Calls for Art

ART IS NOT DEAD IS A MOVEMENT COMBINING MUSIC AND ART.

THE AIM IS CREATING CONNECTIONS BETWEEN ARTISTS, MUSICIANS, AND SUPPORTERS TO FIND NEW WAYS OF SHARING AND COLLABORATING.

CoCA: Center on Contemporary Art, Seattle, WA, and AIND: ART IS NOT DEAD, Venice, Italy present Mission Special at Center on Contemporary Art (CoCA) in Seattle, from May 6 through May 17, 2026. Mission Special will feature Artworks from 60+ different Artists, 30+ from Europe and 30+ CoCA Member Artists from the U.S., without any thematic or discipline limit.

This unique collaboration between CoCA and AIND, curated by AIND, will feature Painters, Sculptors, Photographers, 3D and Visual Artists and Live Electronic Music, each one with its own unique world to be discovered. Artists will be present all days and there will be Live Paintings, where also the audience can join. Artists and Musicians will be visiting from Venice during the Special Mission.

The exhibition will be open from Wednesday to Sunday both weeks, from 10am until 11pm.

ARTISTS

Artists can have 1 Artwork up to 50x70cm (20x27.5 inch) each in exhibition, should it be a Painting (Framed or on Canvas, no piece of paper), Framed Photograph, Digital, Sculpture or hangable Installation and up to 5 Drawings/prints up to A4 size, not framed to be put in a single plastic sheet.

The sale is without commission so the artists keep 100% from their sales.

Whoever likes can join individual or collective live painting.

The exhibition is free to join for CoCA Members. The Artists must register at the AIND website to participate. Under “which mission do you wish to join”, select “Mission Special”.

MUSICIANS

Musicians can join up to 30min a day of Exhibition (material should be sent in advance) and can join the Jam session that will be held every day.

Every Musician should send their equipment list, how many channels they will need in the mixer and which instruments they can share (e.g. guitars/synths etc) with other Musicians.

Time and Day of Performance will be scheduled upon confirmation, this info is just to organize properly all performers involved.

Local Musicians are free to sign up. Musicians who wish to perform must register at the AIND website. Under “which mission do you wish to join”, select “Mission Special”.

REGISTER FOR AIND MISSION SPECIAL HERE

If you’re not yet a CoCA Member, JOIN HERE to partcipate.

AIND artists’ treatments of the AIND symbol are often incorporated into the display at AIND’s pop-ups, know as “Missions”

The Collective is represented by the Victory*, our symbol that represents an antropomorphic figure intentionally without any reference to gender, class, religion or politics in order to remind us that we are all human beings in the end, with the same Rights, Dreams and Feelings, equal in the deep beyond what divides us on the surface.

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!