COMMUNAL ARTSPACE SUBMISSION FORM AND AGREEMENTS

"Sign of the Times: A Kiki at the Salon"

2025

Presented by SWOP Chicago and The ArtSpace

Co-Curated by Kee Mabin

On online at theartspacecenter.com

On in person at PACH21

2141 West 21st St

Chicago, IL 60608

info@theartspacecenter.com 

Calling ALL Black TNBs, Queers and Sex workers...

In partnership with SWOP Chicago, The ArtSpace presents its first hybrid exhibition in 2025–“Sign of the Times: A Kiki at the Salon.” Centering black trans, nonbinary (TNB) folks, queer folks and sex workers, “Sign of the Times: A Kiki at the Salon” calls on artists to represent their experiences of a militarized Trump America and comment on the psychological warfare and state-sanctioned violence they experience as some of the most marginalized people in the United States. Despite the censorship and feed of distractions, as black trans people, queer people and sex workers, we will not be silenced. We will be seen and we will fight back. 

As a salon-style show, “Sign of the Times: A Kiki at the Salon” is an homage to the joyous resistance of black queer culture and the development of the Black Arts Movement during the 1960s and 1970s. As you view the artwork of this exhibition, we hope you resonate with the following:

"This is your sign. This is when we form communities that even our own communities are unaware of. It’s time for a new wave of grass-roots, community-centered, very intentional and very honest storytelling, one that resembles the rise of black pride during the Black Arts Movement. 

It’s time to get trans people’s rights back. It’s time for sex workers to have rights. It’s time we fight. We are here and cannot be erased. We are human and deserve to have our basic needs met and to experience joy and peace without the threat violence for our mere existence.

 
It’s time for a Black Queer Art Movement, one where we center black TNB people, sex workers, and black queer disabled people as we are often the most dehumanized, demonized and scapegoated. It’s time we intentionally continue the work of the revolutionaries who came before us! This is the beginning of the end of fascism."

“Sign of the Times: A Kiki at the Salon” opens online and in-person on November 1, 2025 at PACH21 (2141 West 21st, Chicago, IL 60608). It is part of the exhibition project series “Communal ArtSpace” where both the audience and artists are at the center of a curated art exhibition. 

About the "Communal ArtSpace" exhibition project
Each "Communal ArtSpace" exhibition has a theme and sometimes an associated medium. Each activation involves an exchange of skills and often, the making of artwork as a group. 
All artwork made during workshop activations belongs to the community but stays in the possession of The ArtSpace and becomes CAS artwork. In this way, each workshop attendee becomes an exhibiting artist. CAS artwork is set to be exhibited on an annual basis.

Selection Criteria

This is an open call. Black and African diasporic trans and nonbinary, queers and/or black sex workers will be prioritized for selection, however, non-black folks may be considered if space allows and are welcome to apply. 

Deadlines and Exhibition Dates

Form submission deadline: October 5, 11:59pm

Exhibition on In Person: November 1-30

Exhibition on Online: November 1-December 31

Other Important Dates

Artwork drop-off: October 19-26

Artwork pick-up: December 6-12

Gallery hours: Monday: 10am - 6pm, Tuesday: 4pm - 9pm, 

Wednesday-Sunday: 12pm - 6pm

For pick-up/drop-off outside of regular hours, arrange an appointment via email.

Installation: October 27-29

De-installation: December 1-3

Opening night: Saturday, November 1, 2025, 6-9pm 

 

Exhibition Style and Media Specs

Artwork will be hung salon-style.

All media will be accepted. Any installation art will only be accepted if the artist can install and de-install and provide installation materials. At this time, sonic and film work may only be exhibited online unless artists can provide the necessary materials for in-person viewing (e.g. speakers, projectors, etc.).

Max dimensions of 30 x 30 inches for hung art. Max dimensions of 25 x 25 x 25 inches for sculptures/installations.

 

Approval emails will be sent before October 13, 2025.

As part of Communal ArtSpace (CAS), artists have the opportunity to facilitate a workshop to educate community members about a topic or share a practical skill. This is also any opportunity for exhibiting artists to connect further with their viewers/collectors and vice versa.

Guidelines

All CAS activations should align with the theme of the exhibition and provide community members with useful information that can used in their daily lives and/or a skill that they can use for professional development, and/or benefit the community members in any practical way. 

We will consider proposals that:

• help community members think strategically and critically about how they can organize within their community to be more independent from fascist structures;
• and/or add to the building blocks of systems such as mutual aid networks, bartering systems, farming, community-led mental and physical health, trade skills, niche entrepreneurial skills, etc. 

