The Deadline Has Passed
Both our general Open Call and Extended Call for artists have closed. A Performer Call for the Virtual Showcase will happen soon. Follow us on social media and sign up for our newsletter to get information on future Artist Calls and Gender Unbound Programming.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we will not be hosting an in-person Gender Unbound Art Festival this year. Instead, Gender Unbound will be commissioning original works of art from transgender and intersex artists that will be displayed in an online gallery this September, when our festival normally takes place. The gallery of commissioned work will be paired with weekly video performances (submissions TBA) and artist interviews so that our communities will be able to revel in the talents of trans and intersex artists while chatting with their community live, during the stream.
The theme for this show is “HOME.” During this time, a lot of us are spending time in our physical homes, but the concept of “home” often has different meanings to trans and intersex people.
- What does it mean to be at home in our bodies?
- Maybe we found home in our community.
- Does home feel like security or confinement?
- Maybe sometimes we feel unsafe at home. Maybe more than sometimes.
- Some of us are still looking for home.
- Some of us are unhoused.
- Some of us have had to leave home to find home.
- Maybe the places we feel most at home are not a house at all.
- What does it mean to come home to ourselves? As ourselves?
This is a broad theme, and we encourage artists to interpret it however it speaks to them. We hope it inspires some of y’all to create some great work and can’t wait to see what y’all create.
This call for artists will close at 12:00 PM/noon CST on Friday, June 5, 2020. UPDATE: An additional extended call for black trans and intersex artists will go until midnight (CDT) on Sundat, June 21, 2020. Gender Unbound will contact selected artists by Thursday, June 11 to confirm the commission and arrange for the first payment. The final work of art needs to be delivered to Gender Unbound in Austin, TX by Monday, August 3.
What type of work is accepted?
All forms of fine art will be considered, as long as the finished piece of art can be hung on a gallery wall or displayed on a pedestal, including but not limited to: painting, drawing, photography, printmaking, collage, ceramics, 3D printing, textiles, metalwork, etc. This includes digital work that can be printed on paper. In order to receive the final payment, artists will need to send Gender Unbound the finished work of art.
What/how will artists be paid?
Artists will be able to name their own commission rate between $200 to $600. We understand that artists have different commission rates based on the size, style, materials, and time spent on their work. The maximum amount of $600 per piece will ensure that we can commission the maximum number of artists possible for our budget. We encourage artists who normally charge less than $200 for commissions to still apply and quote us our minimum commission rate of $200.
Half of the commission rate will be paid upon confirmation of commission, with the other half of the commission rate paid upon Gender Unbound’s receipt of the commissioned piece. We are able to pay artists via check, Paypal, or Venmo.
When/how will the final commissioned work be delivered?
The final work of art needs to be delivered to Gender Unbound in Austin, TX by Monday, August 3. Local artists can arrange a contactless drop-off of their work with Gender Unbound in South Austin. Gender Unbound will reimburse the cost of shipping original work or printing digital work for artists who are not local to Austin, TX and cannot complete a contactless drop-off of their work.
Who will own the final commissioned work?
Gender Unbound will own the original artwork, but will not have an unlimited or exclusive license to the work. If there is no original because the work is a photograph or digital art, then Gender Unbound will own a print of the work. The artist will retain all intellectual rights and copyrights related to the work, can reproduce the work before delivering it to Gender Unbound, and can sell prints or merchandise related to the work. Gender Unbound will be allowed to sell the original work (or print as outlined above) and use the proceeds to benefit the organization and future transgender and intersex community programming. Selected artists will be able to review and sign a contract outlining the details of the commission and ownership before continuing with the commission.
Do artists have to live in the United States to be considered?
Yes. Unfortunately we are unable to accept international artists. We do, however, accept artists from anywhere in the United States. Gender Unbound will reimburse the cost of shipping original work or printing digital work for artists who are not local to Austin, TX and cannot complete a contactless drop-off of their work. Pieces must be received by Gender Unbound no later than Monday, August 3, 2020.