The Alaska State Council on the Arts is requesting applications of visual artwork to purchase for the Alaska Contemporary Art Bank. Alaskan artists are invited to submit up to 6 recent works in any media. Purchased works become part of a lending collection displayed throughout state public areas. All entries must be done through www.callforentry.org. Only works priced at or under $4,000 will be considered. 

Submission deadline is 9:59 PM AKT, March 31, 2023.

The Alaska Contemporary Art Bank was founded in 1975 by ASCA and was created with two primary goals: to expose more Alaskans to high quality work by contemporary Alaskan artists through the loaning of original art to public offices throughout Alaska, and to provide support to artists in Alaska through purchase of their work. The collection has grown to more than 700 artworks in a wide variety of media, styles and subject matter. Although the art is the same as that collected by museums, the purpose of the Art Bank is to provide a circulating collection of Alaskan artworks to exhibit in public areas other than museums.

Works submitted to the 2023 Alaska Contemporary Art Bank Call for Art will be selected for purchase by ASCA’s Visual Arts Advisory Committee (VAAC). VAAC is a statewide group of artists and arts administrators who meet periodically to advise ASCA in policy and art acquisition. Selected artworks are then recommended to and approved for purchase by ASCA’s board of trustees. Artwork is purchased directly from the artist, not an intermediary entity such as a gallery or agent. Under State of Alaska regulations, VAAC and Arts Council members are not eligible to apply for Art Bank acquisitions.

Alaska Contemporary Art Bank artworks are loaned out for display in public areas owned and operated by the state of Alaska, University of Alaska departments, the State Legislature and in offices of Alaskan members of U. S. Congress. Artwork must be durable and appropriate for public areas. ASCA provides labels that identify the artist and artwork title to accompany the pieces.

To view examples of previous Art Bank purchases, visit arts.alaska.gov/artbank.

Application Requirements

QUALIFICATIONS: Please read carefully

• Applicants must be an Alaskan resident, or an Alaskan resident at the time the work was created.
• Work must have been created in the last five years.
• All applications must be submitted through CaFE; no paper applications will be accepted.
• Artwork must be original and not a reproduction or a copyright violation.
• To be considered, works must be priced no higher than $4,000. ASCA does not pay for the framing or shipping of work, applicants are encouraged to include these costs in their pricing.

Eligibility Criteria

ARTWORK REVIEW CONSIDERATIONS:

• All media will be considered, but priority may be given to types of works most in demand by the loan program.
• Due to the demand of shipping and display in public areas, work must be durable. All 2-D work (including canvases) must be framed with museum quality materials. 3-D works must be self-supporting or provided with a hanging device.
• Imagery must be suitable for display in public buildings.

CULTURAL APPROPRIATION 
Any form of cultural appropriation will not be accepted. Submissions that use or reference traditional Indigenous designs must be submitted by Indigenous artists or artists who have received tribal approval. If applicants are unsure whether their submission is a form of cultural appropriation, we encourage them to seek information from the resources below:

• Anchorage Museum: Considering Cultural Appropriation
• Coffee & Quaq: Art and Cultural Appropriation
• Still unsure? Contact an ASCA staff member at asca.info@alaska.gov.

SUBMISSION

• Artists can submit up to 6 images of artwork that are available for purchase. If alternate images of the same piece are included in the 6 total; please label as such (i.e. detail, alternate view, etc.)
• The submission deadline is 9:59 PM AKT, March 31, 2023.
• The artist is responsible for packing and securing delivery of the selected artwork to the ASCA office. Artists will be notified of acceptance approximately five - eight weeks after the call closes.