Artist Application

Call for Artists: Ease

Rest. Softness. Reverence.
 
Presented by Black Artist Forward
Black History Month Exhibition
📍 Exhibit Location:
Legacy Rolls
Spring Lake, NC

🗓 Exhibit Dates: February 6 – March 27, 2026
🎉 Opening Reception: February 6, 2026
🖼 Submission Deadline: January 12, 2026
💲 Entry Fee: Free

A Welcoming Note to Artists:
You do not need to have a business, a logo, a website, or a perfect portfolio. Your voice and your vision matter.

Whether you are emerging, self-taught, seasoned, or returning to art after years away, you are welcome here.
This exhibit is about authenticity, not perfection.

About the Exhibit
Ease is a Black History Month exhibition dedicated to celebrating and affirming Black women. This show centers the rest, softness, joy, and spiritual grounding that Black women deserve yet are often denied.

Artists are invited to create visual work that offers Black women a moment of ease: a breath released, a softness reclaimed, a return to the sacred, or a glimpse of everyday peace.

This exhibit is an offering. A blessing. A reminder that Black women deserve spaces where their tenderness is honored, and their spirits can exhale.

All accepted artworks will be printed on 24×36 canvas wraps, allowing creators to safely showcase their work without sending originals.

Submission Details
Deadline to Submit: January 12, 2026
Jury Review: January 12–17, 2026
Notification of Acceptance: January 19, 2026
Printing Begins: January 20, 2026

 
Visual Art Guidelines

• Submit up to 3 high-resolution images (300 dpi or higher)
• Final prints will be 24×36 inch canvas wraps
• Artwork can be vertical or horizontal
• Include title, medium, and an optional brief statement
• All visual mediums welcome: painting, illustration, photography, mixed media, digital art, collage, and more
   

Additional Opportunities

• Accepted artists may opt-in to sell prints through Black Artist Forward’s website.
• 80% of proceeds go directly to the artist
• 20% supports the Thrive Fund, an emergency microgrant for artists in Cumberland County
• This exhibition is intended to travel to additional venues following the initial run. Participation in future shows will be discussed with accepted artists.

 
Eligibility

• Open to Black artists of ALL AGES
• Artists of all experience levels are encouraged
• Must reside in the U.S.
• No business registration or logo required to participate

 
Terms & Conditions

Copyright, Exhibition Rights & Professional Conduct

By submitting to Ease, you confirm that:

• You are the original creator of the submitted work(s) and hold full copyright.
• Submitted work does not infringe on any third-party rights, including copyright, trademark, or privacy.
• You grant Black Artist Forward (BAF) non-exclusive rights to reproduce your accepted work for exhibition, marketing, and promotional purposes related to the exhibit.
• Canvas prints created for this exhibit will not be returned. They will remain the property of Black Artist Forward as part of the traveling exhibition collection and may be exhibited at future venues.
• Artists retain full ownership and copyright of their original work and are encouraged to promote and sell their originals independently.

Disqualification, Removal & Conduct Policy

Black Artist Forward reserves the right to disqualify any submission or remove accepted work from the exhibition at any time if:

• It is discovered that the artist has misrepresented authorship,
• The work infringes upon another creator’s copyright, or
• The submission violates the spirit of the exhibit’s mission or community standards.

BAF is committed to cultivating a respectful, collaborative, and affirming space for artists and the communities we serve.

By submitting, you agree to engage in professional and respectful conduct throughout the duration of the exhibit.

BAF reserves the right to remove any artist’s work from the exhibit if they engage in conduct that publicly disparages the exhibit, its partners, or fellow participants in a way that causes harm to the event’s integrity or community relationships.

Constructive feedback and dialogue are always welcome and can be directed to our team privately.