Call Description

“Hope is a matter of attention,” said Mateo Quispe, Poet Laureate of Auburn, WA. This statement, shared at a panel discussion in Southeast Seattle centering indigenous voices, is a reminder that hope is not simply an emotion or a passive thought; it is an action, an act of resistance lived every day that empowers what we pay attention to. Given today’s political climate and modernity drawing our attention in infinite directions, we challenge artists to pull our awareness towards a more hopeful, steadfast future. 

Unwavering Hope is Columbia City Gallery’s 18th Annual Juried Exhibit. The exhibit invites artists of all mediums to submit works that emanate resilience and hope amidst adversity. Columbia City Gallery is honored to have Avery Barnes of Avery Barnes Gallery & James Coley of the Seattle Office of Arts & Culture serve as Jurors for this exhibit.  

Light that persists. Growth in impossible places. A portrait’s quiet resolve. The endless horizon. A hand being held. Repetitive, intentional patterns that symbolize consistency – these are just some examples of images that evoke the theme. Despite the horrors and sorrows of life, both on a global and personal scale, what brings you hope? How do we stay grounded and persistent in our resistance against oppression, and what are small ways we can do this in our daily lives? What helps you sustain hope for a better tomorrow? 

While exploring these ideas and sitting with these questions, all artists working in 2D and/or 3D media are encouraged to submit artwork completed within the past three years that reflects the theme of Unwavering Hope. We ask artists to share works depicting ideas or subjects that fill them with promise, uplifting defiant yet grounded perspectives that keep the embers of hope alive. 

Awards: $500 First place submission; $300 Second place submission; and $200 Third place submission.  

For a $30 entry fee, you may submit up to 3 pieces of artwork for consideration. Please submit between 1-5 photos per piece of artwork. 1 video per piece of artwork is also allowed.  

Discounted entry fees are available to BIPOC, LGBTQ+, disabled, and/or immigrant artists, or other marginalized groups who would benefit from reduced cost-access. For the code, please email manager@columbiacitygallery.com with subject: Juried Exhibit Community Access and a quick write-up on your background for eligibility to the discount code.  

About our Jurors: 

Avery Barnes is an entrepreneur, gallerist, and community advocate. Awarded in 2023 for Forbes 30 Under 30 Seattle Class, Barnes owned and operated TASWIRA, Seattle’s only African art gallery and event space in the heart of Pioneer Square, which has now rebranded into Avery Barnes Gallery. This name change marks a significant milestone in Barnes’ journey as a gallerist in the Pacific Northwest art market, transitioning from a rising entrepreneur to a primary stakeholder in contemporary art and cultural preservation. She also sits on the Seattle Arts Commission.  

James Coley is the King Street Station Program Lead for the Seattle Office of Arts & Culture. As part of the Creative Placemaking Division, his work focuses on uplifting the work of artists from historically underrepresented communities, particularly artists of color, and on creating civic space for community. He is a writer, composer, and arts educator with a background in film, digital media, and music composition. He holds an M.Ed in Arts Education from the Harvard Graduate School of Education, where his work centered on the use of art to combat and overcome systems of oppression. His most recent work includes the creation of the We Still Dream a Future narrative theme at the core of the Creative Placemaking Division’s call for exhibitions and activations, which calls on artists to help us see a way forward in the face of the challenges before us.  

Important Dates:  

• Entry deadline is June 7, 2026, 11:00pm PT. 
• Notifications emailed by June 20, 2026. 
• The exhibit will run from August 26 – October 4, 2026. 
• Accepted artwork must be delivered by Monday, August 24, 2026, 11am PT. 
• Artists’ Reception and Awards Ceremony will be held on Thursday, August 27, 2026, from 5-7pm PT. 
• All unsold artwork must be picked up between October 4 after closing - October 6, 2026. 

Additional Terms:  

• All artwork in the exhibit must be for sale; the Gallery will take 50% commission on works sold. 
• The artist agrees that images of artwork may be used in publicity materials. 
• If you cannot drop off your artwork in person, shipping costs are your responsibility. A pre-printed shipping label for return shipment must be included with your work. 
• The Gallery reserves the right to reject work that is not represented accurately in the image or that arrives damaged, poorly constructed or poorly presented. 
• All artwork must arrive exhibition-ready. 2-D works must have secure hanging hardware already installed (d-rings, wire, cleats, etc). 3-D works must be able to stand on their own without wobbling. If there are other special installation needs, they must come with clear instructions. 
• Each accepted work must arrive with a label with your name, artwork title, dimensions, material, & price securely attached to the work. 

Questions? Email manager@columbiacitygallery.com or call 206-760-9843 during Gallery hours: Wednesday-Sunday, 11am-7pm PT 

Application Requirements

• 2D works must be properly prepared for exhibiting and hanging on wall with wire securely attached. 3D works must be able to stand on its own without wobbling. Please put dimensions of the work in your application as well. There are no explicit size restrictions, but note we will have about 64ft of linear wall space and limited pedestals, and want to feature the work of many artists. 
• Write-ups about the work are recommended to help communicate the theme of Unwavering Hope. 
• Each accepted work must arrive with a label that includes your name, artwork title, dimensions, material, & price securely attached to the work. 

Eligibility Criteria

We highly encourage artists local to the Greater Seattle Area and the Pacific Northwest to apply, but this application is open to artists worldwide. Please note, however, that shipping costs will be the artists’ responsibility.