Open Call for Art: “A Lion Speaks” Exhibition
Interdisciplinary ArtsTraditional ArtsCraftShow 40 genres
Application Deadline
Thursday, January 1, 2026
Opportunity Type
Workshop/Class
Scope
Country
Fee to Apply
$0.00
Organized by
Description
OPEN CALL for our 7th annual Black History Month: Made Visible exhbition — “A Lion Speaks” — Celebration of Black Artists, curated by Shaunda Holloway and presented by Creative Arts Workshop (CAW). Exhibition Dates: February 1–29, 2026 Installation: Week of January 27, 2026 Location: 80 Audubon Street, New Haven, CT Submission Guidelines Eligibility: Open to artists of the African diaspora in New Haven and the surrounding region. Medium: All visual art forms are welcome. Deadline: December 31, 2025 Submission Form: https://form.jotform.com/253076931437158 About the Exhibition Creative Arts Workshop invites artists of the African diaspora to submit work for Made Visible 2026: “A Lion Speaks”, our annual Black History Month exhibition celebrating local and regional Black and Brown artists. This exhibition draws inspiration from the African proverb: "Until the lion learns how to write, every story will glorify the hunter.” We are calling on artists of African descent to reclaim their narratives—honoring the power of self-told stories, collective resistance, and cultural memory. Through painting, sculpture, photography, mixed media, or any chosen form, artists are encouraged to present work that gives voice to lived experiences, resilience, and the truth of their communities. As Holloway explains, “Telling our stories for ourselves, sharing our resistance in all its facets, and encouraging others to continue preserving our stories in spite of systemic erasure is what A Lion Speaks is about.” About Made Visible Now in its seventh year, Made Visible is Creative Arts Workshop’s annual exhibition celebrating the creativity and vision of Black and Brown artists across our region. The series reflects CAW’s commitment to equity, inclusion, and amplifying underrepresented voices through the visual arts.
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
Artists must be of African descent.