Art as Advocacy: Guest Artist
<p><strong>About the Program</strong></p><p>MSC's Art as Advocacy Program is a pilot program that empowers individuals in immigration detention to create and share original artwork and personal narratives. Art supplies and optional prompts are provided to support reflection, healing, and self-expression. This program responds to the cultural erasure and emotional isolation of detention by positioning creativity as a powerful form of resistance, and by centering the voices of LGBTQ+ migrants. Art becomes both testimony and vision, exposing the lived realities of detention while affirming the humanity, dreams, and resilience of those inside.</p><p>Submitted work will be featured in October during our Community Action Month and preserved in a digital archive on our website, encouraging participants to become active contributors to advocacy efforts on the outside and using art to move our community toward action.</p><p><br></p><p><strong>Guest Artist Role</strong></p><p>To conclude the first year of our Art as Advocacy Program, we are inviting one guest artist from the community to contribute their own voice to the collective by:</p><ul><li>Creating an original artwork or small series inspired by the program and our members</li><li>Writing a statement reflecting on their artwork and its connection to the program and our mission</li><li>Attending MSC's final Community Action Month event on October 24th at the Center on Halsted in Chicago where all artwork will be showcased to the public</li><li>Granting MSC permission to feature their artwork at in-person events and in our online exhibit, share it on our public platforms, and create art prints in celebration of our inaugural exhibit with full credit to the artist</li><li>Playing a meaningful role in shaping the look, feel, and narrative of our culminating exhibit</li></ul><p>Priority will be given to:</p><ul><li>LGBTQ+ artists based in Chicago, IL</li><li>Those that have been directly impacted by detention</li><li>Align with MSC's abolitionist values and work closely with the communities we center (LGBTQ+, migrant, formerly incarcerated)</li></ul><p><br></p><p><strong>Benefits</strong></p><ul><li>$1,500 honorarium</li><li>Art supplies will be provided (we will provide a small assortment of traditional art supplies, but artists are welcome to use or supplement with their own materials)</li><li>Promotion on all of MSC's platforms, as well as in publicity related to the event</li><li>Opportunity to sell or promote your work and merch at our in-person events</li><li>Play a meaningful role in shaping our first ever art exhibit and community showcase</li></ul><p><br></p><p><strong>Applications due on Monday, 8/31 by 5pm CT</strong></p><p>Please email info@migrantsupportcollective.org and include the following:</p><ul><li>Portfolio or examples of recent work</li><li>Short bio (5-7 sentences)</li><li>Brief statement on why you're interested in the guest artist role (5-7 sentences)</li></ul>