Info Session: Thursday, July 17, 2025 | 5:30-6:30pm ET — RSVP here 
Deadline: Tuesday, August 5, 2025 11:59pm ET — Application below
Presentations: November 2025–February 2026 & March–June 2026

The wisdom and insight artists bring from various positions of lived experience is crucial for navigating the challenges of our present moment with collective strength and care for one another.

Our 2025-2026 Open Call “Lineages: Generations of Creative Resilience in the District” invites proposals for projects that center intergenerational collaboration among DC-area artists. Conceived in concert with WPA’s 50th Anniversary and the forthcoming launch of our digital archive, this prompt reflects on the potential of intergenerational community-building among artists in the District as a way to carry forward vulnerable histories and imagine resilient creative futures.

WPA invites artist-duos to propose a project, involving other DC-area participants, to be presented in WPA’s Project Space in Dupont Circle (appx. 600 square feet, raw space, storefront opening in Fall 2025) for durations of at least 10 weeks, accompanied by two (2) public programs that will take place offsite. Find more photo's of WPA's Project Space here. Also, here's an inventory of WPA's current tech/equipment for your production needs.

Recognizing that concepts of generational age difference can vary between different communities and groups, artists are invited to interpret the term “intergenerational” however they find most suitable to their project.

To submit your proposal, please complete the following form. Applications will be accepted through August 5, 2025 at 11:59pm ET.

Please email us at info@wpadc.org with any questions.

 

PROJECT CRITERIA

Two projects will be selected for production and presentation as part of a year-long series taking place between Fall 2025–Spring 2026 at new WPA’s Project Space in Dupont Circle.

• Projects should facilitate intergenerational collaboration in expansive ways. 
• Artist-organizers should apply as collaborative duos and must be artists with a history of presenting their work in visual arts contexts/venues.
• Artist-organizers and all collaborators must live in the DC-area.
• The project you propose should include a public-facing component 2-3 months in duration (to be hosted at WPA's Project Space, with weekly public visiting hours) and 2 accompanying public programs for audiences of 30 or more that will occur off-site during the exhibition period. (WPA will secure a site partner for all programs).
• While proposals for virtual projects and programs are not accepted, hybrid elements are welcome.
• Project proposals should include concepts for two public programs. These events can utilize any format within a 2-hour duration for audiences of at least 30 people. 

We will produce two (2) Open Call projects from this call during the 2025-2026 season, taking place over the course of the Fall and Spring.

 

BUDGET

The budget for each project is $10,000—which includes honoraria of $3,000 each for two lead artists with remaining funds allocated to materials, documentation, and fees for additional discussants and collaborators (to be allocated in dialogue with WPA’s program staff). WPA provides installation support outside of the project budget.

 

SELECTIONS

Projects will be selected by an independent panel of local and national artists and arts leaders. Applicants will be notified if their project was selected or not in early September.

Selected projects will be publicly announced in October.

 

SCHEDULE

All projects will have a duration of at least 10 weeks, not including breaks for holidays. Exact dates will be coordinated in dialogue with WPA staff within the following schedule:

Project #1: November 2025–February 2026
Project #2: March–June 2026

1. The total budget available per Open Call project (exhibition and up to two public programs included) is up to $10,000.  (Please download and use this sample budget.)
2. $6,000 of your proposed budget should be reserved as artist fees for your collaboration as an artist-organizer duo ($3,000 per person). 
3. That leaves up to $4,000 for you to determine how to allocate towards materials, documentation, and fees for additional discussants and collaborators (and no, you do not have to use it all). 
4. Costs for certain baseline items such as installation support, marketing, and promotional design are largely covered elsewhere and do not need to come out of your budget unless there are special requirements.
5. For any guest participants/collaborators, please reference this list of W.A.G.E.-certified fees. WPA is proudly W.A.G.E. certified, which ensures equitable pay for artistic labor based on our annual budget (learn more here). If you have any questions about this, please reach out to us at info@wpadc.org.