Oak Cliff Cultural Center

We are currently accepting proposals from visual artists and curators for the 2027 exhibition calendar at the Oak Cliff Cultural Center. 

The Oak Cliff Cultural Center (OC3) is committed to enriching and engaging the Dallas community through arts and culture programming that is equitable, diverse and encourages communication that supports and promotes local artists while nurturing knowledge and growth within the community.

Presenting approximately 8-10 exhibitions yearly with accompanying programming including artist led workshop and guest lectures, the OC3 Gallery aims to present a diverse range of artistic approaches, mediums, and voices. The Oak Cliff Cultural Center is a division of the City of Dallas Office of Arts and Culture. 

The Oak Cliff Cultural Center accepts applications from visual artists and curators for solo and group exhibitions with preference given to those residing in the DFW Metroplex. Awardees work directly with the Oak Cliff Cultural Center Gallery Programs Coordinator on planning, installing, and marketing the exhibition. Awardees receive an honorarium, marketing support, and the opportunity to participate in the OC3 Frequencies podcast.

The Gallery Programs Coordinator serves as the primary curator for the OC3 gallery. Exhibition proposals from visual artists and curators are accepted every other year and reviewed for inclusion in the programming. Artists are selected by the Gallery Programs Coordinator and local professional artists. Curators and artists should consider the aesthetic strengths of their work and how it will provide an opportunity for the community to engage with relevant topics and diverse ideas. 

PROPOSAL REQUIREMENTS

To maintain our commitment to presenting diverse programming, we encourage artists and curators who have not presented a major exhibition in the OC3 Gallery in the past 3 years to apply.

All proposals must include:

Resume (include all artists if group exhibition)

Artist(s) and/or Curator Bio

Artist(s) Statement/Curator Statement (300 words minimum) This is a statement about the artist and the artwork. For solo exhibitions, only one statement is needed. For curators or group exhibits, a combined statement detailing the artwork of each artist within a curatorial statement is required.

Detailed Exhibition Proposal (500 words minimum) This should clearly communicate the ideas and goals of the exhibition, provide contextual information, and describe the artwork proposed for the exhibition including media, number of works, and general size, especially as it relates to the artwork. 

Portfolio requirements for solo exhibition proposals from artists

10 images of current artwork formatted as JPEG or PNG, 800 x 600 pixels, no larger than 2MB, video excerpts should be shared via artists website, vimeo or wetransfer link. Submitted artworks should not differ greatly from the final artworks exhibited.

Portfolio requirements for curators

Exhibits with 3+ artists: 3 images of each artist(s) work that will be exhibited formatted as JPEG or PNG, 800 x 600 pixels, no larger than 2MB, video excerpts should be shared via a Vimeo link

Exhibits with 1-2 artists: 5-10 images of each artist(s) work

A PDF with a detailed description of 2-3 previous curatorial projects that includes images.

 

Thank you for your proposal!

Proposals will be reviewed after the deadline of May 1, 2026 and notifications will be emailed early June 2026.