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OPEN CALLS FOR ART

The JMAC regularly hosts open call opportunities for artists. Listed below are our current open and upcoming open calls!

CALL FOR ART!
NEVERMORE - A CASK OF CURIOUS THINGS
EXHIBITION

Inspired by the surrealist imagination of Edgar Allan Poe, Nevermore: A Cask of Curious Things invites artists to contribute to an exhibition of strange treasures, relics, and collected wonders. 

Presented in collaboration with The Hanover Theatre Repertory's theatrical performances of monologues drawn from Poe’s writings, this exhibition explores the gothic allure of objects that carry stories: forgotten trinkets, fragments of memory, peculiar keepsakes, and artifacts that seem to hum with mystery. Like the careful hoards made by ravens and other corvids—creatures known to gather curious and glittering things—this exhibition imagines a shadowed trove of collected relics, each with its own quiet obsession. 

We seek artworks that evoke the feeling of opening a hidden cask filled with enigmatic objects. Pieces may reflect themes of obsession, memory, loss, devotion, decay, and the strange beauty of things kept and treasured. Artists are encouraged to interpret the gothic atmosphere of Poe’s world through objects that feel discovered, collected, or preserved. 

Submissions might take the form of small sculptures, assemblages, relic-like objects, mixed media works, photographs, prints, paintings, jewelry, or other works that suggest a mysterious artifact or curious treasure. Works that engage with themes of collecting, cabinets of curiosity, or corvid-like hoards are especially welcome. 

Submission Details 
Deadline: September 6, 2026 @11:59 PM EST 

Exhibition Timeline: 
Drop Off: October 11th and 12th, 2026 
On Display: October 14th - November 1, 2026 
Pick Up: November 2, 2026 
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SIZE CONSIDERATION 
Because the exhibition will be presented as a collective “treasure trove” of objects, smaller and intimate works are strongly encouraged. Pieces that feel like artifacts, relics, or collected curiosities are especially well suited for the exhibition! 

Together, the exhibition and performance will create a dimly lit trove of wonders—an imagined cask filled with peculiar relics and shadowed memories, where each object invites the viewer to linger a little longer. 
Artists may submit up to 5 works. All media welcome. 
What curious thing might you place within the cask? 
submit artwork here!

CALL FOR EXHIBITION PROPOSALS!

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​Selection Criteria 
Proposals will be evaluated based on: 
  • Strength and clarity of concept 
  • Relevance to the thematic framework 
  • Cohesion and originality 
  • Feasibility within the exhibition timeline and space 
Important Dates 
  • Installation: February 2, 2027 
  • Exhibition Opens: February 3, 2027 
  • Exhibition Closes: February 27, 2027 
  • Deinstallation: March 1, 2027 
Artists must be available (or have a representative available, if it is a group or collaborative show) for installation and deinstallation. Please be sure to check out the JMAC Gallery Guidelines here! 

Additional Information 
Details regarding curator stipends, art sale requirements, and installation support will be provided upon selection. 

Proposals will be reviewed on a rolling basis.  
Deadline: Wednesday September 30, 2026 @11:59PM EST 


If sending an email please send with the following subject line: Hedwig Exhibition Proposal – [Artist Name] 
We encourage bold, experimental, and deeply personal proposals that embrace the spirit of transformation, defiance, and radical self-expression at the heart of Hedwig and the Angry Inch. 
​
We invite artists and curators to submit proposals for a fully conceptualized exhibition to be presented in conjunction with theatrical performances of Hedwig and the Angry Inch, performed and produced by The Hanover Theatre Repertory in the BrickBox Theatre. This exhibition will be presented in the gallery, outside the theater, creating a dynamic, interdisciplinary experience that bridges visual art and performance. 
​
Selected proposals should present a cohesive and immersive exhibition concept that responds to and engages with the central themes of Hedwig and the Angry Inch. 
​Thematic Focus 
Proposals must be rooted in themes inspired by Hedwig and the Angry Inch, including but not limited to: 
  • Identity and self-discovery 
  • Transformation and reinvention 
  • Gender, queerness, and fluidity 
  • Love, loss, and longing 
  • The body as a site of fragmentation and wholeness 
  • Fame, performance, and persona 
  • Resilience, survival, and personal mythology 
Artists are encouraged to interpret these themes broadly and creatively. 
 
