Call For Submissions

Autry Classroom Curators Presents: Visions of Freedom
Eighth Annual Student Visual Arts Exhibition

For a printable pdf of the information below click HERE

Opening Reception

About the Theme: Visions of Freedom

During a speech given in 1864, President Abraham Lincoln said, “We all declare for liberty; but in using the same word we do not all mean the same thing.” For centuries, the American West has offered opportunities for freedom. Millions of people have looked to the American West as a place where they could secure freedoms not offered elsewhere. For some, they headed to the American West seeking political freedom, others looked to achieve economic freedom, and still others pursued religious freedom. As varied as the peoples traveling to the American West, so are the freedoms sought.

We call on the students of the American West to share with us their visions of freedom.

How do you define freedom? What does it mean to be free? Could one individual’s freedom interfere with someone else’s? Can freedom lost be won?

We look forward to seeing your visions of freedom and sharing them at the Autry.

• Submissions will be accepted from August 21, 2023 through March 15, 2024.
• There is no entry fee.
• All selected entries are eligible for award recognition.

Submissions

• Student application must be submitted online at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/AutryVisualArts2024.
• Completed artwork must be submitted to the Autry by dropping it off at the Autry's Mary Pickford Education Center OR mailing it to the address below (we will ship it back at no cost to you): 

Mailing artwork:
Autry Museum of the American West
c/o Katherine Herman, Education Office
4700 Western Heritage Way
Los Angeles, CA 90027

Dropping off artwork:
Please call or email Katherine Herman to coordinate
at (323) 495-4300 or kherman@theautry.org

• Final deadline for both the online application submission and for the physical artwork to arrive at the Autry (not a “postmarked by” deadline) is March 15, 2024.

Selection and Show/Exhibition

• Juried results will be shared with the teachers/advisors by April 5, 2024. Teachers and advisors are kindly asked to share this information with their students.
• Selected artwork will be on view Saturday, April 20, 2024 through Thursday, June 27, 2024.

Post Show/Exhibition

• Artwork removal cannot be done prior to Thursday, June 27, 2024.
• Artwork pick up must happen no later than Friday, July 19, 2024.
• Any artwork left at the Autry Museum past Friday, July 19, 2024 is subject to disposal.
• If you teach outside of Los Angeles County, please contact Meghan Selway at mselway@theautry.org to coordinate artwork return.

All works of art must be:

• Original artwork.
• Created by students in grades 6-12.
• Two-dimensional art (including, but not limited to: watercolor, graphic prints, acrylic, mixed media, oil, pastel, drawing, photography, etc.).

All artwork submission must:

• Be completed at the time of submission.
• Be labeled on the back with the name of the student, the school, the teacher, and orientation of the work.
• Measure 5 x 7, 8 x 10, 11 x 14, 16 x 20, 20 x 30, or 22 x 32 inches.

Notes:

• Stretched canvases will be accepted, but will not be framed by the Autry.
• Pastels, charcoal, and Cray-Pas must be fixed (or sealed) when submitted.

By submitting their artwork, the artist assumes all risks and agrees to hold the Autry harmless against any and all losses, claims, or damages.