Community Call for Art by Immigrants of all Backgrounds and Geographies

Community Call for Art by Immigrants of all Backgrounds and Geographies
As part of the larger exhibition "Sanctuary: Borders and Belonging in 2026" we invite immigrants of all ages, backgrounds, and geographies to submit one visual artwork that expresses or documents your personal experience with immigration. We aim for this exhibition to include as many artistic voices of creative people who are currently living and working in the Rochester area (living and/or working in Monroe, Orleans, Niagara, Erie, Genesee, Livingston, Ontario and Wayne Counties). Artwork may be any artistic medium or craft. We encourage personal testimony, memory, anger, critique, repair, celebration, and imagination.
Working from personal narrative and lived experience, possible prompts include:

• Stories of arrival, hope, aspirations, belonging, loss, escape, or resilience
• Encounters with systems that criminalize and exclude; or welcome and support immigrants
• Family histories, cultural inheritance, and everyday rituals
• Responses to border politics, detention, or racialized policing
The topic of immigration is particularly fraught, politicized, and weaponized today, yet we understand that for many people their immigration was very positive and we want to include the full spectrum of experiences.

While most submissions will derive from the first person experiences of the immigrant, we also welcome submissions made as a collaboration between immigrants and non-immigrants.

One piece per artist. Maximum dimensions: 24” x 24”. Artworks should be ready to hang. All ages, backgrounds, abilities, and artistic media are encouraged. While our entry process requires a name, artworks may be presented anonymously.

All eligible entries will be displayed, HOWEVER we still require artists to complete the submission process so we can plan for the installation. Please contact us if you have any questions about your artwork or need to make special arrangements.
Timeline:

Entry Deadline: September 1
Artwork Drop-off: September 11, 12-6pm & September 12, 12-5pm at RoCo
Opening Reception: October 2, 6-9pm
Exhibition Dates: October 2, 2026 - November 14, 2026
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Community Call for Art by Immigrants of all Backgrounds and Geographies

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