CALL FOR ARTISTS

OVERVIEW: The Familias Separadas Project is seeking mid-career visual artists with demonstrated experience in film/video and photography in addition to traditional mediums (painting, drawing, printmaking, mixed media etc.). Ideal applicants should have a commitment to community based projects, public art, and experience in working with immigrant communities. Applicants should also have an openness to collaboration with grassroots organizers and community partners (prior collaborative experience helpful).  The Familias Separadas Project is prioritizing artists who identify as Black, Indigenous, Person of Color, Immigrant and/or Undocumented. 

Artist must reside in or near Aurora, Colorado and preferably is bilingual English and Spanish.

ABOUT THE FAMILIAS SEPARADAS PROJECT: The “Familias Separadas” project, created by Lead Artist, Michelle Angela Ortiz, focuses on the stories of families living in the United States and how they have been impacted by deportations. The main goal of the project is to create moments of healing and to shift the focus from statistics/numbers of deportations to seeing the father, mother, brother that has been torn apart from their families. View Phase One (2015) and Phase Two (2017-2018).

The project will build on the stories of undocumented immigrant families- loved ones and/or members that are currently or formerly detained. Families will be engaged in virtual story circles, theatre and playwriting techniques, and creative sessions focused on healing and sharing their stories. Community partners that will offer support to the project and participating families include Mom’s Rising, Mamas con Poder, and local community partners focused on immigrant rights. 

The selected team of local artists will assist the lead artist in collecting stories and in building large-scale site-specific public art installations in each of the three cities. The installations will become a visual platform activated by storytelling through video and audio performances in communities that reside near immigrant detention facilities in 1) Dover, New Hampshire/ Strafford County Detention Center, (2) Aurora, Colorado/ Aurora Detention Center (3) Raleigh, North Carolina/ Wake County Detention Center. 

The installations & video vignettes will be presented at each site and broadcasted online. The intention is to reclaim space and share the participants’ stories of struggle, strength, love, humor, and resilience in the midst of a system that is constantly devaluing their existence. The intention of creating these spaces is to share our stories, celebrate one another, and spark others to take action to end the threat of detention and deportations within our communities.

ARTIST COMMITMENTS:

  • Orientation and training with Familias Separadas team (virtual)

  • Proposal for community engagements (based on training with Familias Separadas team)

  • Series of community interactions in line with Covid 19 protocols includes: 

    • Story Circles with community members (virtual)

    • Creative sessions (may be virtual or socially distanced)

    • Audio and Video captures (socially distanced)

    • Imagery collection of photos, drawings, and writings (social distanced)

  • Regular communication with Lead Artist and Project Manager (this may include emails, virtual weekly check-ins, and/or phone calls)

  • Assistance with installation of public art works in respective city 

  • Commitment to abiding by Covid 19 protocol (i.e. wearing masks when interacting with the public, maintaining 6 ft of distance, avoiding prolonged contact indoors, frequent hand washing etc.)

ARTIST RECEIVES:

  • Stipend: $5,000

  • Art Materials and Supplies for Creative sessions: $1,200

PROJECT TIMELINE: NOVEMBER 2020-JUNE 2021

November/ December 2020- Orientation and training workshops 

January 2021: Assist the Lead Artist in the virtual story circles with participants. Collect video, audio, and visuals that support the community members’ stories

February 2021: Lead creative sessions with the community members to generate drawings, poems, and other works that will ultimately be a part of the final public art installations. Work with the community in scouting locations for the public art installations.

March 2021: Assist the Lead Artist and Project Manager in the process of securing permissions from property owners for the confirmed final locations of the public art installations.

April 2021: Assist the Lead Artist in finalizing the public art designs that incorporate materials from the community workshops. This support includes gathering additional drawings or materials for the design. 

May 2021: Assist in overseeing the installation of the public art works to it’s completion

June 2021: Assist in the planning of the unveiling, programming, and activation of public artworks combined with organizing efforts by the immigrant rights community partners in each city.

SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS:

All Text Documents must be submitted as a .pdf

  • Artist must be 18 years of age or older

  • 5 samples of visual work and/or up to 5 video submissions 

    • ALL works must be created within the past five years.

    • Note: Applications that have recent/current work are preferred.

    • Images (Maximum of 5)

      • File Type: JPEG or JPG only.

      • File Dimensions: 1,200 pixels or greater on the longest side.

      • File Size: Under 5 MB.

    • Video (Maximum of 5)

      • File Type: MOV, MP4

      • Linked media from YouTube, Vimeo, etc. must work

  • Statement of Interest Up To 500 words: A brief description of your work and process and how it resonates with the themes of immigration. Please describe why you are interested in working with Familias Separadas Project and your interest in working with communities impacted by immigrant detention.

  • Name, email, and phone number for two professional references.  (These should be from individuals that you have worked with professionally. This does not include friends and/or family unless you worked with them in a professional capacity.)

  • CV/Resume

  • Link to website and/or social media handles