Sisterhood, the African Experience Artwork Submission - HERE

Sisterhood, the African Experience Book Publication, and Art Exhibition

Background information

Africa is a continent that is diverse, vibrant, and full of life. From its rich history to its varied cultures and customs, Africa is a special place that has something to offer everyone. But, at its core, what makes Africa so unique is the strong sense of sisterhood that exists among the women of the continent.

In many African cultures, the bond between sisters is sacred and is celebrated in different ways. In some communities, sisters will live together, share resources, and even take care of each other’s children. In others, sisters are seen as equals, and will offer each other advice, support, and guidance. No matter the custom, the bond between sisters is seen as a valuable part of African life.

Sisterhood also extends beyond the women of the African continent. It can be seen in the way that African women support and uplift each other, both in their home countries and abroad. This is especially true when women are facing difficult times. In such cases, African women will often come together to help each other out, offering words of encouragement and demonstrating solidarity.

The African experience is one of strength and resilience, and sisterhood is a huge part of that. African women have long been an integral part of the continent’s history, and their bond of sisterhood has helped to shape the culture and society of the African continent. As we celebrate the beauty and power of sisterhood, we should also remember to recognize the invaluable role that African women have played in shaping the world we live in.

The African sisterhood is a powerful bond between women of African descent that transcends language, culture, and even nations. This bond is a testament to the strength and resilience of African women, who are often faced with some of the toughest challenges in life.

The African sisterhood is demonstrated in various ways, from small acts of kindness to large-scale movements. Women across the African continent come together to share stories, support each other, and find solutions to common problems. For example, in Ghana, women are using their collective power to combat gender-based violence and create a better future for their daughters. In Uganda, women are leading the fight against child marriage and working to ensure that girls have the same rights and opportunities as boys.

The African sisterhood is also demonstrated through education and empowerment. Women are taking the lead in advocating for girls’ education and providing access to resources and training to help them reach their full potential. Women’s organizations across the continent are providing mentorship and support to young women, helping them to develop the skills they need to succeed in life.

The African sisterhood also shows its strength in the arts. From music to literature to film, women are creating dynamic works that reflect the beauty of African culture and the resilience of African women. Through their art, these women are making their voices heard and inspiring others to stand up for what they believe in.

The African sisterhood is an important part of African culture, and it is a reminder of the strength and resilience of African women. It is a testament to their courage and determination, and it is an example of how women around the world can come together to create positive change. The African sisterhood is a reminder that no matter the challenges we face, we can always find strength in each other.

Theme

Sisterhood, The African Experience

Who can participate?

Women artist in Africa and the diaspora. 

Deadline: 19th August, 2023

Scope /coverage

Five artists per an African country, for artists in the diaspora, two artists per location. 

Languages

Arabic, English, French, and Portuguese  

Nature of Project 

The project is a compendium of sisterhood experiencing life in its full array; discomfort, support, working, living, surviving, hustling, enjoying, being and working for the earth.  The image must be clear, strong, communicative and must hold a moment in time. Works that celebrate sister relationships among African women in everyday life. Works may depict moments, action, movement, intimacy among others.

How do I submit my work?
Simply fill the form. Please make sure your art piece responds to the theme. Send your first name, last name, gender, email, biography written in 3rd person, CV, statement about the work, attached the work or upload to submit. ONLINE FORM IS BELOW

Originality
This call is for original submissions. By submitting the work, you acknowledge that it is your submission and that the work does not violate any intellectual property rights of any third party or organization. You also agree that upon submission of the work, you agree to defend and hold harmless wAi Africa from any liability resulting from the publication, distribution, and exhibition of your work. wAi Africa reserves the right to change the rules of participating in this project.

What do I get?
If you are selected, you May be sent a hard copy of the book.  All selected submissions will be published and exhibited.

The top 7 works per African country selected, will:

·        Be featured in the book and included in the exhibitions at the sub region and AU.

·        Gain exposure on wAi Africa media network, digital platforms, including social media channels, journals, and blog pages.

·        Contribute to the broader goal of promoting peace and upholding the African woman’s dignity and support to life on earth.   

·         Encouraging humanity to claim their feminine energy

Do I keep the ownership of the works I submit?
Yes. If your work gets selected, you maintain creative ownership of the artwork and have agreed to grant wAi Africa a worldwide perpetual, non-revocable license to use artwork for the purposes stated. That means that wAi Africa, and others will be able to use and adapt the art for the book publication, exhibition both electronically and hard copy.

Where will my works be published?
All selected works will be published in a book both electronic and hard copy and made available to download and the works will be exhibited online and at the AU sub regional offices?

Who will select the art for publication and exhibition?
Submissions will be reviewed by a panel (including wAi Africa, artists, and gender/ human rights experts). Selection criteria include concept, originality, professional quality, aesthetics (design and composition), and message.

Types of work
Artists from all African countries and the diaspora are welcome to apply with original works with no limitation to the technique used –, painting, dance, theater, sculpture, textile, ceramics, illustration, typography, digital, mixed media collage, photographs, and more.

Quality of work

Submit high quality work in. 20"x30" and or 300dpi resolution. Size: 5 -7mb. Artists may submit up to 3 works, only one will be chosen.

Acceptable formats: JPEG, MP3,MP4, EPS, PSD, AI, TIFF. Vector files are preferred for digital works, 300+ PPI (all submissions must have a jpeg included.) Kindly give instructions to open your file if needed.

Will I receive feedback on my submission?

Please note that we will only publish the selected works. We cannot provide feedback or answer individual inquiries. We will contact you if your work is selected for publication.


When will the results be announced?
In November the jury will convene to review the submitted artworks.

We’ll announce the results in December 2023 across all our channels, so stay tuned for updates.

We will contact each selected artist individually.

We will contact only the finalists and will not be able to give feedback on individual submissions. Works produced under this project may be used to raise funds.

 

Where?

Digital and print publication. The exhibition would be held at the sub regional offices within the African Union.

 

Other Details: 

No application fees. Original works only. Artists may be invited(at their own cost) to the exhibition in the Sub regional offices of the African Union. Selected works will be sent to the wAi Africa office in Ghana using insured snail mail. Other options can be discussed as well. Each participating artist will be sent a copy of the published book, either electronic or hard copy. 

#artists may fund arise to travel to the exhibition and we may support with the necessary documentation. 

SUBMISSION OF WORK