Proposals also need to incorporate art as with the theme of CAS. For example, an activation could be titled "Glue Together Your Community: The Importance of Mutual Aid Networks" and participants might be prompted to collage the various types of mutual aid networks that they were taught during that specific workshop.

Activations should be no longer than 2 hours.

Selection Process

Individuals sent an approval email will meet with TAS personnel to further develop the workshop and help prepare for workshop delivery. 

Compensation

Facilitating artists will receive a stipend of $300 to be paid after activation delivery.

FACILITATION AGREEMENT

Intellectual Property and Deliverables

All intellectual property and deliverables created by the artist for Communal ArtSpace activations are owned by the artist. All artwork made by participants during CAS activations is property of The ArtSpace (not to be sold).

Activation Delivery

All activations will be donation-based and all donations received go to TAS and SWOP Chicago. Activations will be primarily delivered by the artist, however, logistical support and some co-facilitation can be provided by TAS/SWOP/PACH personnel.

Expectations

As workshop facilitators, artists become temporary partners of The ArtSpace, SWOP Chicago and PACH. As partners of these organizations, faciliating artists are expected to show respect to the space that hosts us (PACH); create a safe and brave space for participants (this is a very queer, anti-fascist space); respect all art and contents of the spaces we use as well as to the constituents of our respective communities. Workshops need to begin on time/relatively on time out of respect to the space makers and participants.

This agreement is made today by and between THE ARTSPACE, SWOP CHICAGO and PILSEN ARTS AND COMMUNITY HOUSE (hereinafter referred to as the "TAS," "SWOP" and "PACH" and/or "PACH21" respectively) and the artist as mentioned above, for the exhibition of art and/or other retail items (hereinafter referred to as "Items") and for the delivery of a workshop activation if selected above (hereinafter referred to as "Deliverables") online via theartspacecenter.com and in-person at PACH21.

Terms and Termination: The term length for this contract covers the length of time that the artist's items are being sold at TAS/SWOP and PACH, (2 months from date of Online Opening Date).

Either party reserves the right to terminate upon notice of 7 calendar days. On termination, custody of all unsold items consigned hereunder shall immediately be returned to the artist.

Artist must collect unsold items within 14 days of being notified by TAS/SWOP of termination. (Failure to collect unsold items past 14 days deems the items as TAS/SWOP property and will be sold at 100% donation to TAS/SWOP.)

Commissions on retail items & artwork: The artist shall receive 60% of the retail list price of each item sold. TAS and SWOP shall receive a Donation of 40% (split evenly) of the retail list price of each item sold.

Artists have the option to donate their work in full to TAS/SWOP to support fundraising efforts.

Prices: TAS/SWOP shall sell the items shown on the inventory sheet at the agreed upon retail list price(s). Where discount sales are given, the discount shall be treated as a reduction in price, and only TAS/SWOP's donation shall be reduced based on the discount. Artist are required to price their pieces in the range of $50-$1000 USD. 

Payments: TAS/SWOP shall pay the artist their commission no later than the 15th of the month for any items that sold during the previous month. The artist will be given 60% of the retail list price indicated on the inventory sheet. Payments will be made via Check in which the artist may pick up or request to have mailed.

Accounting: TAS/SWOP shall provide the artist an accounting report upon the artist’s request. The accounting report shall include the artist inventory list, and shall show each item sold during the accounting period. Accounting will include the title of the work, date of sale, price and the amount due to the artist. The accounting shall also list the items consigned to TAS/SWOP that have not been sold.

Loss or Damage: PACH shall be responsible for losses up to, and not over, 50% of the retail list price for items on the inventory sheet for each retail item stolen, damaged or loss by natural disaster, water, fire, earthquake, environmental factors, or circumstances beyond the PACH’s control.

Security Interest: The artist has title to and a security interest in any works consigned or proceeds of sale under this agreement. In the event of a default by TAS/SWOP, the artist has all rights to the work and the work shall not be subject to claims by TAS/SWOP's creditors. Title to all works shall pass directly from the artist to a purchasing party. TAS/SWOP will never retain title to any of the artist’s work unless a separate agreement is made between the artist and TAS/SWOP on this subject.

Display: PACH shall provide the space in which the designated items will be displayed. PACH and TAS/SWOP are responsible for the display and removal of items. The manner in which the items are displayed is the responsibility of TAS/SWOP. The items will be displayed in the gallery area of PACH during the designated period of time even if sold. Sold artwork will be delivered after the close of exhibition.

Web Display & Sales: Items will be displayed online and may be photographed and posted with the retail list price on TAS's website and any partnering website. Items will be advertised for sale on websites and or social media websites and will direct customers to purchase in person or online directly from PACH.