|
MDC invites artists to participate in a pop-up art exhibit presented during MDC’s State
of the South convening in Jacksonville, Florida in March 2026. The convening is focused
on a critical regional theme—how Southern communities are responding and building
resilient systems and practices to address climate and development pressures.
The working title of the exhibit is “Climate, Community, and Culture.” We will exhibit
creative work that reflects, questions, or responds to these prompts:
? Cultural erasure caused by development and climate pressures
? Community organizing and resiliency in the face of natural disasters and
displacement
Who Can Apply:
We welcome submissions and commissions from emerging and established artists
located in Northeast Florida and coastal areas of Georgia and South Carolina.
We are especially interested in featuring the work of artists with underrepresented
identities, including Black and Brown, Indigenous, LGBTQ+, disabled, and working-class
artists.
What We’re Looking For
We invite:
? Existing artworks that speak to the exhibit theme, and/or
? Proposals for commissions (new pieces created specifically for this convening)
We are seeking a mix of mediums for the exhibit, including but not limited to:
? Painting, drawing, printmaking
? Photography
? Sculpture
? Fiber art
? Digital art and new media
? Video, sound, mixed-media
? Performance art, including dance and music
Work must be exhibition-ready and suitable for a temporary indoor space. For 2-D
artwork, this means that it is framed or is otherwise ready to hang. Size limit for 2-D
artwork is 4 feet x 5 feet. For sculpture, height and width of 5 feet is the maximum, and
if platforms are needed for exhibition, please plan to provide those. For audio or video
submissions, please be prepared to provide methods for viewing or listening, including a
projector and/or sound equipment. For performance art, the space will accommodate up
to 4 people for dance, spoken word, or music.
Artists may submit up to three existing works and/or one proposal for a commission.
Artist Participation & Stipend
All selected artists will receive a $1,000 stipend to support travel expenses and time
associated with participating in two required events in Jacksonville, FL:
1. Artist Lunch & Planning Session
January 22nd, 12:00–3:00 PM
2. Exhibit Opening Reception
March 10th, 5:00–8:00 PM
All participating artists will also receive free admission to the State of the South
convening in Jacksonville, taking place March 10–12, 2026.
Additional Compensation for Commissions
Artists who are selected to commission an artwork specifically for this convening will
also receive a $2,500 commission fee to cover time and materials, for a total
compensation of $3,500.
How to Submit
Please use this form to submit the following:
? Artist name & short bio (100–150 words)
? Images or videos of work you plan to submit (or of previous work if submitting a
commission proposal): Please include up to 5 images or videos of existing or
previous work. For images, please use .jpg or .png files. Please title images and
videos in this format: LastName_FirstName1, LastName_FirstName2, etc.
? For submissions: Brief statement (written or video links, 2 paragraphs or 2
minutes maximum) describing how your work connects to the exhibit theme
? For commissions: Please include a 1-page concept proposal for the piece and
images or videos of previous work. If seeking a commission, submit images or
videos of previous examples (up to 5) of similarly commissioned artwork. Include
date and a brief description of previously or similarly/commissioned pieces.
? Website or social media links (optional)
Timeline
? Pre-submission Q&A (optional): Thursday, December 18
th
, 12PM (register here)
? Submission deadline: Tuesday, December 30th, 11:59PM
? Artist notifications: Friday, January 9th, by 5PM
? Planning Lunch in Jacksonville, FL (required): Thursday, January 22nd, 12–3 PM
? Exhibit Opening in Jacksonville, FL (required): Tuesday, March 10, 5–8 PM
? State of the South Event (optional): Wednesday-Thursday, March 11–12
? Artwork delivery and removal dates: TBD; exhibition and delivery logistics will be
discussed on January 22nd
.
? Exhibition duration: TBD, not longer than a month.
Terms of Ownership, Sale, and Use of Work
The work submitted or created will remain the property of the artist. Artists will be able
to sell their pieces and keep 100% of their profit and will not pay a sales percentage to
MDC. Artists will be welcome to offer their work for sale at the exhibit but will be
responsible for processing the sale. MDC reserves the right to use images or videos of
the work for promotional purposes for State of the South and MDC programming (for
example, on social media, presentations, fliers, and reports), but any additional uses will
be negotiated with the artist. Artist’s work will always be credited in promotional use.
Additional information about sales and liability:
• Each artist is responsible for arranging the sales of their pieces if they're available
for sale, paying sales tax, transporting, and removing their own work.
• A gallerist will hang or install the work, and artists will be responsible for artwork
removal at the end of the exhibit.
• The exhibit partners assume no liability for loss or damage. Artists are not
required to obtain their own insurance coverage. If the artist desires/needs that
protection, it is their responsibility to obtain it. Artists are responsible for their
artwork during transit, exhibition, and storage. The collaborative partners are not
responsible for damage, loss, or theft of artwork while on display or in transit.
This exhibit will serve as a creative and communal space within the convening—one that
honors Southern stories of resilience, belonging, memory, and possibility. We look
forward to reviewing your work and welcoming you into this collective conversation.
Questions? Contact us at stateofthesouth@mdcinc.org
About MDC and State of the South
A nonprofit founded in 1967, MDC is a regional community and capacity-building
organization rooted in North Carolina that works across a 13-state region to create a
South where all people thrive with lives of meaning, dignity, and community. We equip
Southern communities, especially those that have been historically excluded, with the
necessary capacity, partnerships, and influence to challenge systemic inequities and
build an equitable and inclusive South.
MDC’s State of the South brings people together to build networks for advocacy,
systemic change, and equity across the South. Co-designed with partners and
community, convenings explore art, data, policy, and funding approaches that tell
Southern stories of community and resistance and address persistent
inequities. MDC’s 2025 State of the South Report details learnings from five
recent convenings across the region and includes a powerful Call to Action—things local
communities, policymakers, and funders can do to create a thriving South.
|