Call for Emerging and Established Artists
The CMS International Art Competition 2024-25 invites emerging and established visual artists to submit artworks on specific, human migration-related themes for this year’s competition, with two prizes to be awarded by the jury. The competition is open to all, regardless of geographic location, citizenship status, or any other determiners. Artists may submit up to three artworks. Submissions are due by February 17, 2025 (5 pm PST).
This year’s theme is ‘African diasporas, migrations, and mobilities.’ The theme invites artists to explore the diverse histories, cultures, and experiences shaped by the movement of African peoples across the globe, whether through forced or voluntary migration, and across both past and contemporary periods. We consider human migration as defined broadly and drawn from any historical periods or geographical areas. Please visit our website for a better understanding of CMS’ research and public engagement regarding migration and mobilities.
The 2024-25 competition is a collaboration between CMS and three of its research groups: Mobilities, Narratives, and Circulation: Africa and Its Diasporas. Held annually, the competition expresses CMS’ value of arts-based research and the special contributions that artists can make to academic conversations about the causes, consequences, and experiences of human migration and mobility.
Prizes
First Prize: CAD $1,500
Second Prize: CAD $500
Key dates
- February 17, 2025 (5 pm PST): Deadline for submissions
- February 28, 2025: Prize winners notified
- March 6, 2025: Prize winners publicly announced
- March 24-28 (TBD), 2025: Online public celebration event with prize winners
Artwork Eligibility
- Artwork must be 2-D, visually based, and able to be represented and submitted in a digital file. Various types of 2-D visual media are welcome, including but not limited to: painting, drawing, printmaking, photography, illustration, comics and graphic novels, animated shorts, multimedia, and web-based works. Live action films of any length are not eligible. 3-D works are not eligible. Artwork file sizes are limited to 10MB each.
- Artwork must have been completed between 2022-2024 (inclusive).
- The winning artworks will be featured on the Centre’s website, social media channels, and other Centre reports. Thus, entry to the competition requires the artist’s signature of the consent form, granting permission for the works(s) to be published by CMS, with proper credit listed for the artist, and all copyrights reserved by the artist. CMS image use will be limited to promotional, educational, media, and reporting use only. See consent form for additional details.
- Each artist may submit up to three artworks. Multiple artwork submissions are permitted. Please submit each artwork separately.
Online Display of Artwork
Prize-winning artworks will be featured on the CMS website in the spring of 2025, and will be archived on this website for future access. They may also appear in CMS promotional, educational, media, and reporting materials, with proper credit listed for the artist. All copyrights are reserved by the artist.
Selection Criteria
The submissions will be evaluated by a jury consisting of CMS faculty affiliates and select visual and/or digital media scholars. The selection criteria include:
- Strength and creativity of the artwork
- The artwork’s relevance and originality in addressing African diasporas, migrations, and mobilities
- Coherence of the artwork in expressing the artist’s intent as described in the artist statement
- Artist’s consent for the work to be featured on the CMS website
How to apply
You may submit up to three artworks with your application. Submissions are due by 5 PM PST on February 17, 2025. The submission package requires the following information:
- Artist name and city/country of residence
- Artist bio (150 words max)
- Artwork file(s): up to three artworks, each in a separate file; 10MB max per file; jpg, png, or pdf format only
- An artist statement about the submission(s) that helps the jury understand your work (450 words max)
- Photo of Artist (for feature article on prize winners)
- Signed consent form