How will we mark the Semiquincentennial of the United States? 

How do we observe the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States in 2026? How has the Declaration of Independence been commemorated or criticized in the past? We ask artists to explore the commemorative events of 1776, 1876 (Centennial Exhibition), 1976 (Bicentennial Celebration), to find inspiration and make new artwork highlighting their personal relationship with the founding document of the United States.

Description:

Radical Americana will be a series of exhibitions organized by a consortium of Philadelphia’s extensive collection of arts and cultural institutions celebrating how today’s artists are continuing the city’s unique and rich legacy as a center for creativity and civic engagement. The influential historical year of 1776, and the subsequent commemorations in Philadelphia in the years 1876, 1926, and 1976 will serve as points of research for contemporary artists to gain inspiration and add their voices to current dialogue about our nation’s present and future. 

Selection Process

Members of each organization will meet to collectively jury the applications and place each selected project at the most appropriate exhibiting organization. 

Notification, Delivery, etc.

  • Notification will be made via email by May 15, 2025
  • Work is due to the Gallery by March 1, 2026
  • Exhibition Dates: April - July, 2026

Call for Artist Participation

  • Artists should apply if they are interested in using the rich historical archives or documents and artwork that exist in Philadelphia to inspire new works of art. List of Research Org.’s

  • Artists should submit a proposal that outlines the topic they plan to research at one of our partner historic sites (see list), that will inform the new artwork they will create that addresses the prompt above.

  • Selected proposals will be paired with an exhibiting site. Finished artworks will be included in Radical Americana, a series of exhibitions across Philadelphia in Spring 2026 that will commemorate the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence as part of ArtPhilly and in collaboration with Philly250 

Guiding Principles of our project

  • Value the power of collaboration/the collective that is part of the zeitgeist of the Philadelphia art community
  • Value examining the past to help us understand today and envision a better future
  • Recognize voices that are underrepresented in traditional art settings

 

  • Examples of possible questions to explore

  • What is a self-evident truth? Say that better
  • Complicating/Critical/Commemoration / Reflection/ Resistance
  •  Examining the components of resistance in past commemorative events
    • I.e. The Alternative Bicentennial
  • Colonization inherent in the Declaration of Independence
  • Revealing collections that highlight previous events
  • Environmental issues related to 1776, 1876, 1976
  • American Identity reflected during moments of commemoration
  • International perceptions of American-ness
  • Migration/Narrative of the American Dream 

Guidelines for Participation

 

 

The art proposed should:

  • Address the prompt 
  • Be created with a craft material or have a conceptual focus on craft materiality and/or practice
    • Craft material is defined as wood, clay, fiber, glass, metal, or a craft-based treatment of other materials
    • Please reach out with questions about these parameters. Other types of projects may be able to be incorporated in related programming
  • Consider the past, present and future
    • The proposal must have a connection to the periods around the commemorative moments of 1776 (Declaration of Independence), 1826 (Lafayette’s return), 1876 (Centennial Exhibition), 1926 (Sesquicentennial), 1976 (Bicentennial Celebration) 
  • Apply as an individual artist or as a collective/group
  • Apply to have your proposed artwork placed in one of our selected sites or with a site already determined (and provide letter of commitment from that site)
  • Proposals must include in-person research at one of our partner sites (or a self selected site) as a component of the proposal

Applications must be submitted as one PDF and include: 

  • CV that includes artist name, address, email, phone number, website address or social media
  • Samples of past work up to 7 images
  • Artist Statement – 150 words
  • Research Proposal (how does your proposal address the prompt?)
  • Artwork production concept
  • Proposed research location if known
  • Concept sketch if appropriate
  • 300 words maximum

Email the proposal to Jennifer Zwilling at jzwilling@theclaystudio.org

 

Selection Process for Call for Participation

  • Application will be juried by the consortium members 
  •  Jurying criteria
    • Quality of artwork
    • Relevance to one of the cited historical moments
    • Strong connection to research at one of the historical sites

Results 

  • Selections will be complete by May 2025. Artwork will be due in March 2026
  • $1,000 honoraria to each selected artist, paid upon work delivery in 2026
  • Stipends for research may be awarded in some cases
  • Further funding for installation costs are dependent on funding
  • Each selected artist will be included in marketing and press efforts and will be required to provide regular updates on their project during the research and production period (June 2025 - March 2026)

 

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