Call Detail
Alaska State Council on the Arts: 2021 Alaska Contemporary Art Bank
Entry Deadline: 11/30/21
Application Closed
Work Sample Requirements
Images | Minimum:Min. 1, Maximum:Max. 6
Total Samples | Minimum:Min. 1, Maximum:Max. 6
Call Type: Public Art
Eligibility: Regional
State: Alaska

The Alaska Contemporary Art Bank (ACAB) was founded in 1975 by the Alaska State Council on the Arts and was created with two primary goals: to expose more Alaskans to high quality work by contemporary Alaskan artists through the loaning of original art to public offices throughout Alaska, and to provide support to artists in Alaska through purchase of their work. The collection has grown to more than 700 art works in a wide variety of media, styles and subject matter. Although the art is the same as that collected by museums, the purpose of the Art Bank is to provide a circulating collection of Alaskan artwork to exhibit in public areas other than museums.

Works submitted to the 2021 ACAB call for art will be selected for purchase by the ACSA’s Visual Arts Advisory Committee (VAAC). VAAC is a statewide group of artists and arts administrators who meet periodically to advise the Arts Council in policy and art acquisition. Selected artworks are then recommended to and approved for purchase by the Arts Council. Artwork is purchased directly from the artist, not an intermediary entity such as a gallery or agent. Under State of Alaska regulations, VAAC and Arts Council members are not eligible to apply for Art Bank acquisitions.

Art Bank artworks are loaned out for display in public areas owned and operated by the State of Alaska, University of Alaska departments, the State Legislature and in the offices of the Alaskan members of the U. S. Congress. Artwork must be durable and appropriate for public areas. ASCA provides labels that identify the artist and artwork title to accompany the pieces.

All Alaskan artists are encouraged to apply.

Applications must be submitted through CaFE (www.callforentry.org) for review by the VAAC. To view examples of previous Art Bank purchases, visit https://arts.alaska.gov/artbank.

Application Requirements

Artwork Review Considerations:

•         All media will be considered, but priority may be given to types of works most in demand by the loan program.

•         Due to the demand of shipping and display in public areas, the work must be durable; 2-D works must be framed with hanging devices and 3-D works must be self-supporting. Please price your work accordingly.

•         Imagery must be generally suitable for display in public buildings.

Eligibility Criteria

Qualifications: Please read carefully

•         Applicants must be an Alaskan resident, or an Alaskan resident at time the work was created.

•         Work must have been created in the last eight years.

•         All applications must be submitted through CaFE; no paper applications will be accepted.

•         Artwork must be original and not a reproduction or a copyright violation.

•         To be considered, works must be priced no higher than $4,000.