*intense metal music soundtrack*

In this episode, the Trolley Barn Gallery is calling artists from all over the globe to celebrate anime, manga, and comic books through a fun, vibrant exhibition of art inspired by Japanese anime and manga.  

We want artists to embrace that “main character energy” and show us what your anime universe would look like. We are accepting art in every medium including: short animated films, comic strips, comic books, sketchbooks, pages torn out of sketchbooks, original concept art, tattoo designs, digital art, illustrations, nondescript amorphous blobs that remind you of your favorite anime hero … and anything else that is 2D or 3D. But!! We are not taking any NSFW content. No gore, no sexual content - just good, clean cartoon fun.

Art of all ages welcome! This exhibition will come with a series of ‘side quests' events: a cosplay contest, an anime movie night, and a “How to Draw Comics” workshop. 

Who will exhibit in the show? Will the youth curators overcome societal norms and change the gallery world forever? And what’s that thing?! For answers to these thrilling questions and more, tune in this Spring for the newest Trolley Barn Gallery International Juried Exhibition!!

*emotional closing music over falling cherry blossom petals*  

The Episode Where a Gallery Exhibits Anime Art is the most recent exhibition from the Trolley Barn Curatorial Team. This international juried exhibition will be held February 23 through March 22, 2024 at The Art Effect's Trolley Barn Gallery, 489 Main St, Poughkeepsie, New York, with an Opening Reception Friday, February 23, 6-8 pm. For our juried exhibitions, the Trolley Barn Gallery brings together an international roster of vital voices in art and culture, presenting thought-provoking artwork and ideas that reinvent the industrial space that is the hub for the area’s thriving arts scene.

Sale of Works:
Exhibiting artists may specify a retail price for work that is available for purchase or “NFS” (Not for Sale). The Art Effect takes a commission fee of 20% for members of The Art Effect and current students and 30%  for non-members. 

IMPORTANT DATES:

Call Dates: October 30 - Jan 20, 2023
Notification of accepted artwork: Jan 27, 2024
Delivery and arrival of accepted artwork: Jan 29 - February 17, 2024

Exhibition: February 23 - March 22, 2024
Opening Reception: February 23, 6-8pm

Return Shipping and pickup of accepted artwork: March 26 - April 19, 2024

About The Art Effect:

The Art Effect empowers young people to develop their creative voice to shape their futures and bring about positive social change. The Art Effect (formerly Mill Street Loft + Spark Media Project) helps youth explore, experience, and excel in the arts, introducing them to visual arts and media, giving them the opportunity to develop real skills in these fields, and guiding them towards achieving their academic and career goals. We believe that the arts have the power to create a more vibrant, caring, and sustainable world led by a generation of youth who value creative thinking, diverse voices, and stronger connections between all people. The Art Effect directly serves over 2,000 young people throughout the Hudson Valley each year. The mission of The Art Effect at the Trolley Barn is to train youth as leaders who catalyze the community through the arts and re-energize downtown Poughkeepsie. Exhibitions at the Trolley Barn are free and open to the public — so there are no financial barriers to access.

About the Trolley Barn Gallery:

The mission of The Art Effect at the Trolley Barn is to train youth as leaders who catalyze the community through the arts and re-energize downtown Poughkeepsie. The iconic Poughkeepsie Trolley Barn will be reactivated with youth in the driver's seat of this incredible space, empowering them to engage community members and visitors in transformative arts experiences that they curate.

Thank you to The Art Effect’s gallery sponsor, FastSigns of Wappingers Falls.

Application Requirements

The Trolley Barn Gallery is accepting art from artists of all ages and professional levels. The art must be EXHIBITION READY upon arrival with either D-Rings, hanging wire, functional mounting or display mechanisms, and/or include legible and detailed installation instructions. Art that is not hangable and/or exhibition ready will not be displayed in the exhibition. The art must be family-friendly and appropriate for viewing at all ages. Artists will be notified within approximately 2-3 weeks after the call deadline in an email about the selection status of their entries. Artwork selected for the exhibition will be shown in the Trolley Barn Gallery as well as in a virtual online exhibition that mirrors the physical showcase. 

Eligibility Criteria

Artwork specifications:

We recommend a maximum of 7 feet in any direction; there is no minimum. 2D artwork should not weigh in excess of 65 pounds. Artwork must be exhibition ready with appropriate frames and hardware as applicable (we prefer wire hanging systems but any hanging mechanism is accepted). Please contact us at trolleybarn@feelthearteffect.org for consideration if your work exceeds these specifications or if your work needs special instructions – we may be able to accommodate your work. The Trolley Barn Gallery is suitable for a range of artwork sizes and media, and we are pleased to work with invited artists to ensure effective installation and presentation of their artwork. Site plan available on request. If you have less than three images or media, please create a blank image that reads "This page intentionally left blank" in order to meet the minimum of three uploads. 

Artists are responsible for transportation/delivery to and from the Trolley Barn Gallery. Artists must provide pre-paid, return shipping labels.