2021 Arts Annual Prospectus  

2021 New Jersey Arts Annual: ReVision and Respond 

The Newark Museum of Art 

Newark, NJ 

ARTIST SUBMISSION DEADLINE January 8, 2021 

EXHIBITION DATES June 15 – August 22, 2021  

Exhibition Theme  

Artists play a crucial role in our society and, historically through to the present moment, have been at the forefront of change. Their creativity, resourcefulness, and vision offer nuanced perspectives on our current and future worlds.  Resilient and inventive, artists help us to reimagine what we might not see clearly. Especially in times of crisis, an artist’s work can be a catalyst for personal and collective transformation. 

Resourcefulness and resources are critical tools in responding to seismic changes in our world and directly inform an artist’s creative process. From newly acquired supplies to salvaged materials to found objects as well as techniques, styles, and imagery, artists have many and varied choices.  Beyond these tangibles, lived experiences are an intrinsic, intangible resource at their ready disposal. 

From the perspective of pandemic quarantine, economic distress, and the collective reckoning with this county’s racist and violent history, how does a drastic shift in the world influence the accessibility of these resources and impact artists’ perspectives? 

New Jersey is home to a diverse and robust artistic community. The Newark Museum of Art welcomes submissions to the 2021 New Jersey Arts Annual: ReVision and Respond. This open call invites a range of artistic practices- from traditional to abstract, from craft to new media– that explore the ReVision and Respond theme. 

New Jersey Arts Annual  

 The New Jersey Arts Annual is a unique series of exhibitions highlighting the State’s visual and performing artists. In partnership with major museums around the state, one exhibition takes place each year, alternating between host institutions. These exhibitions are open to any artist currently living or working in New Jersey. 

 The Arts Annual series is sponsored by the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, a partner agency of the National Endowment of the Arts.  

Jurors

Kristen J. Owens is the Associate Curator (Programs) for Rutgers University-Newark’s Paul Robeson Galleries at Express Newark with a background as an arts administrator and archivist as well as interests in visual culture, fashion, and African American studies. She has co-created exhibitions including Performing Fashion: New York City at NYU’s 80WSE Gallery (2017) and Dressed at Rutgers University-Newark’s Paul Robeson Galleries (2018). She has presented papers on African American photography and conduct literature, such as etiquette manuals, at conferences including Fashioning the Black Body in Bondage and Freedom (Brooklyn, 2017) and the Popular Culture Association/American Culture Association National Conference (San Diego, 2017). Owens holds an MA in visual culture: costume studies and an MS in library and information science from New York University’s dual degree program with LIU Palmer She holds a BA in fashion studies from Montclair State University. 

Amy Simon Hopwood is the Museum’s Associate Curator of Decorative Arts. She has developed exhibitions including Unexpected Color: A Journey Through Glass and Four Quiltmakers, Four American Stories. She holds a BA in Fine Arts from Amherst College and a MA from the Winterthur Program in Early American Culture at the University of Delaware. 

 About the Museum  

We welcome everyone with inclusive experiences that spark curiosity and foster community.   

The Newark Museum of Art was established by museum visionary John Cotton Dana in 1909. The Museum’s renowned collection include American Art, Arts of Global Africa, Arts of Global Asia, Arts of the Americas, Arts of the Ancient Mediterranean, and Decorative Arts. The Museum collects and exhibits works of art from around the world, guided by Dana’s founding belief that art can be found everywhere and is for everyone. The Museum is recognized as a national leader in museum-based education through compelling exhibitions, scholarly publications, an art reference library, and innovative public and school programming.   

 As part of its commitment to broadening and diversifying arts participation, the Museum actively engages diverse audiences and creative voices through strategic partnerships and community engagement and works to make its exhibitions, programs, facilities, and services accessible to and for all audiences. 

