New Museum of African American Music Calls for Art Submissions

The National Museum of African American Music, which is scheduled to open in Nashville in summer 2020, is calling on visual artists to submit original artwork for consideration as permanent installations within the museum.

The artwork will add a visual art dimension to the new 56,000 square-foot museum, which is looking at installing the work in three separate areas within the building that do not house other exhibits.

The museum is seeking original artwork that will create a visual experience that aligns with the museum's amazing musical content and blends well with the overall look and feel of the galleries.

Submitted artwork will be juried by an internal art selection committee and three selected artists will be awarded between $50,000 - $70,000 for the creation and installation of their work.

"The curatorial team is very excited about the opportunity to review art submissions from all around the world and we encourage artists to send us their best music-inspired work for consideration," said Dr. Dina Bennett, curatorial director at NMAAM.

"As much as musical artists have their place in celebrating the contributions of African American music to the world, visual artists also play a pivotal role in preserving the legacy and informing the culture,"she added.

"Our hope is that by opening space in the museum to visual artists, we can add some original pieces to our public spaces that will enhance the stories tell as well as share something visually dynamic for our guests to enjoy."

Who can submit art and how?

All emerging artists, aged 18 and older, ar invited to submit their work regardless of gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity or race. No student art will be accepted and work should be professional in nature.

Artwork submissions should be connected to the African American experience and musical in context aligning with the museum's mission and vision to provide a transformative, inspirational and educational experience for an international audience of museum guests.

Artwork should also be durable, able to sustain various climate conditions, resistant to UV damage and safe for public interaction.

Projected spaces within the museum where artwork will live include; the Grand Foyer which is the main entry point for the museum, the Lower Lobby which is a gathering space for ticket sales and large-scale public events and the Multipurpose Rooms which will be used for a variety of educational classes and community programs.

The closing date for completed applications is Sunday, January 12, 2020 at 11:59 P.M. CST. Submissions should be sent to the Museum's Art Selection Committee through the submission page. Submit here.

For the full details on how to apply, as well as complete competition rules, download the Request for Proposal for Public Art. or send your questions to [email protected].