ARTE NOIR proudly presents Across the Diaspora, an exhibition celebrating Africa and its immense beauty, cultural and geographic legacy through visual storytelling. This exhibit aims to showcase talented African and Black artists from the ARTE NOIR Roster, as well as regional and national artists who can analyze and express their experiences through a critical lens. Africa’s significance, richness, and deep-rooted connection have long been inseparable from humanity and the foundation of many cultures.

For this exhibition, we are presenting a diverse range of artistic explorations. Submit your artwork in any medium—abstract or representational, digital or traditional, 2D or 3D—across the following expanded categories:

• Reflections - Into the Soul of Africa: Capture the depth of nostalgic memories, events, locations, and traditions that have since passed away. 
• Spirituality and Belief on the African Continent: Capturing the depth of emotions in the spirituality and beliefs of the African Diaspora. Every gaze tells a story: the glimmer of hope, the weight of sorrow, the intensity of love. 
• Africa: Figurative, Symbolic, and Forever: The Metaphorical Body and Portraits associated with the African Diaspora that transcend physical boundaries, serving as metaphors for awareness, truth, enlightenment, and perception. 
• The Mother Land: Nature is filled with stunning and mysterious experiences—the hypnotic presence of a tree, the looming height of hills, the mystic of lawns, the warmth of gardens, or the whisper of the weather. 
• Afro-Futurism - Technological Vision: The Digital Age and AI’s View from African and beyond: With the rise of technology, our view of the world is evolving. Examine how technology redefines our perception of the African Diaspora, both in ourselves and others. 
•  Africa’s Abstracted Vision: Expressing the Essence and Emotion of the African Diaspora: Not all experiences, visions, or realities of the African Diaspora need to be realistic. Experiment with abstraction, surrealism, and conceptual interpretations—depicting vision, perception, or the simple idea of being seen, felt, or imagined.

Styles

The theme of ARTE NOIR’s Across the Diaspora Exhibit in visual art encompasses a vast spectrum of styles, from the realistic portrayal of individuals to the abstract and surreal. 

ARTE NOIR encourages artists to captivate viewers and serve as a testament to the enduring power of visual art to communicate complex ideas, to convey emotion, symbolism, and social commentary through various art styles such as: 

• Portraiture: Perhaps the most apparent category where images of Icons, to the everyday commoner, take center stage.
• Surrealism: Surrealist artists often embraced the surreal and dreamlike quality of their work.
• Symbolism: Symbols can also hold abundant cultural, personal, social, or communal significance.
• Social Commentary: In contemporary art, legacy and celebration serve as a platform for conveyingsocial and political messages.

Abstract Art: Even in abstraction, expression, emotion, and imaginative reactions can make their presence felt. 

ARTIST ELIGIBILITY

Must be 18 years of age. 

This opportunity is for local, regional, national, and ARTE NOIR Roster Artists.  

ARTWORK ELIGIBILITY

Art Categories

The submission is open to all visual artists creating original artworks in 2-dimensional media.

JPG, PNG, or PDF files of the artwork desired to be selected must be submitted for review.  

(2-D) Visual Arts Categories: Painting, drawing, landscapes, printmaking, illustration, photography, digital arts, paper art, book art, fiber art, textile art, collage, abstract, graphic arts, design, and mixed media are accepted.

Style
All styles are accepted.

Any abstract or representational interpretations of the subject are welcome.

Size
For two-dimensional works, the work must not exceed 48” x 48” = 4 feet by 4 feet.

Duration
There is no limit to the year of artwork creation.
Artworks created within the last 5 years are preferred.

Originality and Rights
Artworks must be entirely the work of the entrant.

Entries must not be copies or derivatives based in any way on other copyrighted or published paintings, photographs, or other artistic work. Any infraction of this rule will result in removal from the exhibition.
Artists should have all the rights to present and publish their artworks internationally.

Artwork Photo

Only the artwork should be shown in the photo (no frames or extraneous backgrounds).

Invited artists will be asked for high-resolution artwork photos, if needed.