The Newark Museum of Art, a not-for-profit museum of art and science, receives operating support from the City of Newark, the State of New Jersey, the New Jersey State Council on the Arts/Department of State (a partner agency of the National Endowment for the Arts), the New Jersey Cultural Trust, the Prudential Foundation, the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation, the Victoria Foundation, the Phyllis and Sanford Bolton Estate, the Wallace Foundation, and other corporations, foundations, and individuals. Funds for acquisitions and activities other than operations are provided by members and other contributors. 

Eligibility  

All traditional, contemporary, new media, and craft artists over the age of 21 who work or live in the state of New Jersey are eligible to apply.  

 The exhibition theme can accommodate works created in traditional and contemporary art and craft media (oil, acrylic, tempera, stone,, digital, video, film, metal, glass, wood, textiles, clay, etc.) and methods (painting, sculpture, drawing, photography, printmaking, film/new media installation metalwork, glassblowing, woodworking, textile, ceramic, etc.).

 Works may be designed for wall hanging (2-D or 3-D); free-standing sculptures intended for the floor or pedestal display; small or medium works for protected display cases; for audio installation; or for video display on a screen or digital monitor. All artwork must be ready to install, including all necessary hardware and mounts.   

All submissions must represent work that: 

 Has been completed within the past two years. 

 Is available for the complete duration of the exhibition. 

See below for detailed Specifications. 

Selection Process  

All submissions will receive direct consideration by the juror and TNMOA curator. Artists may also be selected at the invitation of the juror and TNMOA curator. Applicants may be requested to submit additional materials. Artists are strongly encouraged to visit the Museum before submitting their work, as is possible given the current pandemic. 

 Submission Procedure  

There is no entry fee.   

To submit work, applicants must apply online at www.callforentry.org (CAFÉ). A link to that platform and a PDF of the abbreviated prospectus are located on the TNMOA 2021 NJAA: ReVision and Respond website. 

Artists may submit up to up to three (3) total works in any media. Photos of the work must accompany the application. Images, video, or audio files may all be submitted, but the total number of submitted works must be no more than three (3). CAFE accepts up to six (6) total uploads of all work and detail images. Compilation images are acceptable if more than one image is needed.   

See Specifications below for accepted CAFÉ work sample formats.  

Submissions must also include a current résumé, brief artist biography, an artist’s statement, and complete and accurate dimensions of the work submitted. For works selected for the exhibition, the submitted images may be used in the catalog, on the Museum website and publications, programs, and/or for press purposes.  If you do not choose to have your images retained by the Museum, please note that at the top of your artists’ statement document.  The Museum reserves the right to edit the artist’s statement. The artist statement should be no more than 150 words. 

Specifications  

• All work samples must be submitted via a CAFÉ application.  

• Images must be in JPEG or JPG format.   

• File Dimensions: 1,200 pixels or greater on the longest side. 

• File Size: Under 5 MB 

• Audio must be in AIFF, WAV, XMF, or MP3 format. 

• File Size: Under 10 MB. 

• Video must be in MOV, MP4, WMV, 3GP, AVI, ASF, MPG, M2T, MKV, or M2TS format. 

• File Size: Under 100 MB. 

• Currently, linked media from YouTube, Vimeo, etc. is not accepted. 

• Images should be of publishable quality, including sharp, accurate color reproduction and the highest resolution possible. Selected works/images may be used in the exhibition catalog, on the Museum website, in digital publications, or for press purposes related to the 2021 New Jersey Arts Annual.  

• Inclusion of images in the application constitutes permission from the artist to use submitted images for such purposes free of restrictions.  The museum will endeavor to include all appropriate credit information whenever images are reproduced. 

• Each digital file MUST include the following as accompanying information in the CAFÉ upload: artist’s name, title, medium, dimensions, and date.   

• Example: “Jane Smith, Untltled, wood, 23 x 45 x 12 in., 2019” 

• All submissions must include photos of the back (and sides for 3D works) for installation information. CAFE accepts up to six (6) total uploads of all work and detail images. Compilation images are acceptable if more than one image is needed.   

• Artwork requiring assembly or special handling must include precise directions and photo(s) of the assembled work. 

