Elmhurst Art Museum is celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2017 with its first open call exhibition. The theme of the exhibition, Sense of Place, recognizes the seminal role of the Elmhurst Artists’ Guild and the forward-thinking group of teachers, artists and community organizers who founded the Museum in their hometown with the belief that people from all walks of life and professions can learn how to see and think differently through the study of art, architecture and design.

The exhibition will be curated by Frank Tumino, Curatorial Chair of the Elmhurst Artists’ Guild; Carrie Secrist, owner of Carrie Secrist Gallery in Chicago; and Jenny Gibbs, Executive Director at Elmhurst Art Museum. The exhibition will be on display December 10, 2016 through February 12, 2017.

Cultural geographers, anthropologists, sociologists and urban planners study why certain places hold special meaning to particular people. Many places have a strong identity and character that is deeply felt by local inhabitants and visitors. Elmhurst is a small city (population 45,000) with a strong civic culture and a community that believes in the value of shared culture, education and worship; this is part of the “sense of place” of Elmhurst. The exhibition, Sense of Place, will explore the myriad tangible and intangible ways in which the visual arts can be imbued with a sense of place.

To submit, visit www.eam.submittable.com/submit.

All mediums considered.* Artwork submitted must have been created since 2014. All candidates must submit an artist’s statement of up to 250 words describing their general body of work. Artists may submit up to three works for consideration and up to two high-quality images of each work. For each work, artists must list title, date, material, dimensions, and up to 100 words on how it relates to the theme of the exhibition. Works must be able to fit through 95 x 66 inch doorways for installation purposes. A non-refundable fee of $35 is required with submission. Members of the Elmhurst Artists’ Guild may submit for a discounted application fee of $20. Information about Guild membership can be found at www.elmhurstartistsguild.org/join.html.

Submissions close on September 1, 2016. Candidates will be notified of decisions by October 15, 2016. Exhibition dates are December 10, 2016 to February 12, 2017. Accepted works must be delivered to the museum (at the expense of the artist) between November 28 and December 7, 2016. Once on the museum’s premises, the works will be insured under the museum’s policy until the close of the exhibition. Artists are responsible for arranging and covering expenses for the return of their work, which must be picked up between February 13 and 17, 2017.

Please direct any questions or concerns regarding the application process to [email protected].

* For artwork with video or audio components, all electronic equipment must be provided by the artist