CALL FOR WORK: Student-Curated Exhibition, GATHER

DEADLINE for submissions is Wednesday, February 25th at 11:59pm* FREE: There are NO fees to submit work for consideration or to participate *

EXHIBITION OVERVIEW: Emerson Contemporary seeks critically engaged photographic series and lens-based works for a one-week exhibition considering ideas and issues related to “gather,” “gathered,” and “gathering,” broadly defined. This topical and timely show is a part of an upper-level seminar on Curatorial Practices at Emerson College.This thematic group show will be on view at the Huret & Spector Gallery, 6th Floor, Emerson College, 10 Boylston Place, Boston, MA, from March 31 – April 8, 2026. Ready-to-hang works will need to be delivered to Emerson in mid/late March (see overview of dates below). We expect selected, and non-selected, artists will be notified in early March via email. See the NARRATIVE CALL section immediately below for more on what we are seeking as well as additional details and expectations.

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES: Artists are welcome to submit 3-5 artworks for consideration. Works should be from a cohesive series, exhibition-ready, and ready to hang. We expect to select several works per artist (rather than one piece per person). Media could include photographs captured or created using historical or contemporary processes; videos or projections; photomontage, mixed media, or sculptural photographs; experimental or new media; or installations that include or allude to photography.

ARTIST CRITERIA AND LOGISTICS: This exhibition opportunity is for emerging artists and photographers. We especially encourage those from historically under-represented communities to apply. Artists must live or work in the Greater Boston area and be able to drop off and pick up the selected works to the gallery. The gallery is not able to accept shipped works or pay for shipping. The gallery cannot provide framing, but does have an extensive equipment inventory available for use including high single-channel projectors, iPads, monitors etc.

CALL NARRATIVE:

Photography has the power to knit together people, places, and things, both literally and metaphorically. The present moment is fraught with peril and systems are unravelling. Yet, at the same time, we have witnessed the power of unity, of people coming together to empower and support each other. Photography has the influence to inspire action, to connect, and to intertwine community. GATHER, a student-curated exhibition at Emerson College, seeks photographic and lens-based works that push the boundaries of the medium as well as forefront labor and physicality. OVERVIEW OF DATES:

Entry Deadline: Wednesday, February 25th, 11:59pm

Deadline and Location for DROP OFF/delivery of ready-to-hang work: Monday, March 23 to Thursday, March 26th, to Emerson’s Media Art Gallery — NOTE the drop off location is different from the exhibition location — located at 25 Avery Street, Boston, MA, from 12pm to 6pm

Exhibition Dates: Tuesday, March 31 – Wednesday, April 8, 2026

Exhibition Location: Huret & Spector Gallery, 10 Boylston Place, Tufte Building, 6th Floor, Boston, MA

Exhibition Hours: Tuesday through Saturday, 12-5pm (with potential for Sunday)

Opening Reception: Friday, April 3rd, 5-7pm

Public Programming: Lightning Talks, Friday, April 3rd, 12-1:30pm with more TBD

Entry Fee: FREE!