CALL FOR ARTISTS
THE JAMES RENWICK ALLIANCE CHRYSALIS AWARD FOR EMERGING CRAFT ARTISTS
2019 Focus: Mixed Media
The Chrysalis Award was created by the James Renwick Alliance to encourage and assist emerging American visual artists. The awardee will receive all of the following: a $5,000 unrestricted award, an opportunity to meet with other artists, collectors, and JRA members in the Washington, DC area, and to give a formal presentation about their work at an important JRA event in November 2019.
Emerging is defined as someone early in their artistic career, without regard to age, who demonstrates excellence in their work and a commitment to developing in unique and dynamic ways, but without major gallery representation or significant exhibition history.
Our 2019 award will focus on emerging artists working in the MIXED MEDIA craft field. In future years we will solicit nominees in other media. The awardee will be selected by an independent panel of jurors.
2019 Award
Application fee: $20
Application deadline: August 28, 2019
Notification of Award: September 13, 2019
Awardee Presentation in Washington, DC: November 17, 2019
Eligibility
The applicant must be working in the mixed media craft field and show merit, skill, and innovation in their work. Craft is the creation of original objects through the skillful manipulation of materials. These materials were traditionally considered to be clay, fiber, metal, wood, or glass. Today’s artists working in a craft discipline may also employ concrete, plastic, synthetic fibers, recycled materials and other non-traditional materials.
The artist must have completed a four-year academic program or self-directed equivalent training within the past 5 years. Residencies, workshops, and/or a dedicated practice qualify as equivalent training. Applicants may not have had a solo commercial exhibition or be exclusively represented by a gallery or commercial entity. The applicant must have residency in America. Applicants are asked to supply five images of work completed in the past three years and answer all application questions.
Merit, skill, and innovation are the judging criteria for submitted work. Qualities that contribute to the success of a craft object include the skill of the maker, the use of the material, the refinement of the design, the originality of expression, and/or its cultural significance.
How to Apply
Please go to the JRA website at www.JRA.org/chrysalis-award for the artist application and instructions. Applications and all supporting material must be received by August 28, 2019 to be considered.
About the James Renwick Alliance
The James Renwick Alliance is an independent national non-profit organization that celebrates the achievements of America’s craft artists and fosters scholarship, education, connoisseurship and public appreciation of craft art. Founded in 1982, the Alliance fulfills its mission through public programs, educational trips, publications, recognition of craft artists, and financial support of museums and other non-profit organizations, including the Renwick Gallery of the Smithsonian American Art Museum.
