Call for WNC Artists

“Fragments of Hope,” March 3 – May 23, 2025.
(Opening reception Saturday, March 8.)

Application deadline: February 15.

Eligibility: artists and artisans in western North Carolina counties impacted by hurricane Helene

Venue and host: Cowee School Arts & Heritage Center gallery hall, Franklin, North Carolina (https://www.coweeschool.org/)

Application timeline/deadline: Now - February 15. (Midnight deadline)

Description: Fragments of Hope is a juried exhibition intended to depict the impacts of hurricane Helene on the lives of artists and artisans in western North Carolina, while conveying their strength and resilience as they move forward with their practices.

The impact contemplated in each entry can range widely. From the loss of a beloved human or pet to the destruction of a community, church, home, studio, artwork(s), or treasured parts of the natural environment.

Each entry must be able to hang on a wall and should include a physical element representing the loss: a fragment of destroyed artwork, a photograph of a loved one, a tree root, for example. No entries can be larger than four feet by four feet and cannot weigh more than thirty pounds.

There is no fee to enter.

A panel of jurors will select 20 to 25 pieces for the exhibition, announcing the selection via email and social media by February 19, 2025, with contracts emailed to the selected artists. The selected works will either be hand delivered to Cowee School Arts & Heritage Center by the artist by Feb. 26 or will be collected by Cowee School Arts & Heritage Center representatives at a central place near Asheville on Feb. 25, with the location to be announced later. Work will be either picked up from the Center after the exhibition (or brought to the Asheville area location for retrieval), by June 4, unless selected for traveling exhibition.

The exhibition and participating artists will be promoted with a statewide media release, on the venue’s website, social media, newsletter, and via other WNC arts organizations.

Awards and opportunities:

The jurors will award a first, second, third and honorable mention prizes, with total cash awards of $300. The winners will be announced at the opening reception on March 8, and celebrated via social media.

Additionally, 15 – 20 of the works in “Fragments of Hope will be selected to travel to locations in North and South Carolina as part of a climate crisis exhibition and installation in 2025 and 2026, at the will of each artist. The “Fragments of Hope” exhibition will be paired with a large-scale, indoor climate emergency installation titled “Cat. 6: Actions or Consequences?” underway at the Cowee School Arts & Heritage Center in the Carolina Artworks studio. It is headed by a resident artist with the participation of more than fifteen artists, crafts people, and community volunteers.

Application requirements:

All elements should be provided on a single word document and emailed to callforartists@coweeschool.org.

 ·      Artist name

·      Artist home address

·      Artist email and phone number

·      Artist’s social media asset links and website (website not required)

·      Entry title

·      Entry medium

·      Size & weight (Wall hanging pieces only, maximum size 4’ x 4’, maximum
weight 30lbs.)

·      Is it for sale? (not required)  Price? (Cowee School Arts & Heritage Center will not charge a percentage of sales for artists in this exhibition other than a 3% credit card fee where applicable. Artists will be responsible for the delivery or shipping to purchaser post exhibition.)

·      Insurance value

·      Artist statement about the entry (250-word limit)

·      Biography and Resume (500-word limit)

·      Photographs (Three high-quality photos embedded into application word document. Include title, medium, year created, with each.)

a.    Entry for Fragments of Hope

b.    Work sample (created within past two years)

c.     Work sample (created within past two years)

Questions? Email callforartists@coweeschool.org

*Eligible counties of residence:

Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Buncombe, Burke, Caldwell, Catawba, Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Haywood, Henderson, Jackson, Macon, Madison, McDowell, Mitchell, Polk, Rutherford, Swain, Transylvania, Watauga, Wilkes, and Yancey.