James Watrous Gallery | 2023 Call for Artists and Curators

The Wisconsin Academy of Sciences, Arts & Letters announces a statewide Call for Artists to exhibit in the James Watrous Gallery, located in Madison’s Overture Center for the Arts. Wisconsin artists working in all media are encouraged to apply. For the first time, the Academy is also welcoming exhibition proposals from guest curators.

Those selected by the jury will be invited to exhibit or curate within the next several years, with the earliest exhibition opening in late 2023. Most exhibitions will be in the form of paired side-by-side solo shows. Jurors for this year’s call will be Portia Cobb, Anwar Floyd-Pruitt, Yvette Pino, and Rae Senarighi.

Eligibility:

• Applicants must be Wisconsin residents at the time of application and exhibition, or have a strong demonstrated history of connection to the state.
• Students enrolled in arts degree programs are not eligible. Priority will be given to artists who have been out of school for at least two years.
• Artists who have had a solo show at the Watrous Gallery may apply again ten years after their exhibition.
• Proposals from guest curators must be primarily focused on Wisconsin artists.

The minimum application fee is $5. For those who can afford it, we suggest $25. These fees help support the gallery and keep our programs accessible to all. Information about applicant fees will not be shared with the jury.

TO APPLY: Applications will be managed on AirTable. After completing registration via the orange button below, participants will receive an email with a link to submit application materials.

Application materials must be submitted to AirTable by 5:00pm, March 1, 2023. 

Applications must include: 8-10 digital images of recent work OR links to video-sharing sites (w/ title, date, media, and dimensions for each artwork), a brief exhibition proposal, and a short bio, resume, or c.v.

REGISTRATION OPENS DECEMBER 1ST!

For more information, visit the FAQ page or contact Exhibitions and Outreach Coordinator Ursa Anderson (uanderson@wisconsinacademy.org).