Proposal Requirements 
Applicants must submit a fully conceptualized exhibition proposal, including: 
  • Exhibition Title 
  • Concept Statement (500–1,000 words) 
    Clearly describe the overarching theme, conceptual framework, and how it connects to Hedwig and the Angry Inch. 
  • Artwork Description 
    Detailed descriptions of works to be included (completed or proposed), including medium, scale, and proposed installation/floorplan. 
  • Visual Materials 
    Images, sketches, or renderings of proposed or existing works. 
  • Installation Plan 
    Layout considerations, spatial needs, and any technical requirements. 
  • Artist Statement and Bio 
Collaborative group exhibition proposals are welcome! Please make sure to include in your proposal if this is a collaborative group exhibition! 
​

Contact 
For questions, please contact the JMAC Gallery Coordinator: 
Nikki Silva 
[email protected] 
508-413-5622 ext. 1801 
​
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SUBMIT YOUR EXHIBITION HERE!

ONGOING CALL FOR ART!

Exhibit at the Hanover Theatre's Franklin Square Society Salon Gallery!

The Hanover Theatre & Conservatory has a unique and selective gallery opportunity for visual artists!

The Franklin Square Society Salon is home to a semi-private gallery that is free for visual artists to apply to exhibit. Once applied, your submission will be reviewed and juried by our gallery coordinator and programming team for selection.

This is a semi-private gallery that is regularly occupied by FSS members of The Hanover Theatre, along with other VIP patron groups and events. The gallery is open to the public during historical tours of the theatre as well as during artist receptions for exhibitions. There are no public viewing gallery hours at this time. Exhibit pieces will be made public online where interested buyers and spectators will be directed to contact our gallery coordinator for tours.


LEARN MORE HERE
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APPLY TO THE FSS SALON GALLERY

CALL FOR ART!
​FUNDED OPPORTUNITY
Winter Lights, Shared Stories
EXHIBITION

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LOGISTICAL INFORMATION:
Three (3) artists/artist collaborative groups will be selected to design and create temporary window installations. Each selected artist will be commissioned to bring their concept to life within a designated display space. 

Number of artists selected: 3  

Window dimensions: 48 inch (W) x 30 inch (D) x 70 inch (H)  

Installation type: Rolling exterior units built specifically for "window" displays purposes visible to the public on the Hanover Theatre's plaza. Windows will be stored securely when not being presented outside of the theater during festival activities/show performances. Artist must be aware that all work should be anchored down in some manner to allow for movement of the window displays in and out of the theater!
Stipend for artist provided: $500 per artist/artist collaborative group
Submissions will be evaluated based on: 
  1. Concept originality and creativity  
  2. Clarity and depth of proposal  
  3. Alignment with the theme  
  4. Visual impact and engagement from a public-facing perspective  
  5. Feasibility within the given dimensions  ​
The Hanover Theatre & Conservatory has a unique and selective visual arts opportunity for visual artists! We invite visual artists to submit proposals for a series of window display installations that celebrate the spirit of gathering, warmth, and shared experience during the winter season. These window display installations will be revealed on December 17th, the first day of the theater's winter festival celebration!
​
We are seeking proposals that interpret gathering and warmth in creative, thoughtful, and visually engaging ways. Concepts may include, but are not limited to: 
  • Connection, community, and togetherness  
  • Light, comfort, and refuge during colder months  
  • Shared rituals, seasonal traditions, or moments of care  
  • Abstract or symbolic representations of warmth and belonging  
Artists may incorporate seasonal or holiday-inspired imagery, such as light, ornamentation, or celebratory motifs, so long as the overall concept remains welcoming, inclusive, and not specific to one singular holiday or tradition. 

Selected artists will be provided with further details regarding finalized timeline and installation logistics. But at this time the schedule is as follows:
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Open Call Ends: Friday September 4, 2027 @11:59PM EST
End of Selection/Announcement of Grantees: Evening of Monday September 14, 2027
Window Completion Date: Monday December 14, 2027
Window Reveal/Reception: Evening of December 17, 2027
INFO FOR ARTISTS
APPLY HERE!

JEAN McDONOUGH ARTS CENTER
OUR HOUSE/ YOUR HOME/
20B franklin street, worcester, ma 01608
508 413 5622  • [email protected]
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