Calling All Young Creatives!

Whitney Recreation Center in Clark County, Nevada in conjunction with Metro’s Law Enforcement Empowerment and Athletic Program (LEEAP), is excited to announce a call to art for school-aged youth with the theme: Shades of the Black Experience: Identity.Expression.Reflection.

We invite you to explore the multifaceted nature of the Black experience through your art. What does it mean to be Black in America today? How do you express your unique identity and perspective through your chosen art form? How can art be a tool for self-reflection and understanding?

Why This Theme Matters

The theme of Shades of the Black Experience: Identity.Expression.Reflection is deeply connected to the overall theme of African Americans and the Arts. Throughout history, art has been a powerful way for Black artists to tell their stories, challenge societal norms, and celebrate Black culture. From the music of Nina Simone to the paintings of Kehinde Wiley, Black artists have used their creativity to inspire, educate, and uplift.

Express Yourself Through Art

We encourage you to use any art form to express yourself through visual arts painting, drawing, photography, and creative writing. There are no limits to your creativity. We want to see your unique perspective on the Black experience.

Submission Guidelines

• All submissions must be original and created by the artist.
• Submissions are open to youth in grades K through 12^th.
• Artists may submit up to three pieces of art.
• All submissions must be submitted by Thursday, February 1^st, 2024.

*Note: Please carefully read Requirements section below for content limitations, and Gallery Preparation Guide link.

Application Submission Deadline: Thursday, February 1st @ 6:00 pm
You will be notified via email your application status by Monday, February 5^th, 2024.

Important dates if invited to exhibit:

• Entry Deadline: Thursday, February 1^st, 2024 at 6:00 pm.
• Artwork Drop-Off: Wednesday, February 7th, 2024 from 9:00 am - 6:00 pm.
• Artwork Pick-up: Monday, April 1st, 2024 from 9:00 am - 6:00 pm.
• Exhibit: Monday, February 12th, 2024, through Friday, March 29th, 2024.

What you need to know:

• The artist agrees to leave their work up through the end of the exhibit date. No artist may drop off or remove their artwork without consent of the Whitney Recreation Center.
• Artist MUST be available for pick-up and drop off date to sign in and sign out their work. Artwork must be hand delivered or shipped to the address on this form. If shipping the work, the costs of round-trip shipping are at the artist’s expense and must be pre-paid and on time.
• Images included in applications must be of actual artwork, not conceptual images.
• Open to any artist aged 5 and older; applications for artists under age 18 must include signature and contact information of parent or guardian.
• No entry fee.
• Must be original artwork medium; digital art, photography and printmaking are acceptable; no replica prints shall be accepted.
• Up to three pieces of art may be submitted.
• Please note that Clark County does not secure insurance on exhibited artwork. Artist will exhibit at their own risk. Artists are encouraged to purchase their own insurance to recover any loss from broken or stolen artwork that may occur during the exhibition.

Youth definition:

• Youth ages 5 to 18 years old that have a valid school ID.

Requirements:

• Artwork that contains offensive language, any drug content, overtly political, religious and/or sexual content or imagery, including nudity, shall not be considered.
• Artist will download the application and submit it to Chanel T. Smith at csmith@clarkcountynv.gov.
• No perishable artwork will be considered, unless protected with sealant such as mod podge, epoxy, and other related substances/chemicals that protect artwork from any potential infestation.
• All 2D flat work (on paper or similar) must be framed with a hanging point on the back. Canvas and larger 2D work must have D-rings, a wire, or existing hanging point secured to the back, and be ready to hang.
• See our Gallery Preparation Guide for more details.
• 2D artwork dimensions may not exceed 48” wide or 48” high; weight cannot exceed 40lbs;
• Perishable artwork shall not be considered.
• All parts of the artwork must be secured and stable. For example, sculptures must be securely glued or welded together.
• Clark County Public Arts reserves the right to disqualify and remove any artwork that poses a threat to fall, break, or cause harm to the public, the facility, or the artwork itself.

For questions, please email: csmith@clarkcountynv.gov  with subject line: Shades of the Black Experience: Identity.Expresssion.Reflection