• Artwork MUST be ready to install and include all necessary hardware.  

• If artwork is not inherently balanced or stable, an appropriate mount or method must be provided. 

• Electrical requirements must be stated; US/North America standard: 115/120V, 60hz; no more than 15 amp.  

• Delicate electronics (micro-controllers, midis, etc.) must include their own battery back-up (UPS). 

• Video and media works must be accompanied by all the necessary AV equipment (monitor, projector, media player, speakers, cables, etc.). They must have the ability to automatically restart components and initialize the multimedia program if power is interrupted. Multimedia should function without active WIFI and all auto update features should be disabled. Sound volume must be adjustable. 

Submission Checklist:  

• Competed Entry Form   

• Up to 6 high resolution images per work or 6 high resolution videos for new media submissions, or a combination of images, video, and audio of no more than 6 samples.  

• Artist Biography 

• Artist Statement document, 150 words maximum 

• Current Resume   

Please Do Not Email Images To The Museum.  

Email Muhammad Abdul-Mubdi at mabdul@newarkmuseumart.org with any questions. 

Insurance and Shipping  

 Artists selected for the exhibition will be responsible for all shipping arrangements of their artwork.  Artwork must be delivered to the Museum between May 24, 2021 and  May 28, 2021 between 9AM and 5PM. Artwork must be picked up between August 30, 2021 and September 3, 2021 between 9AM and 5PM. Artists must contact Andrea Ko, Associate Registrar, ako@newarkmuseumart.org for drop off and pickup arrangements. 

 Insurance:  The Museum will insure all artwork at fair market value under the conditions set forth in the museum’s loan agreement, from the time it is received until it is released by the Museum.  Artists must assume responsibility for their artwork while in transit to and from the Museum.  Artists will be notified upon receipt and inspection of the artwork by Museum staff, if the Museum feels a work cannot be insured due to its condition, structure, fragility, or inherent vice.   

 Packing Materials: The Museum will save all original packing materials provided by the artist and reuse for packing at the end of the exhibition. All Packing Materials Must Be Labeled. 

Conditions of Agreement  

 Work selected for the exhibition must remain for the entire duration of the exhibition. No substitution of the work may be made. The Museum reserves the right to reproduce entries for the exhibition’s catalogue and for publicity purposes.  The Museum reserves the right to edit artist’s statement. Work remaining after the listed pick-up period may be disposed of at the discretion of the Museum. Submissions of entries will constitute agreement to the conditions set forth between the Museum and the artists selected for the Arts Annual. The Museum’s loan documents will formalize this agreement.  

Sales  

Potential buyers will be referred to the artists. The Museum will not act as an agent for any sales.   

Catalog  

 An exhibition catalog that includes works and a directory of the artists represented will be published digitally. The Museum will publish the catalog as a printable PDF document, available via the website.  

IMPORTANT DATES  

ENTRY DEADLINE:  January 8, 2021 

Complete application with all supporting materials must be received in CAFÉ by midnight on January 8, 2021. You are encouraged to submit in advance of this date, if possible. Incomplete applications will not be considered. 

ARTISTS NOTIFIED BY EMAIL:  by January 22, 2021 

Letters of Notification will be sent out via the CAFÉ email system to all applicants. 

DELIVERY OF ARTWORKS: May 24 – May 28, 2021 

All work must be delivered to the Museum between 9am-5pm.  

Artists are required to assist in the installation of their work if needed. 

EXHIBITION OPENING & RECEPTION:  Tuesday, June 15, 2021  

Member opening and exhibition preview. 

EXHIBITION OPEN: June 15 – August 22, 2021 

Exhibition is open to the public.  

PICK UP OF ARTWORK: August 30 – September 3, 2021 

Contact Andrea Ko, Associate Registrar at ako@newarkmuseumart.org or 973-596-6566 with any questions. 

 Exhibitions schedule and related components may be subject to change. 

Application Requirements

Eligibility Criteria