Youth Art Showcase 2026

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ARTE NOIR is excited to announce an open call for our 2nd annual Youth Art Showcase, featuring the incredible talents of Black/African-American-identified youth artists in the Seattle area! We are seeking submissions of two and three-dimensional works in all mediums from artists aged 8–18.

The exhibition, which will run at ARTE NOIR from March 4 to April 19, 2026, is open to the public. Join us for the Opening Reception on March 14th or 15th (date TBD) to meet the artists and celebrate their work in an inspiring, community-centered space.

Submission Deadline: February 9th, 2026

Notification of Acceptance: February 11th, 2026

How to Submit:

All submissions should include:

  • A brief artist biography (Name, Age, Grade,Title of works submitted, etc) 
  • Examples and descriptions of the work to be considered (Up to 3 works) 
  • Artist statement about each submission (No more than 200 words)
  • Price in USD

Size  For three-dimensional works, the work must not exceed 36” x 36” x 36” = 3 feet by 3 feet by 3 feet.

Installation Readiness

All work must be ready for installation. 

Please Note: 

  • If any works selected and delivered for the ARTE NOIR Youth Art Showcase exhibition that are not prepared for installation as authorized by this Youth Art Showcase Art Call (ARTE NOIR), those works will be removed from the exhibit and returned to the artist. 
  • If submitted works fail to meet installation readiness requirements, the artist will be responsible for retrieving the work within a timeframe established by ARTE NOIR. ARTE NOIR does not provide transportation or storage for works that are not exhibition-ready.

Installation Requirements 

  • Must include any mechanism needed to install works that hang with proper D-Ring, wall cleats, and weighted wire (proper weight per artwork. If the artwork weighs 25 pounds, any wire used must double the weight of the work.) No Saw-Tooth Hooks, Keyhole Hooks, or ill-prepared/makeshift methods will be allowed. 
  • Must include clear typed step-by-step instructions for works that involve moving parts, hanging parts, and parts that come with multiple pieces as part of the unified work of art. 
  • Must include any pads, cushions, or stilts needed for the work, with a picture or diagram and typed instructions of how support structures are used and required for the artwork
  • All two-dimensional (drawings, photographs, paintings, screenprints, etchings, or digitally printed works) works must be framed, supported, or mounted on suitable substrate material. 
  • JPG, PNG, or PDF files of the artwork desired to be selected must be submitted for review.  
  • The artworks are subject to selection, and up to 3 may be selected from the chosen artists.

Other

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

Schedule of Events

  • January 30th: Submissions open 
  • Februrary 9th: Submissions close
  • February 11th: Artist notifications sent
  • February 12-22: Deliver artwork to ARTE NOIR
  • March 4th: Exhibit opens
  • March 14th or 15th (TBD): Opening reception
  • April 19th: Exhibit closes

Important Information

  • Curatorial Decisions: All decisions by the curators are final.
  • Usage Rights: By submitting your work, you authorize ARTE NOIR to publish your images for exhibition/show publicity, with full artist credits. We may request high-resolution images for promotional purposes.
  • Exhibition Terms: Selected works will remain on display for the entire exhibition period and cannot be removed early.
  • Sales Information: Artwork may be available for sale, with artists receiving 70% of the sale price. Works not for sale should be labeled "NFS."
  • Contracts & Forms: Accepted artists (or their parent/guardian) must complete and sign the Artist Contract and Inventory Forms by February 22, 2026, to ensure proper labeling and records.

 

This is an incredible opportunity for young artists to showcase their creativity, connect with the community, and celebrate the brilliance of young Black artists. Don’t miss out—submit your work today!

For questions or additional information, please contact info@artenoir.org

We use Submittable to accept and review our submissions.
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