Healing Art Show Bloomington 2026 Artist Application

Welcome to the Healing Art Show Bloomington 2026, sponsored by NAMI Greater Bloomington Area and IU Arts & Humanities Council.

The Healing Art Show brings together artists whose work explores the complexities of mental health and well-being. Through a range of artistic perspectives, the exhibition emphasizes art and creativity as powerful tools for reflection, connection, and healing, while creating a dedicated space for dialogue, shared understanding, and personal insight.

This exhibition invites both artists and viewers to engage with mental health through personal and collective experiences expressed in artistic form. By doing so, we aim to normalize conversations about mental health, reduce stigma, and foster empathy and connection within our community.

Artwork in this exhibition should reflect themes of mental health and well-being. This is a non-juried exhibition, and there is no fee to participate. This application serves as a statement of intent. Artists may submit one (1) completed piece that aligns with the guidelines, or a sample from their portfolio to indicate their intention to create a new work for the show.

The exhibition will run from Friday, October 2 through Friday, October 30 on the IU Bloomington campus. An opening reception will take place on Friday, October 2, from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM.

The exhibition and reception will be held at:

The Cook Center, Maxwell Hall

750 E. Kirkwood Avenue

Bloomington, Indiana

Please review the submission guidelines carefully before applying.

Submission deadline: August 31, 2026 at 11:59pm.

We will accept up to 35 pieces for this exhibition. The form may close early if capacity is reached due to strong interest. For questions, please contact healingartshow@outlook.com.

Guidelines:

• Your submission must be new work that has not been shown in the Healing Art Show in the last two years.

• Work may include paintings, prints, or text-based pieces. Work may be presented on canvas or as a matted piece, which may be framed or unframed.

• Finished work may range in size from 5" x 7" to 16" x 20". If your piece exceeds these dimensions, please contact the email listed above for guidance.

• All work must be ready to hang upon arrival, including appropriate hardware (wire or string securely attached).

Impermissible Content: To ensure the exhibition remains inclusive, accessible, and supportive for a broad audience, the following are not permitted:

• Depictions of assault, violence, or abuse

• Depictions of self-harm • Explicit or inappropriate representations of nudity

• Use of company names, logos, or branded materials

• Organic materials or materials subject to decay

• Overtly political imagery or messaging

• Content that is excessively obscene or grotesque in nature

Full Name

First NameLast Name

Email Address

example@example.com

Please upload an image of your intended submission or a similar work from your portfolio.

Please provide a clear photograph with good lighting that shows the full piece, including all edges. Please label your file using your last name so we can easily match it to your submission.

Artwork title (if it does not have a title, simply state "Untitled")

Please indicate the medium of your work (if you have a multi-media piece, please select the category that best describes your work)

What is the approximate size of your work?

What inspired you to create this piece? (You may reflect on personal experiences, influences, or ideas that shaped your work.)

How does this work reflect your perspective on mental health or well-being?

Participation Terms, Permissions, and Releases

Image Use Permission

By submitting artwork to the Healing Art Show Bloomington, artists grant permission for images of their submitted artwork, artist statements, and photographs taken during the exhibition or related events to be used by Healing Art Show Bloomington for promotional, educational, archival, and informational purposes. Such uses may include, but are not limited to, artist brochures, the Healing Art Show Bloomington website, social media platforms, news releases, printed materials, and future marketing efforts. Artists retain all copyrights to their original artwork. Whenever practical, artists will be credited in connection with the use of their artwork.

Right of Refusal

The Healing Art Show Bloomington reserves the right to decline or remove artwork that does not meet submission requirements, exceeds available exhibition space, is materially inconsistent with the mission of the exhibition, or presents safety, installation, or display concerns. Submission of an application does not guarantee acceptance into the exhibition.

Liability Release

While every reasonable effort will be made to ensure the safe handling, display, and return of submitted artwork, participation in the Healing Art Show Bloomington is voluntary, and artists understand that unforeseen loss, theft, or damage may occur. By participating in the exhibition, artists release and hold harmless the Healing Art Show Bloomington, its organizer, sponsors, venue partners, volunteers, and affiliates from liability for loss of or damage to artwork, except in cases of gross negligence or willful misconduct.

Acknowledgment

For questions, please contact healingartshow@outlook.com.

Also visit our website for more information: healingartshowbloomington.org