Over the last 20 years, Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) has become a popular way for consumers to buy seasonal food directly from local farms. With the same “buy local” spirit in mind, Community Supported Art is a similar endeavor to support local art, artists and collectors. It’s been replicated in over thirty cities in North America over the past five years. We are seeking artists, of all disciplines, to a launch our inaugural Community Supported ART (CSA) program.

Local art advocates of multi-arts organizations are coming together to bring CSA to Dubuque. In an effort to encourage the growth of the local art scene, CSA aims to promote and motivate upcoming artists by connecting them with art buyers and local art institutions. In hopes to spark a passion for art collecting, CSA makes contemporary art easily reachable for all appreciators of creativity and inspiration.

Artists will be selected by a regional juror to receive a stipend of $1,000, connections to great local collectors and promotional support.

How the CSA works:

Selected artists will create 25 “shares”. A typical share will consist of a work of art/object/reproduction (multiples are acceptable. For example, a limited edition of a vinyl 7″ music record, a run of screen-prints, series of small tea cups, a series of photographs, letterpress editions of a poem or short story, or even 25 small paintings. Collaborations between artists or work by collectives are also welcome. Creative ideas that translate your practice into this format or connect to themes like sustainability, farm, or food are also encouraged.

Interested consumers/collectors will purchase a share (“subscription”), and in return receive a box of locally produced artwork. There will be a CSA preview event held at the Dubuque Museum of Art in April and a CSA pick-up event at the Dubuque Area Arts Collective in August.

ART SUBMISSIONS:

To apply for consideration in the CSA program please submit application via email to [email protected] by January 30, 2016. To download application, go to http://daartscollective.com/CSA, or contact us at [email protected].

Selected artists will be notified by February 29, 2016.

Guidelines:

Artist must live within 120 miles of Dubuque, IA.
Proposed work must be completed by July 1.
Please contact us if your work sample documentation does not fit the suggested formats.
50% of stipend and delivery arrangements will be available upon acceptance of contract. The remaining 50% will be awarded after completion of work. If artist needs special arrangements, they can contact us with an appeal.
The stipend award is intended to assist with the production costs of the pieces.
Work should be easily transportable and fit into a 18″ x 12″ x 12″ box.

For questions regarding the program or application process contact [email protected].