Call Description

Call for Teen Artists 2027

Submissions are now open for the Teen Category of the 2027 Black Creativity Juried Art Exhibition at Chicago’s Griffin Museum of Science and Industry. This annual show presents works of art from professional and emerging Black artists from across the United States, as well as works by Black teen artists from the Chicagoland area, all as part of the Museum’s 57th annual Black Creativity Program.

We welcome you to submit your work for the Teen Category!
(General Category will be posted in mid-September)

Eligibility
Black teen artists in the Chicagoland area (within 100 miles of the Museum). Currently (or to be) enrolled in secondary education, entering grades 9 through 12 in August for the 2026/27 school year.

Medium
Contemporary works created in any visual medium.

Jurors
To be announced in Fall 2026

Fee
No fee for Teen Category

Awards for Teen Category
Best in Show: $600
Second Place: $375
Third Place: $250

Application Requirements

Submission Specifications for Teen Category
1. Up to four (4) works, completed within the last school year (2025/26) up to the close of this call (Fall 2026).

2. Work must be submitted anonymously by the artist.
     a. Remove watermarks, video credits, etc. from images, remove your name from descriptions and statements.
     b. Collaborations may not include more than two artists.
     c. Artists must submit for themselves. Artist may receive assistance from teachers/caregivers for technical/additional support as needed.

3. Work must be the artist’s original creation (no AI generated work), unsold and not have been selected for any previous Black Creativity Juried Art Exhibitions.

4. Object specs:
     a. 2D works may not exceed 60” in any direction.
     b. 3D works may not exceed 30” in any direction. Installations will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. The Museum is not able to install works which hang from the ceiling.
     c. Work may not exceed 50 lbs.
     d. Monitors are provided for video work. The Museum is not able to install projected works. Videos must be ADA compliant (additional details, upon request).

Eligibility Criteria

How to Apply
Jurying will be from digital assets only, with submissions only accepted via CaFE (How to Apply Help).

The Museum reserves the right to decline submissions which are incomplete, do not meet specifications detailed in this call, or are of poor image quality. When possible, the Museum will work with artists to ensure their submissions are complete and will be juried.

Each entry will be judged as a work’s entirety; works which are 3D, diptych, tryptic or a series should be presented as the ‘whole’ within one submission image and identified as such in the title. If a multi-piece work is submitted separately only the artwork in the submitted photo will be eligible for display.

Values should represent the sale price, or, if not for sale, the insurance value; $0 is not an acceptable value. Dimensions should represent the full and complete dimensions of the work, including frame.

Media files used for the application must comply with CaFE specifications:
IMAGE: JPEG or JPG. 1200 pixels or greater on the longest side. The file size may not exceed 5MB.
VIDEO: MOV, MP4, WMV, 3GP, AVI, ASF, MPG, M2T, MKV, M2TS. File size under 100MB with a min resolution of 640 x 480/max 1920 x 1080; min 12 fps/recommended 30 fps or YouTube or Vimeo URL. Linked videos must be public.

Requirements for Accepted Artwork for Teen Category:
Additional information will be shared with accepted artists. The following is a general overview of participation expectations. 

Installation for Teen Artists: All accepted work must be framed or otherwise in a finished state and must be ready for installation including hanging hardware as appropriate:

• 2D work must be in a dry and finished state. It is strongly recommended that all 2D works have adequate framing and/or glazing (plexi or glass) for upmost protection. It is required for work on paper.
• Textiles must include pockets, rods and/or hardware for installation if not standard.
• 3D work must be stable and able to ‘stand’ on their own. Casework, plinths, stanchions, etc., are provided at the Museum’s discretion.
• Works that adhere directly to gallery walls (i.e. the use of pins, nails, Velcro, magnets or tape) are not preferred. However, the Museum will work with artists to find an acceptable compromise. The Museum cannot be responsible for damage to work which uses this installation method.
• Generic AV equipment is provided by the Museum for videos, but specific types/sizes are not guaranteed.

To and From the Museum for Teen Artists: Artists are responsible for delivery and pickup of their work on the dates specified during acceptance. No shipping is provided by the Museum.  

Sale of Artwork
All sales inquiries received by the Museum will be forwarded directly to the artist. No commission will be taken. Submitted work does not have to be for sale to be juried but cannot have already been sold to a third party. If an accepted work is sold prior to the exhibition opening or during the exhibition, the artists must notify the Museum.

Exhibition Schedule: 
(This preliminary schedule will be revised with exact dates and additional details in Fall 2026. The call will be changed from rolling deadline to an end date at that time.)

For more information
For technical support with the online submission application, visit the Help For Artists page or contact CaFE support via cafehelp@wearecreativewest.org or 303-629-1166. 

For all other questions, contact the Museum at juriedart@griffinmsi.org. The above call is only for the Teen Category of the 2027 Black Creativity Juried Art Exhibition. A separate Call for Artists for the General Category (over 18 artists) will be posted in mid-September 2026.

Note: This Call for Artists will be revised with additional details while live.