GFAA GALLERY - MONTHLY EXHIBITIONS
CALL TO ARTISTS
*Please read through the rules and guidelines below before submitting.
GFAA is a community gallery space dedicated to inclusion, and growth for artists. No matter where you are in your practice, there is a place for you here.
PLEASE NOTE that for most of our monthly exhibitions there is no jury process to get into the exhibition (we will indicate on the call when that is not the case). Submit online, and you are in the show! After you submit, just bring your piece on the drop off date.
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AFROFUTURISM WEEK EXHIBITION:
FURIOUS JOY: OUR PLEASURE DESPITE ALL
No fee
This show will be juried - submit for consideration
ALL SUBMISSIONS ARE DUE: DECEMBER 13
WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR:
Calling all creators identifying in the Black Diaspora!! UF Center for Arts, Migration, and Entrepreneurship is hosting their annual AFROFUTURISM WEEK! With collaboration with Anani Blakey and the Gainesville Fine Arts Association, we welcome you to apply to participate in the 2025 Exhibition. Follow CAME @uf_came and @anariaphy on Instagram for updates.
*ARTWORK DOES NOT HAVE TO BE FINISHED FOR ARTISTS TO APPLY, PLEASE APPLY BY THE DEADLINE*
INTRODUCTION
The Center for Arts, Migration, and Entrepreneurship (CAME) at UF College of the Arts connects the creative arts, entrepreneurship, and migratory communities. Founded to strengthen Florida's cultural economic infrastructure, CAME focuses on fostering growth that reflects the state's diverse and evolving population. CAME is about culture in motion — we want to connect communities, creativity, and innovation on both a local and global scale. We're dedicated to empowering artists and communities to foster economic growth and well-being. The goal is to create a more just global future where arts and technology enrich lives, while connecting global resources to Florida.
Subscribe to CAME's newsletter to stay up to date with our events and programs here.
The Gainesville Fine Arts Association (GFAA) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting visual arts through exhibitions, workshops and programming for emerging and accomplished artists with a focus on diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility. The gallery works to provide inspiration and opportunities for professional growth for artists, and to be recognized as a welcoming and vibrant center for visual art.
Hello! Thank you for your support! My name is Anani Blakey, and I am a 2024 graduate with a degree in Graphic Design from the University of Florida. I’m thrilled to be working with UF CAME and GFAA again to lead and curate the exhibition for Afrofuturism Week 2025. This is a unique opportunity to celebrate and explore Afrofuturism’s dynamic blend of African diasporic culture, technology, and futuristic visions. I look forward to creating an immersive experience that honors Black joy, creativity, resilience, and innovation.
We are accepting artists, performers, and vendors who identify in the Afro and Black Diaspora to apply. The call is open to all ages and identities in Gainesville, Florida, and Alachua County! The exhibition is juried and submission or vendors fees are not required. This is a space for individuals to explore themes relating to the prompt, express their opinions on the subjects, and strengthen their creative voice and mind in the community. All mediums are welcome!
*Accepted participants will receive additional details once the application period ends*
Thank you for your support!
FURIOUS JOY: OUR PLEASURE DESPITE ALL
Theme: Hard Times Require Furious Dancing .... and Furious Joy
Walker's powerful phrase in her book Hard Times Require Furious Dancing. The theme embodies the idea of embracing joy as an act of resistance and resilience—a celebration of Black existence, creativity, and futurity in a world that has often challenged these ideals. "Furious Joy" is more than happiness; it’s a fierce, determined joy that stands boldly in the face of adversity. It’s about defiance, about choosing joy as a transformative force, and about imagining and claiming spaces of freedom, dignity, and boundless creativity.
In the realm of Afrofuturism, "Furious Joy" acknowledges that within the collective struggles of the Black experience, there are rich spaces of laughter, vibrant creativity, and life-giving joy. This theme serves as both a declaration and a celebration of Black life, heritage, and the strength to shape one’s own narrative. It evokes images of vibrant colors, energetic art, and speculative stories, alongside designs that reclaim technology, spirituality, and identity.
Considerations:
We are excited to see all the beautiful works of art that will emerge from this year's theme! We encourage creators to vividly portray experiences of joy, ease, rest, and fun, celebrating the beauty of existence in all its forms. This is an opportunity to create pieces that reflect the moments of light, laughter, and creativity that enrich our lives. Embrace the transformative power of joy in your work, and let it shine through as you explore the multifaceted nature of being. We can't wait to witness the vibrant expressions of joy and beauty that you will bring to life!
