Art Ability is dedicated to creating community awareness of cognitive and physical disabilities, encouraging people with disabilities to reach beyond their limitations and find fulfillment and inspiration through art. Art Ability provides positive role models for people with disabilities while increasing their access to the arts. The program successfully develops new markets for artists with disabilities where they can gain recognition for their technical skill and artistic vision.

We are currently planning a series of events to celebrate our artists, beginning in late October. The annual exhibit and sale will be on display at Bryn Mawr Rehab Hospital in Malvern, Pennsylvania, from October 28, 2023 to January 28, 2024 and will be open to the public based on current visitor policies.

Application Requirements

Each artist should submit work through the CaFETM website: callforentry.org. Interested artists are required to create a free CaFE profile to apply. There is no entry fee for the Art Ability call and artist profiles can be created and saved for future use. Artists with saved profiles should check to confirm contact information is still accurate.

Applicants are invited to submit up to 6 (six) separate works of art for consideration, uploading 1 (one) JPEG (.jpg) image of each to the CaFE site. If necessary, a detail may be uploaded as one of the six. Images must be uploaded to the artist’s profile prior to completing a call for entry. Applications also require title of work, medium, size, year completed, and price. Be sure the size and selling price is a reflection of the artwork framed. Refer to specific finishing guidelines under the Eligibility section of this document. 

The exhibit is displayed in a rehab hospital. Please consider the subject matter prior to submitting artwork. Nudes and dark subject matter will not be accepted, regardless of artistic merit.  If you would like the curator to review your submissions prior to submitting your artwork, please email your images to artability@mlhs.org for feedback. 

Depending on a variety of factors, the online submission process may take up to two hours to prepare images and submit the application. Applicants are strongly urged to allow time for any unforeseen technical difficulties. Applications can be saved and updated at any time prior to the submission deadline of July 16, 2023.

Art centers and groups: A separate profile and valid email address is required for each submitting artist. Each artist’s submissions should reflect the person’s individual creativity. Multiple renditions of the same subject matter, such as a class assignment, will not be accepted. In addition to the artist's contact information, please include the name and address of the art center or group on application.

We look forward to seeing your work!

Eligibility Criteria

GUIDELINES:

Open to artists with physical, cognitive, visual and hearing disabilities. To be eligible for submission, the work must have been created after the onset of a disability or injury. Each work must also have been created within the last five years, in order to be eligible. All works must be for sale. Art previously exhibited in Art Ability is not eligible for submission. Original work only; reproduction prints will not be accepted. 

Acceptable media: Painting (Acrylic, Oil, Gouache, Tempera, etc.); Watercolor & Wash (Ink Wash, Alcohol Ink, etc.); Drawing & Fine Printmaking (Pencil, Charcoal, Crayon, Pastel, Ink, Marker, Woodblock, Etching, Silkscreen, etc.); Photography (Analog or Digital); Mixed Media (2-Dimensional: Collage, Mosaic, Fiber Art, etc.); Sculpture (must weigh under 25 lbs.); Jewelry, Fine Crafts & Functional Art

Size: No dimension should be less than 13” or more than 48” including the frame. Each piece is not to exceed 25 lbs. in weight.

Finishing: Any works selected by judges must be sent ready for display. All flat works may require appropriate framing and hanging hardware. Presentation guidelines:

•  All works on paper, cardboard, foamcore, scratchboard, flimsy materials and/or delicate surfaces must be protected with Plexiglas and framed. Plexiglas and proper wiring is required for all framing. No glass will be accepted.

•  Frames must be used to protect soft and/or sharp edges.

All flat works that are metal, ceramic, or any delicate materials, as well as those that use Plexiglas, must be framed.

•  Wrap-around canvas must be on sturdy stretcher bars. Unfinished or sloppy edges will not be accepted.

•  All wall art must be properly wired for hanging. Saw teeth, French cleats, nail holes and nail rings will not be accepted.

Stipulations: Work that arrives damaged will be returned to artist. We are not financially responsible if it arrives damaged.