Call Description

In celebration of the 250th anniversary of the United States, the Alexandria Museum of Art (AMoA) will commission twelve contemporary artists to create new works, taking inspiration from American poetry. 

The museum has selected nine poems by great American poets that capture the history, dreams, beauty, creativity, and spirit of America and its people. Each of these works show that art in any form is a vehicle for carrying the messages our rich history into the future.

The works chosen as inspiration are:

• “I Dwell in Possibility” by Emily Dickinson
• “Experience” by Ralph Waldo Emerson
• “The Aim Was Song” by Robert Frost
• “Let America Be America Again” by Langston Hughes
• “The Tide Rises, the Tide Falls” by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
• “A Dream Within a Dream” by Edgar Allan Poe
• “To S.M. A Young African Painter, On Seeing His Works” by Phillis Wheatley
• “I Hear America Singing” by Walt Whitman.

Proposals should include: 

• Poem selected
• Medium/mediums
• Rough sketch/visuals
• Size and price point
• Artist statement relating to this specific piece/project
• Short bio/CV
• Examples of your previous work

Jurying Process: 

Proposals will be presented to the museum's curatorial team and Executive Director as well as the museum's Collections Committee. They will review all proposals and select finalists based on a pre-set rubric. The committee will be selecting a variety of sizes and price points, mediums, and will try to represent all poems included above. There is no fee to submit, so artists may submit for more than one poem. 

Application Requirements

Artists may submit proposals for works valued from $500 – $1500 that take inspiration from one of the above mentioned poems – please include final asking price and name of chosen poem in your proposal. Proposals will be reviewed by AMoA’s curatorial team and collections committee. All works must be delivered to AMoA by June 10, 2026. Works will be installed in June 2026 in preparation for the July 4th holiday and will remain on view through October 10, 2026. Pieces will then be accessioned into the museum’s permanent collection.

IMPORTANT DATES: 

November 12, 2025 - Application open

February 2, 2026 - Deadline for proposals

February 27, 2026 - Final decisions sent out via email - initial funds disbursed 

June 10, 2026 - Completed artworks due to be delivered at the Alexandria Museum of Art - final payments sent out 

June 29 - October 10, 2026 - Exhibition on view 

Rules

• DEADLINE FOR ENTRY February 2, 2026
• By submitting a proposal, the artist agrees, if chosen, that a work will be created that matches the proposal, and will be delivered to the Museum by June 10, 2026
• All artwork must be created in 2026
• All digital images submitted must be smaller than 5MB and saved as a JPG at the highest resolution possible, be full screen and square. 3D entries can submit more than 1 image.
• No work should exceed five (5) feet (60”) in any direction, and/or 100 lbs. in weight. Entries exceeding these limitations will automatically be disqualified.
• All works must be framed and/or ready to exhibit, and adhered to a backing for exhibition, nothing will be painted or adhered directly to the museum walls. (No vinyl or paint will be applied directly to the museum walls)
• By entering the competition, the artist agrees to allow their work to be reproduced for the purpose of publicity.
• Entry must include digital images and a required maximum 100-word artist statement for label use and promotional materials.
• ALL COMMISSIONED WORKS MUST ARRIVE PRE-PAID BY June 10, 2026 .
• Artists who do not adhere to any of the above rules will be subject to disqualification at the discretion of museum staff.
• Artists will be notified by email if piece is selected for exhibition.
• Artists will need to verify their participation upon selection by signing an agreement stipulating the payment structure, the deadline to have a completed piece delivered and ready for display by June 10, 2026, and that failure to deliver the piece by the deadline will result in having to return the funds awarded upon notification.
• Funds will be distributed as follows:
  • 50% when proposal is chosen, 50% when finished artwork is received by the museum.

Exhibit Delivery and Packaging

• After notification of selection, entries should be delivered or shipped to:

Alexandria Museum of Art, 933 Second Street, Alexandria, LA  71301. 

• All artwork must arrive no later than June 10, 2026.
• Hand deliveries will be accepted Tues.-Fri., 10am-5pm and Saturdays 10am – 4pm.
• All artwork must have a completed identification card attached to the backside.
• Do not use Styrofoam peanuts or pieced boxes when shipping your work.
• Opening instructions should be printed on the outside.
• All necessary installation instructions must be included with the work.
• When open packages contain damaged works the artist will be consulted.

Eligibility Criteria

• All entries must be completed via CaFÉ
• All artists over the age of 18 – working in any medium – are eligible.