Remember to approach this sensitive subject matter with respect, empathy, and a desire to raise awareness and create positive change. Your artwork has the potential to challenge perceptions, inspire action, and contribute to a more inclusive understanding of history and community in Gainesville, Florida.
GFAA MEMBERSHIP: JOIN HERE - Please email Katy if you need financial assistance through our Angel Fund, director@gainesvillefinearts.org.
RULES & GUIDELINES
INFORMATION ABOUT OUR MONTHLY EXHIBITION SUBMISSIONS
HOW MANY PIECES CAN I SUBMIT?
Unless otherwise noted, each artist may submit 1 piece of Artwork. Diptychs or triptychs can be submitted as long as they are priced and named as one piece.
HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO SUBMIT?
Entry Fees: Unless otherwise noted, Members: $30, Non-members $60. Click here to become a member or renew your membership. NEED FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE? Contact Katy at info@gainesvillefinearts.org
CAN I GET FINANCIAL HELP?
If you are unable to submit due to financial reasons, we have a donor-supported Angel Fund that your fee can come out of. Please email Katy at info@gainesvillefinearts.org to request financial assistance or if you would like to donate to the Angel Fund. We also have scholarships that start every February that cover membership and all submission fees for a year. For more information on applying to receive a scholarship click here.
WHAT IS THE NEXT STEP AFTER THE ONLINE SUBMISSION?
Please bring your piece to the gallery on the drop off day. All exhibitions are in the gallery and online. Exhibitions are not juried unless otherwise stated, and all submitted pieces will be included. If we get an overwhelming amount of submissions, we will communicate if we have to change this policy. NO ARTWORK WILL BE ACCEPTED INTO THE GALLERY EXHIBITION AFTER THE END OF THE DROP OFF TIME on the drop off day. A label needs to be attached to your piece, and is available via the Google Form that pops up in the Thank You email upon submission. If you are unable to access the Google Form, download your labels here.
DOES GFAA TAKE A COMMISSION ON THE SALE OF MY ARTWORK?
Yes, GFAA will take 30% commission of sales. Please price your work accordingly.
CAN I SHOW WORK THAT HAS BEEN PREVIOUSLY SHOWN AT GFAA?
Please do not submit work that has been in a previous exhibition that was shown in the GFAA gallery in the last 3 years. You may submit work that has been in community venues.
WHAT MEDIUMS DO YOU ACCEPT?
All Mediums are accepted! We just ask that it is original and yours.
HOW DO I PREPARE MY WORK FOR INSTALLATION?
Please refer here: GFAA Exhibition Guidelines. All wall hanging work has to be ready for professional and safe hanging. Pieces should be framed if needed and the display should be clean and well thought out. It is possible that your work may not be accepted if it is not deemed ready to display. If your work requires a complicated installation, you will be required to come help with the installation. We do want to see the artists final vision come to life - alternative hanging methods can be explored with the director.
ARE THERE AWARDS THAT ARE GIVEN OUT?
Yes! All exhibitions are judged unless noted. 8 awards will be given out by an art professional. Awards are as follows: Best in Show ($125), Award of Excellence ($100), Third Place Award ($75), and five Merit Awards ($30). No work that has won awards in previous gallery exhibitions will be accepted.
WHEN DO I PICK UP MY WORK IF IT IS NOT SOLD?
The pickup days are always the last day of the exhibition run from 11 - 4 unless noted. If you can't pick up then please make arrangements for someone else to or work out an alternative date with us. IF WORK IS NOT PICKED UP 60 days after the pickup it will be considered a donation.
WHAT IS GFAA'S AI POLICY?
GFAA is happy to be engaged in a continuing conversation with Artists about AI (Artificial Intelligence) generated Art. The current policy is that Artists must acknowledge if AI was a) part of their process and/or b) if the final work was produced by AI. This information can be added to the Image Material question in the submission form we ask all Artists to fill out for Exhibitions. GFAA is open to hearing your thoughts and talking to Artists further on their comments, questions, and concerns.
IF I HAVE OTHER QUESTIONS WHO DO I CONTACT?
Please email Katy at info@gainesvillefinearts.org or call 352-328-5027