JPG, PNG, or PDF files of the artwork desired to be selected must be submitted for review.  

Availability

Artists can submit artworks that are not for sale.

Number of Artworks

Artists can submit up to 3 pieces of original artwork. JPG, PNG, or PDF files of the artwork desired to be selected must be submitted for review.  

The artworks are subject to selection, and a maximum of 3 artworks might be selected from the chosen artists.

Other

Artworks that, in the reasonable view of the organizer, include pornography, violence, and/or racial and religious hatred, inappropriate and/or offensive content, are not admissible.

SeattleFWC26 is excited to announce the Juneteenth Match Design Contest, inviting artists to contribute to the momentous occasion of our region hosting the world in 2026. For this process, we are partnering with ARTE NOIR, a nonprofit organization dedicated to Black arts and culture, located in Seattle's Central District. The Juneteenth Match design should reflect the following key objectives:
 

• Honor the legacy of Juneteenth: Use your unique perspective to showcase Black resistance, resilience, and liberation, highlighting Seattle's commitment to racial equity and celebration of the Black community. ​
• Generate Excitement for the Tournament: Create a design that amplifies the energy and enthusiasm surrounding the World Cup.
• Celebrate the culture of resistance and resilience: Honoring the struggles and triumphs of those who came before us. ​
• Celebrate the culture of Seattle’s Black community: Uplifting the legacy, creativity, and activism of the Black community in Seattle through the elevation of the art, and traditions rooted in the Black community. ​
• Equity and justice: Showcase our region's commitment to racial equity and the celebration of Black liberation. ​
   

SeattleFWC26 is calling on Black artists and those with deep connections to the Black experience. Whether through personal identity, lived experiences, or demonstrated allyship and work within Black communities, your voice is essential in creating a design that feels authentic, bold, and enduring.  

This is more than just a contest; it's a chance to contribute to a global statement of inclusivity. Up to three finalists will receive a $2,500 fee for their incredible work. The winning design may be incorporated into SeattleFWC26’s citywide celebration as our region prepares to host the world’s largest sporting event.

The most powerful designs will be both thought-provoking and celebratory, reflecting the energy of the FIFA World Cup™ while honoring the meaning and spirit of Juneteenth. This is your opportunity to help shape a legacy that will be seen and remembered worldwide.
 

Important Dates

July 27, 2025 - Artist Registration Closes

August 15, 2025 - Deadline to Submit Final Design or Portfolio

October 2025 - Winners Announced

Ready to make your mark on history?

Click here to learn more about the process. 

Disclaimer: The Juneteenth Match design is an independent creation specifically for the SeattleFWC26 LOC and is not an official FIFA asset. It is not affiliated with or endorsed by FIFA.

ARTE NOIR recently developed a Black Artist Roster as a means to bring greater visibility and access to Black artists residing in Washington State from across the creative spectrum. To complement the Black Artist Roster, we have also developed this dedicated submissions portal for the community to share their opportunities with Black artists. 

Within the portal, individuals and organizations can share the details of their upcoming arts opportunities. Opportunities can include but are not limited to calls for artists and curators, residencies, grants, and funding opportunities. 

Completing this form allows ARTE NOIR to share your information with a range of artists. Our commitment is to solely share information on the opportunity you submit; we take no responsibility for additional vetting or contact. Artists will be responsible for contacting you directly to follow up, should they be interested in applying. 

What are the benefits of sharing your opportunities with the Black Artist Roster? 

• ARTE NOIR will communicate your opportunities directly to our Black Artist Roster via regular email communication. Where time is of the essence, we will do our best to alert artists promptly.
• The opportunity submission form intends to eliminate as many barriers as possible for Black artists.
• Artists on the roster reside in Washington State, are at least 15 years of age, and represent a broad spectrum of disciplines. 
• Shared opportunities may be local, national, and international.

