Pittsburgh, PA  –  Friday, June 21, 2024  – 

Whenever the city of Pittsburgh is declared as one of America’s ‘most livable,’ we must invariably ask: For whom? This thought-provoking question motivates us to foster dialogue and fruitful collaborations that enrich the lives of everyone in our city and region.

For over a century, esteemed institutions like Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh, Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, and University of Pittsburgh have served as essential public resources, connecting Pittsburghers to each other and the world. We recognize, however, that our endeavors to cultivate a just and equitable city must be more intentional, intersectional, and reflective of our evolving society. 1Hood Media, a vanguard of arts and activism, is our presenting partner to share power in this community endeavor to create a dialogue, foster partnerships, and build a more equitable Pittsburgh.

As Pittsburgh morphs into an innovation and learning hub and the urgency of racial equity and climate change intensifies, the needs of our residents are swiftly changing. To meet these changing needs, we are adapting our services and support.

We extend beyond the confines of our institutions and commit ourselves as responsive and collaborative partners for progress and transformation. We strive to leverage our resources, knowledge, and connections to significantly contribute to the community’s wellbeing and equitable growth. At the heart of our efforts is the creation of, “Envisioning A Just Pittsburgh,” an inclusive Call for Art to all community members of Southwestern PA to share their visions for a just and equitable Pittsburgh.

Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. once said, “Our goal is to create a beloved community, and this will require a qualitative change in our souls as well as a quantitative change in our lives.”

In the spirit of Dr. King’s legacy, we are inviting you to submit creative works over the next five months – be it visual art, writing, or performance – that inspire and expand our consciousness of our future communities in which we all thrive. We encourage you to express yourselves boldly and authentically, and use your art to inspire, challenge, and educate others.

This initiative will culminate during a series of showcases and performances in early 2025. Select works will be displayed with full artist attribution in social media and at locations around the city and region in collaboration with the Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh, Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, the University of Pittsburgh, 1Hood Media, the August Wilson African American Cultural Center and other community partners. We are thrilled to offer several awards for artists to demonstrate “A Just Pittsburgh”. All entries are eligible for award distinctions to acknowledge outstanding contributions to the showcase in the following categories:

• Writing for the Page: Short Story, Poetry, Personal Essay, Flash Fiction
• Visual Art: 2D, 3D, Painting, Photography, Sculpture, Fiber Art, Graphic Design
• Performance: Music, Dance, Slam Poetry, Spoken Word
• Video & Interdisciplinary: Works that cross categories, Mixed Media, Digital Art
• Youth Arts (17 and younger, by close date): All categories including:
  • Writing for the Page
  • Visual Art
  • Performance
  • Video & Interdisciplinary

 

Deadline 10/20/2024

Join us in this collaborative endeavor to create a dialogue, foster partnerships, and build a more equitable Pittsburgh. We can’t wait to see the incredible work that you all produce and to showcase your voices, perspectives, and talents to the world.  We look forward to the change we can foster together to envision a more just Pittsburgh.

Artists can use the submission link below for more details about submission criteria, qualifications and awards. https://pitt.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_555bxdkOoB4lg4S

Please check our websites for frequent updates: http://pitt.ly/justpgh

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