Calls for Art

Call for Art:

Under Pressure: Contemporary Political Prints

Seattle Print Arts (SPA), in conjunction with Center on Contemporary Art (CoCA), is pleased to announce a juried printmaking exhibition that invites artists to reflect on the political realities of our time through the enduring and powerful medium of printmaking.

Seattle Print Arts is a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting and supporting printmaking in the Seattle area through education, access, and community.

Center on Contemporary Art (CoCA) is a Seattle-based nonprofit organization that advances contemporary art by supporting experimentation, critical dialogue, and innovative artistic practices.

In periods of turbulence and uncertainty, art becomes a vital space for expression, connection, and resilience. As political upheaval continues to challenge and reshape our collective experience, SPA and CoCA aim to provide a platform for artists to come together, sharing perspectives, questions, dissent, and solidarity through print.

“Under Pressure: Contemporary Political Prints” will showcase contemporary print artists engaging with political themes such as power, resistance, oppression, identity, governance, and social change. Printmaking has long been an art of the people, historically used to disseminate ideas, amplify marginalized voices, and fuel movements for change. While digital media now dominates political communication, physical prints retain a unique immediacy and permanence, offering a tangible and less mediated way to confront urgent ideas.

Exhibition Details

  • Eligibility: Open to all current SPA and CoCA members. SPA / CoCA membership is open and accessible. You can join CoCA here, or join SPA here.

  • Theme: Work must be politically inspired or politically engaged.

  • Medium Requirements:

Submissions must involve non-digital printmaking processes such as etching, lithography, relief, or screen printing. Purely digital prints or photography will not be accepted. However, experimental and hybrid approaches that incorporate digital or photographic processes in combination with traditional printmaking techniques are encouraged, in alignment with CoCA’s mission to push the boundaries of contemporary art.

  • Juror:

  • Prizes:

    • First Prize: $250

    • Two Runner-Up Prizes: $125 each

  • Frames are not required, but accepted. Non-framed work must be able to hang using a pin and magnet. Any another arrangement must be pre-arranged.

This exhibition aims to highlight the continued relevance of printmaking as a tool for political expression and collective reflection. We invite artists to submit work that speaks boldly, critically, and thoughtfully to the pressures of our contemporary moment.

Submit Your Work Here

Call for Guest Curators

In addition to curating its own exhibitions internally, CoCA occasionally contracts with guest curators. Guidelines for submitting proposals follows below. We welcome inquires and questions at info@cocaseattle.org

With an emphasis on emerging artists and a mission to serve as a forum and catalyst for the study of contemporary art, CoCA typically curates group exhibitions rather than focusing on solo exhibitions by mid-career artists. (Nevertheless, we welcome exceptions to any rule.) Please also note that proposals should avoid asking artists for de-facto commissions and should ideally seek existing work. 

  • Proposals should include:

    • 1-page description of proposed exhibition, including title, names of possible artists, or selection criteria if proposing an Open Call. The description should answer the question of how the proposed exhibition helps us understand contemporary art in new ways, advances our understanding of artists, artworks, practice, materials and media, audiences, markets, etc.

    • 1-3 pages of proposed artists and sample artworks (thumbnails, websites, short bios and statements)

    • curatorial resume and written bio of 250 words max.

    • proposals ideally include plan for volunteer staffing of exhibition, gallery hours (currently Thursday-Saturday)

    • budget and funding mechanism, split into two main headings: INCOME and EXPENSES. In a perfect world, the totals for these columns match up perfectly.

    • needs from CoCA

CoCA Gallery Considerations

The gallery is approximately 650 s.f, arranged perpendicular to the storefront on Third Avenue. It is about 14 feet wide and 48 feet deep, with a ceiling height of approximately 15 feet.

The South wall is uninterrupted wall space, whereas the North wall is divided into three bays, divided by 18” wide columns. The bay closest to the window is generally reserved for CoCA signage and sales area, although in special cases, artwork may be integrated into this space by prior arrangement.

Lighting is from a central spine that runs down the center of the gallery.

Call for Art: CoCA ShowWalls

CoCA ShowWalls is an opportunity for CoCA Member Artists to present their work in a solo show at one of our partner venues. Visit CoCA ShowWalls for more information about the program.

We encourage submitting members to visit the spaces and consider the mission and objectives of each space before submitting. We will be working with the venue owners and managers to find a good fit for their space.

We will work with you to prepare your show, creating a bio/statement board to mount in the venue, provide title cards for your artwork, and handle any sales that might occur during the course of the show.

Gary Manuel Salon, 528 2nd Ave, Seattle, WA 98104
The exhibition area is primarily at the back of the salon, at the portal leading to the sinks and hair washing stations, and within those spaces, as well as in the corridors connecting them and those outside the bathrooms. There are a few other locations nearby, including the potential of hanging at the rear of the open stair. One large wall under the monitor in the store front, visible from the street, is also included. It takes around 25-30 pieces to mount a show here, depending on size, of course. The ambiance is upscale, cheerful, and well lit!

Collins Pub, 528 2nd Ave, Seattle, WA 98104
Art is displayed throughout the venue, above the wainscoting next to the banquettes. As with GMS, somewhere around 25-30 pieces will be needed to mount a complete show here. The ambiance is artsy, as Collins is well know for catering to the artist and patron crowd that frequents Pioneer Square. It’s a pub, of course, so it’s a bit dark and moody, but don’t let that stop you. Management has expressed excitement about the cutting edge that CoCA brings to its curatorial approach, so give us your most creative and experimental work. Embrace the space, don’t fight it.

Bulldog News, 4208 University Way NE, Seattle, WA 98105
Art is displayed on the South wall, in the seating area, across from the magazines. 10-15 pieces, depending on size.

ShowWalls Submissions:

Send your questions and submissions to showwalls@cocaseattle.org. Include your name, email, phone, website or instagram, the venue you prefer, your availability, some examples of your work, and a brief bio and/or statement. We hope to hear from you soon!