ARTE NOIR will not:

1. Share an artist’s personal information directly to any inquiries we receive
2. Apply to opportunities on behalf of artists 
3. Act as an artist management service

Project Timeline

• The pilot phase of the Black Artist Roster will be open for submissions from Thursday, June 12, 2024, through Monday, September 30, 2024. The roster will reopen for submissions in early 2025.
• Individuals and organizations looking to reach Black artists and share arts opportunities can do so year-round. 
• ARTE NOIR will continue to share local, national, and international opportunities with rostered artists throughout the year.

Important Notices

• Saving Your Application: Submittable will automatically save your application at regular intervals, but you may also manually save your application at any time using the Save Draft button located at the end of this form. If you are completing your application in multiple sessions, please ensure you click the Save Draft button before exiting the application form to avoid losing your work. 
• Internet Browsers: Submittable recommends using Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome, or Apple Safari when using Submittable. Internet Explorer 11 or legacy versions of Microsoft's Edge browser (prior to version 20) are no longer supported, and you may run into problems if you are using the Submittable platform with these older browsers. 
• Privacy Notice: ARTE NOIR will not publish or share your personal information. 

How to Use Submittable

Submittable maintains a list of frequently asked questions (FAQ) and offers step-by-step guides on their help platform here. For further assistance with the Submittable online application, please contact Submittable tech support at support@submittable.com

If you have additional questions about the Black Artists Roster, please get in touch with ARTE NOIR via email at info@artenoir.org.

Thank you for submitting your opportunity! 

The ARTE NOIR Black Artist Roster project is generously supported by The Gathering Collaborative of King County. In 2020, Martin Luther King, Jr. County declared racism as a public health crisis, recognizing that governments need to acknowledge and respond by undoing the centuries of harms of systemic racism in our society and equitably invest in dismantling racism and protecting the health and well-being of Black, Indigenous and People of Color so that all communities thrive. 

ARTE NOIR seeks to be a gathering place for exploring the dynamic creativity that springs from African and African American culture. With a focus on people, ARTE NOIR shines a light on the makers, thinkers, and doers who are, and have been, innovating in their fields; centering the soulfulness and power of Black art. ARTE NOIR exists to uplift Black artists! 

ARTE NOIR has developed a Black Artist Roster that will be used to increase the exposure of, and access to Black artists in Washington State. ARTE NOIR regularly receives inquiries seeking recommendations for Black artists. These inquiries range from major public art installation opportunities to seeking artists for pop-ups, speaking engagements, etc. Participation in the Artist Roster is not intended to guarantee artists any particular opportunities, rather, it is being created to increase access to Black artists, their skills, and specific areas of work, for recommendation.

The following submission form allows artists to share information about themselves and their work. Once an artist submits their form, they will be added to an internal database, which ARTE NOIR will use to share arts and speaking opportunities. Please take the time to answer every question in the form to the best of your ability. There will be space to upload samples of your artwork. You can save the form and come back to complete it at any time during the process. 

Arts opportunities can be shared year-round. 

Once you have submitted, you will officially be added to ARTE NOIR's Black Artist Roster!  

This roster will be maintained by ARTE NOIR staff and used as a tool for sharing local, national, and international opportunities for Black artists, including calls for art or curators, educators, public art projects, artist residencies, speaking opportunities, and more. Opportunities will be vetted by ARTE NOIR and your personal information will not be given out directly to inquiries we receive. ARTE NOIR will share opportunities with our roster list regularly, and it will be up to the artists to determine whether they are qualified and interested in pursuing a project. Artists must respond to calls/opportunities directly. 

Artists interested in public speaking can indicate so when submitting information in the roster. ARTE NOIR seeks to support artists interested in participating in civic discourse. This support is intended to increase the vocal presence of Black artists who have often been overlooked in conversations around social justice, equity, community-building, and more.

Additionally, artists interested in exhibiting their work in the ARTE NOIR Gallery can indicate such within this form.

WHAT IS THE BENEFIT OF PARTICIPATION IN THE BLACK ARTIST ROSTER?

