Location
Carrollwood Cultural Center
4537 Lowell Road
Tampa, FL 33618
Tampa, FL 33618
March 30 – May 26, 2026
Show Theme
The Black Art Matters Tampa Bay Collective (BAM Tampa Bay) invites the African Diaspora to submit work for our upcoming exhibition celebrating the full spectrum of Black life, creativity, and imagination.
We are seeking artwork that reflects how you see the world through your own unique lens. This could include portraits, landscapes, still life, abstraction, storytelling, fantasy, pop culture, memory, family, community, spirituality, love, play, or experimentation with materials and form.
We invite you to share your voice, your perspective, and your artistry with the Tampa Bay community. Together, we continue to build visibility, connection, and opportunity for Black artists in our region.
This is a family-friendly exhibition. Submissions should avoid explicit violence, weapons, or nudity.
We want to see you. We want to hear you. We want your art.
We are seeking artwork that reflects how you see the world through your own unique lens. This could include portraits, landscapes, still life, abstraction, storytelling, fantasy, pop culture, memory, family, community, spirituality, love, play, or experimentation with materials and form.
We invite you to share your voice, your perspective, and your artistry with the Tampa Bay community. Together, we continue to build visibility, connection, and opportunity for Black artists in our region.
This is a family-friendly exhibition. Submissions should avoid explicit violence, weapons, or nudity.
We want to see you. We want to hear you. We want your art.
All art submissions will be online through ShowSubmit.com
Eligibility
- Open to people considered part of the African Diaspora
The African Diaspora refers to the global voluntary, and involuntary movement of people of African descent, spreading African culture, traditions, and people to the Americas, Europe, and Asia, primarily resulting from the transatlantic slave trade. - Your artwork must be original.
- We accept 2D and limited 3D creations including watercolor, acrylic, oil, assemblage, encaustic, mixed media, sculpture, photography, quilts, fiber, abstract, etc.
- Please note this is a family facility so no blatant violence, guns or nudity will be excepted.
We are a family friendly public venue in partnership with the Hillsborough County and must follow specific guidelines; no nudes, controversial work that could be considered offensive, political or represent overt violence. Our venue is filled with children all the time! - Large works, up to 50 inches in any direction are ideal and work may not be smaller than 8 in x 10 in.
- We have limited pedestals for 3-dimensional works so please inquire about availability. Very heavy pieces may require special handling.
- See framing guidelines in the prospectus (download below).
If you have specific questions or need to display unusual pieces, please email questions to [email protected].
Entry Fees
$25 for up to 2 artworks. $12 for each additional artwork up to 5.
Awards
All accepted artworks will be judged for 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4 Honorable Mention prizes. In addition, there may be a Curator’s Award. There are a limited number of entries, so please send in your application early!
Framing and Hanging
Please read the “Hanging Requirements” very carefully. YOU MUST PROVIDE HANGING HARDWARE on the back of your frame.
Do not put your work in plastic frames, easel back frames, or frames that are not meant to be hung…we will reject artwork because of this!
Do not put your work in plastic frames, easel back frames, or frames that are not meant to be hung…we will reject artwork because of this!
Artwork Drop-off
Monday, March 30, 2026. 1–4pm
Every piece of artwork entered in the show is required to have the artist’s name, title, medium and contact information, affixed to the back and front. Please have this completed Before you deliver your work. If artwork is delivered without proper name/title, etc. the artwork will not be hung until it is labeled.
Every piece of artwork entered in the show is required to have the artist’s name, title, medium and contact information, affixed to the back and front. Please have this completed Before you deliver your work. If artwork is delivered without proper name/title, etc. the artwork will not be hung until it is labeled.
Artwork Pick up
Monday, May 26, 2026. 10am–1pm.
- Artwork not picked up on the final date will be auctioned off or donated to charity. We cannot store artwork safely. Please plan to have your work picked up if you can’t do it yourself. Please do not drop off or pick up your work early.
- Artwork remains hanging until the end of the show unless arrangements are made with the Curator for replacement. Do not remove any artwork before the date and time for pickup. Call the Art Curator if you need assistance with this.
Sales
Sales of any artwork are handled directly between the artist and buyer. It is customary to donate 20% of the purchase price to Carrollwood Cultural Center when a sale is made. You may submit work that is NFS (not for sale) or POR (price on request), just note this on your application where you would put the price.
Liability
Carrollwood Cultural Center is not liable for artwork submitted for exhibition. All artists will be required to sign an indemnity form before the work is hung. The indemnity form will be emailed to you in pdf format. Please sign and return to [email protected].
Indemnitor understands that Carrollwood Cultural Center may use photographs and videos of them and/or their work in our press releases and other marketing venues without special permissions. Nevertheless, the artist will retain all rights to their work.
Indemnitor understands that Carrollwood Cultural Center may use photographs and videos of them and/or their work in our press releases and other marketing venues without special permissions. Nevertheless, the artist will retain all rights to their work.
Questions?
Email Willow Wright, Art Curator, [email protected]
Or call (813) 922-8167 for more information.
Additional Notification Information
Notifications will be emailed and posted in your ShowSubmit account by the end of the day on March 23, 2026.
If you do not receive your email, login and view the notification in your account. We cannot respond to inquiries regarding the status of notifications.
Image and Filename Specifications
- File Format: Submit original, high-quality JPEG image files. Other formats (e.g., PNG, TIFF) are not accepted.
- Crop Your Image: Ensure only the artwork itself is visible in the image. Do not show any visible matting, frames, or background distractions.
- Orientation: Make sure your image is oriented correctly (right side up) so that the artwork appears in its intended viewing direction.
- Image Size: You do not need to resize your image files before uploading. The system will automatically resize them. Smaller images cannot be enlarged to meet the requirements, so ensure your images are high resolution before uploading.
- File Names: You do not need to rename your files before uploading them. The system will handle any file naming requirements.
- File Size: There is a 30mb maximum file size limit. Larger image files will take longer to upload and process.
Additional Entry Information
- You will pay for your entry by credit or debit card using our secure checkout system.
- After your entry is submitted and paid for, you may log back in to review your entry, edit artist and image information, and add or substitute images up until the entry deadline (March 20, 2026.)
- Entry fees are not refundable and must be submitted and paid by the entry deadline.
- Entries cannot be accepted or changed after the deadline. Incomplete entries will be disqualified.
Support
Questions about this exhibition?
Contact Willow Wright ([email protected]) for questions about the Prospectus, CCC, eligibility, artwork requirements, drop-off, pick-up, sales, etc.
Need help with ShowSubmit?
Visit our Help Center or Entry Guide for guidance on image uploads, payments, and managing your entry. If you still need help, email ShowSubmit Support ([email protected]). We respond Monday–Friday, 9am–6pm Eastern.