibition between June 6 and June 28, 2025. The
submission deadline is May 10, 2025 at midnight. Read more and apply below!
Opening Reception will be June 6, 2025 from 6-8 PM ET. We would love all accepted artists
to attend.
Closing Reception is June 28, 2025 from 2-5 PM ET.
THE BIG PICTURE
APPLICATION FEE / COMMISSION: $40 due below, 30% retained from sales
ACCEPTED ARTWORK DROPOFF: 5-6pm, Sunday, May 25
OPENING RECEPTION / FIRST FRIDAY: 6-8pm, Friday, June 6
CLOSING RECEPTION: 2-5pm, Saturday, June 28
ARTWORK PICKUP: 5-6pm, Sunday, June 29
Private and additional events will be held throughout the month, and guests are welcome to reach out in advance to come see the show on display.
IMAGE REQUIREMENTS
You can apply with up to three images of your work. Please be sure you include at least one image with the entire piece displayed - the additional two can be used as detail shots, or as alternate viewpoints.
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Lighting is good. Outdoors when it's overcast, and indoors in the gallery are great options.
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Quality is good. At least 1080px on its longest side.
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Background is either entirely neutral, or completely cropped out. For 3D work, make sure it's against a neutral color background like the gallery walls. If your piece was photographed outside, make sure the background is heavily blurred at the very least.
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The entire piece is included, and head-on. Don't take images skewed from the side, rotated, etc. Make sure all lines match up. Make sure it includes the entire piece.
Here are some great tips for documenting your work appropriately. AVA also has an amazing documentation studio available for use by artists. Let us know if you have any questions!
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Q: How many pieces can I submit?
A: You may submit up to 6 pieces to be displayed in the show.
Q: How do I know if my work matches the theme?
A: This exhibition is looking for mixed media, paintings, photography, sculptures, and performance pieces by queer people about queer people. If you're not sure if you fall into these categories, do not hesitate to reach out to hello@clearstoryarts.com
Q: How does the selection process work?
A: We believe that every artist and artwork should be able to be displayed in our gallery, so we will do our best to allow all submitted artworks into the show. However, there is limited space in the gallery, so we will strongly prioritize work that corresponds most closely to the theme, is submitted correctly (with a high quality image), and is properly prepared and ready to be displayed.
Q: How do I document my work? What is a properly submitted image?
A: Lighting is good. Outdoors when it's overcast, and indoors in the gallery are great options. Quality is good. At least 1080px on its longest side. The entire piece is included, and head-on. Don't take images from the side, rotated, etc. Make sure all lines match up. Make sure it includes the entire piece. Background is completely cropped out. For 3D work, make sure it's against a neutral background like the gallery walls. Here are some great tips for documenting your work appropriately.
AVA also has an amazing documentation studio available for use by artists. Let us know if you have any questions!
Q: How do I prepare my 2D work for hanging?
A: All 2D work (or work intended for display on the walls) needs to come prepared with a wire installed on the back for hanging. This includes quilts, wall displays, works on paper, etc. Reach out to us in advance if your work requires a specialized way of hanging - we're open to discussion as long as it's before the submission deadline.
Q: How do sales work?
A: All payments from buyers go through our point of sale. We collect and remit sales tax for you, and we’ll write you a check for your portion of sales following the show. If we owe you more than $600 following the show, we require a Form W-9 prior to payout. ClearStory Arts will receive 30% commission on all sales in the gallery.
Q: How will buyers get the work they purchased?
A: All work will stay on display here in the Gallery until the show is over. Following the show, buyers are encouraged to pick up their purchased work, and if they can’t make it that day, we will arrange a better time with them! You don't need to worry about coordinating with buyers - ClearStory Arts staff handles it.
Q: When do I bring my work to the Gallery?
A: Bring in your work in on an Artwork Dropoff date that works best for you. If these times does not work for you, reach out prior to applying to coordinate a time with our staff.
Q: How do I get my work following the show?
A: You can pick up your pieces between 5-6pm immediately following the Closing Reception (date above). Please note: we can’t store work here, so make sure you add this date to your calendar!
Q: How do I price my work?
A: Pricing work is always the most difficult part. If this is your first time setting retail prices for your pieces, it is recommended that you visit either our gallery or other nearby galleries first to compare prices and see what is selling best. If the goal is to sell as much work as possible, most pieces that sell here are in the $300 range.
Q: How do I contact you if I have questions?
A: You can always reach out to us! Call or text 423-228-0215, email hello@clearstoryarts.com, or shoot us an Instagram message. We’re here to help!
REACH OUT
What did we miss? Let us know, or ask any questions you may have, by emailing hello@clearstoryarts.com.