What are the images and experiences that come to mind when you consider health and medicine? How can these experiences be presented in a visual format? What images can you explore when considering medicine and the arts?  

In what way is art the best medicine for you, and how is that related in your art? 

In connection with the Missouri Southern State University Artful Medicine: Bridging Medicine and the Humanities Symposium, we are looking for visual art that exemplifies the connections between medicine and the arts to display during our national symposium. This will be held at Missouri Southern State University in Joplin, Missouri at the Billingsly Student Union. 

Through oral and poster presentations, this symposium will present ideas on medical education, health equity, art and design innovation, the art of diagnosis, art therapy, and art and medicine from a historical perspective. We are seeking artistic expressions that complement or demonstrate these themes. Artists working within all visual media are welcome to apply, to include (but not limited to) printmaking, illustration, mixed media, sculpture, ceramics, painting, and photography. 

Each work of art will need to be submitted digitally through CAFE. The jury will then select works of art to be displayed at the conference space at MSSU during the three-day symposium. Awards will be given for artwork on the final day of the symposium at the levels of undergraduate, graduate and other participants. 

Application Requirements

2-D work must be display ready in a frame or gallery wrapped canvas. A tabletop easel or floor easel will need to accompany your work.  

3-D work and Mixed-media work must be display ready.  

Exhibits may include any non-living material that is not considered to be toxic, corrosive, biohazardous, or flammable. The following items are prohibited from display: 

• chemicals, excluding water 

• weapons 

• sharp items (for example - syringes, needles, pipettes, knives) 

• glass 

• alcohol, or drugs 

• batteries with open-top or wet cells 

• devices capable of producing high temperatures 

• human/animal non-preserved body parts or fluid (for example – blood or urine) 

• any apparatus with belts, pulleys, chains, or moving parts that are not appropriately shielded 

• handheld lasers 

• display items that are distracting (sounds, lights, odors, etc.) 

• items that display a name brand or logo 

• any item deemed unsafe by the Symposium Committee 

Any preserved or taxidermy specimens must be always kept in a secure or sealed containment with no open exposure to participants. 

The maximum size of the artwork should not exceed 30 inches in depth, 48 inches in width, 43 inches in height. 

Artwork should not exceed 50 pounds in weight. 

The Symposium will provide a table for your project display. 

We reserve the right to omit any works that do not meet gallery requirements once they arrive.  

Eligibility Criteria

ELIGIBILITY: All registered participants of the symposium are eligible to submit up to 3 works of art for this juried exhibition.  

Artwork is due digitally to CAFÉ by October 6, 2023. Participants will be notified of acceptance by October 13, 2023 through email.  

If your artwork is accepted, you will be responsible for transporting the work to the symposium for display on Thursday, October 19 with removal on Saturday, October 21,2023. 

Before applying, please make sure to register at Artful Medicine Symposium 2023 (touchnet.net)