EXTENDED: NAF2025 - OPEN CALL FOR VISUAL ART
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Festival Theme: JOY
At Newark Arts Festival 2025, we’re embracing JOY as a bold, creative force that sustains, uplifts, and sparks transformation. We invite artists to channel the power of joy to foster strength, harmony, and revolutionary change. Through art and ideas, we center JOY – the golden state of being that connects us to our humanity. What’s your JOY?
Whether you are a visual artist expressing joy through your work, a performing artist sharing joy on stage, or a programmer cultivating joy through unique events and experiences, we invite you to apply to be part of Newark Arts Festival 2025. Incomplete applications will not be considered. All applications must be submitted via Submittable unless otherwise noted.
Open Call for Visual Artists
Are you a visual artist or part of a collective looking to be part of Newark Arts Festival 2025? We want to hear from you! Curators of established collectives are welcome to apply, but each artist must submit their own application (please reference your collective by name). This Open Call is for visual artists eager to share their creative visions in spaces dedicated to joy, connection, and artistic expression.
For this call, visual art includes:
- Painting (oil, acrylic, watercolor, gouache, tempera, encaustic)
- Drawing (charcoal, graphite, ink, pastel, colored pencil)
- Printmaking (etching, lithography, screen printing, woodcut, monoprint)
- Sculpture (stone, wood, metal, clay, glass)
- Collage (2-dimensional works using, paper, fabric, found objects)
- Assemblage (3-dimensional works using various materials and found objects)
- Installation Art (site-specific, immersive environments)
- Textile & Fiber Art (weaving, quilting, embroidery, felting)
- Ceramics
- Digital Painting & Illustration
- Photography (film, digital, experimental)
- Video Art & Experimental Film
- 3D Modeling & Animation
- Augmented Reality (AR) & Virtual Reality (VR) Art
- Light Art (using LEDs, neon, projections)
- Conceptual Art (idea-based works, often text-based or ephemeral)
For this call, visual art does not include:
- Graphic Design
- Street Art & Graffiti
- Mural Art
- Performance Art (visual elements combined with live action)
- Body Art (tattoos, piercings, body painting)
Performance artists should apply to the Open Call for Performing Artists instead.
Submission Guidelines:
- Submit only artwork you wish to be considered for exhibition. Selected pieces must match the submitted works and be available for the exhibition.
- A non-refundable application fee of $10 is required per submission, supporting exhibition and administrative costs. Payment is made securely through Submittable.
- Financial hardship? Fee waivers are available by contacting festival@newarkarts.org with a brief explanation.
- Exhibition Opportunities: Artwork may be showcased in various festival locations, including:
- Newark Arts Festival Signature Group Exhibition
- NICO Kitchen + Bar at NJPAC
- Newark ArtSpace
- Pop-up galleries throughout the festival
Please Note: Due to construction, we will have very limited exhibition space at the Newark Museum of Art this year.
- Selected artwork(s) may be listed for sale on newarkarts.org. A 25% commission will support Newark Arts’ administrative costs. Please price your work accordingly.
- Submission Deadline is Sunday, June 1, 2025, at 11:59pm
Need Help?
Join us at Newark ArtSpace on May 13, 2025, at Newark ArtSpace for an in-person information session. Get support from a NAF representative, ask questions, and receive guidance on completing your application.
For additional questions, contact festival@newarkarts.org. Let’s make Newark Arts Festival 2025 a celebration of JOY, COMMUNITY, and ART!