Made in VA

For over 25 years, the Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) has maintained a strong tradition of celebrating regional artists through our annual juried exhibition, New Waves.  Our story finds its roots in a concerned and connected artist community. MOCA has never lost the goal of keeping ties with the talented artists who live close to our doors.

As our community evolves, so will the museum and its traditions. This year, New Waves has become Made in VA. The new title reasserts our commitment to Virginia artists. We will continue to bring together jurors who are at the top of their field with the talented contemporary artists found in the Commonwealth. With the new name comes changes intended to strengthen our award program and provide opportunities for the growth and professional development of the selected artists.  

This year’s juror is Grace Deveney. Grace Deveney is a curator and art historian. She is Associate Curator of Prospect.5: Yesterday we said tomorrow, a New Orleans-based contemporary art triennial (2021). Previously, she was Assistant Curator at the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago. Exhibitions at the MCA include Christina Quarles (2020; postponed until 2021) Direct Message: Art, Language, and Power (2019) and Groundings (2018; with Tara Aisha Willis), as well as presentations of the work of Paul Pfeiffer, Amanda Williams and Ania Jaworska. She is currently a PhD candidate in Art History at Northwestern University.
 

Submissions Open:  July 6, 2021   
Entry Deadline: September 2, 2021
Acceptance Notification: September 20, 2021 
Artwork Delivery: October 11-15, 2021           
Exhibition Opening: November 12, 2021

Application Requirements

Eligible Artwork: All artistic mediums made between the years of 2018-2021 are accepted for review. Art exhibited in previous New Waves exhibitions is not eligible for review.

-      2-D work must be ready for installation including hanging devices on the artwork. Each work will not exceed 84 inches in any dimension, including frame and must not exceed 75 lbs. in weight. (Please note: Sawtooth hangers are unsafe for installation and cannot be used.)

-      3-D work will be no larger than 84 inches including base and must not exceed 75lbs.

-      Installations: MOCA will accept previously created installations. Images of installations can be submitted to callforentry.org. Submissions should be flexible to fit any location within the gallery. (Outdoor installations cannot be accepted.)

-      Video and sound works can be submitted. There is a limit of 3 video/sound entries per application. Artists should list details of installation and presentation preferences in the comments section of the application.

 Artists are responsible for delivery and/or shipment to and from MOCA. Accepted artworks may be hand-delivered or shipped by the artist. All artworks must be packed properly for return shipping. Pre-paid return and/or pick-up is the responsibility of the artist. Return prepaid shipping label from UPS or FedEx should be enclosed.

Eligibility Criteria

All artists currently living in Virginia