Participation in the Black Artist Roster provides:

• Dedicated communication regarding opportunities that may not otherwise reach Black artists, reducing historical barriers, and creating an easy connection between artists and available opportunities!
• The opportunity to greatly expand your reach and have your work seen by collectors, producers, curators, developers, promoters, investors, and brand new audiences.  
• Ultimately, this roster will serve to eliminate the age-old commentary, "We just can't find anyone." Using the Black artist roster should leave little room for excuses of not being able to connect with Black artists working across all disciplines. 

Development of the Black Artist Roster has been generously supported by The Gathering Collaborative of King County. In 2020, Martin Luther King, Jr. County declared racism as a public health crisis, recognizing that governments need to acknowledge and respond by undoing the centuries of harms of systemic racism in our society and equitably invest in dismantling racism and protecting the health and well-being of Black, Indigenous and People of Color so that all communities thrive. 

ARTE NOIR celebrates and sustains Black art, artists, and culture by cultivating inclusive spaces, fostering opportunities, and honoring community alongside the diversity and vitality of Black creativity.

ARTE NOIR exists to uplift Black artists! 

Important Notices

• Saving Your Application: Submittable will automatically save your application at regular intervals, but you may also manually save your application at any time using the Save Draft button located at the end of this form. If you are completing your application in multiple sessions, please ensure you click the Save Draft button before exiting the application form to avoid losing your work. 
• Internet Browsers: Submittable recommends using Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome, or Apple Safari when using Submittable. Internet Explorer 11 or legacy versions of Microsoft's Edge browser (prior to version 20) are no longer supported, and you may run into problems if you are using the Submittable platform with these older browsers. 
• Privacy Notice: ARTE NOIR will not publish or share your personal information. 
• Eligibility: This call is open to individuals who are at least 15 years of age. 

Note: Questions below with a red asterisk indicate that an answer is required.

How to Use Submittable

Submittable maintains a list of frequently asked questions (FAQ) and offers step-by-step guides on their help platform here. For further assistance with the Submittable online application, please contact Submittable tech support at support@submittable.com

Thank you for your interest in collaborating with ARTE NOIR. This form is for artists or vendors looking to sell their product(s) in our shop, collaborate on a project or product, or sign up to be a vendor at a future ARTE NOIR event. 

Please take the time to fill out the form below to the best of your ability. Due to a high volume of submissions, our team will do our best to respond within 2-3 weeks.​ 

ARTE NOIR is currently accepting editorial content suggestions and talent to serve as guest writers for our monthly editorial content and newsletter. Is there a local, national, or international Black artist, maker, or organization you would like to see take the top spotlight in our publication? Would you like to be the author of said spotlight? Selected writers will be paid a stipend for their pieces and featured in an issue of ARTE NOIR. We also welcome guest writer suggestions.  

Basic Guidelines for Guest Editorial Writers

• Final articles are not to exceed 1500 words
• High-resolution photos with photo credits are required to accompany the article
• Writer also requested to submit a personal headshot 
• ARTE NOIR pays guest writers $650 (USD) for finished and published articles
• ARTE NOIR reserves the right to make editing and copy suggestions/changes for each submission.  Writer will receive all editing/copy notes prior to publication.
• Publication and submission deadlines are established by the ARTE NOIR editorial team

Guest Writers are required to agree to the following:

• No copyright, trademark infringement, or other non verified information has been included in the submission
• Information included in the article is true and contains no false statements
• Writer is engaged as an independent contractor and is not presented as an employee of ARTE NOIR  
• Final product is commissioned specifically by ARTE NOIR and may only appear in other formats after full disclosure to ARTE NOIR, and where appropriate with express permission from ARTE NOIR
• ARTE NOIR reserves the right to reprint article in any partner publications and will notify writer when/if additional publication occurs
• No additional compensation will be paid to writer 
• Writer agrees to hold ARTE NOIR harmless should any disputes arise as a result of the written article
• This agreement constitutes final permission for ARTE NOIR to use provided images and written words in the publication, in reporting to grantors and funders, and reasonable promotion

Deadline to submit a workshop proposal is Friday, October 3, 2025.