Submission Details:
- Deadline for entry: Tuesday, July 3, 2024
- Selection Notification: Tuesday, July 15, 2024
- Installation dates: TBA
- Opening night: Friday, August 16, 6- 9
- Location: Hollywood ArtsPark Gallery
Open to: All mediums 2D work such as paintings, mixed-media, collages, fiber, digital and photography. Interactive & installation pieces are highly considered.
Select video works and sculptures will be considered.
ALL WORK MUST BE ORIGINAL WORK & HANG READY and work with a hanging system
The gallery uses a hanging system.
The submitted artwork should fit or complement the theme:
Echoes of Empathy: Navigating the Baker Act Experience Through Art
The Echoes of Empathy exhibition stands as a testament to the power of art to illuminate the human experience, especially in the face of challenging circumstances. In collaboration with the Children's Services Council of Broward County (CSC), What's Your Elephant™ (WYE) presents a cultural arts experience aimed at visualizing key data and outcomes from the Youth Baker Act Community Participatory Action Research (CPAR) project. From August 16 to September 19, 2024, this innovative exhibition will be on display at the Hollywood ArtsPark Gallery in Broward County, offering a multifaceted exploration of the Baker Act process and its impact on youth and families.
Join us in an impactful collaboration as we delve into the heart of humanizing systems of care through art. We are building an innovative exhibition that aims to shed light on the experiences of youth and families navigating the Baker Act system. Through powerful artistic visualizations and engaging panel discussions, we aim to spark meaningful conversations, foster empathy, and drive positive change.
Exhibition Details:
The exhibition will be on display from August 16 - September 19, 2024, with programming including opening night events, art-making workshops, and hybrid in-person/online community discussions. These events will bring together study participants, system professionals, What's Your Elephant™, and artists from the exhibition to engage in dialogue and reflection.
Background Information on the Baker Act and Youth
What is the Baker Act?
The Florida Mental Health Act, commonly referred to as the Baker Act, focuses on crisis services for individuals with mental illness, and allows for involuntary transport and examination for psychiatric services.
An individual may be taken to a receiving facility for involuntary examination under the Baker Act if they meet the following criteria:
- There is reason to believe he/she has a mental illness and due to the mental illness, the individual has refused or is unable to determine if examination is necessary; and either:
- Without care or treatment, the individual is unlikely to care for themselves which can result in substantial harm to their well-being, and it is not evident that harm can be avoided through familial intervention or other services; or:
- It is likely, based on recent behavior, that without treatment, the individual will pose a serious threat to themselves or others. (Florida Department of Children and Families)
Who’s affected?
Each year, approximately 1,900 Broward County children are referred for involuntary psychiatric examination under the Baker Act.
Criteria for Baker Act Involuntary Examination
- Harm to Self (Most common)—65%
- Harm to Self AND Others--28%
- Harm to Others—5%
- Not Reported—2%
Initiator of the Baker Act process
- Law Enforcement—58%
- Certified Health Professional—41% (Doctor, Nurse, Social Worker, Etc.)
- Ex-Parte—0.69% (Court-Order/Probate)
How does it feel?
Themes from Interviews with Broward Youth and Parents who have experienced a Baker Act event:
Isolated Traumatized Embarrassed Afraid
Overwhelmed Misunderstood Suicidal Dehumanizing
Angry Confused Lonely Social isolation
Criminalized Stigma Abandoned
For more information:
Report on Involuntary Examinations of Minors
https://www.usf.edu/cbcs/baker-act/documents/ba_minors_report_nov2023.pdf
Baker Act Fiscal Year 2021-2022
https://www.usf.edu/cbcs/baker-act/documents/ba_usf_annual_report_2021_2022.pdf