Telfair Museums Friends of African American Arts
Telfair Museums Friends of African American Arts

The Rise Within

Members-Only Juried Art Exhibition August 15 – September 27, 2025 The Dr. Otis S. Johnson Cultural Arts Center
Deadline is July 15th. 7 weeks left to enter. Members Only.
Open Calls

or to submit.

Deadline for entry: July 15, 2025
Dr. Otis S. Johnson Cultural Arts Center (CAC) in collaboration with Telfair Museums’ Friends of African American Artists (FAAA) present The Rise Within.

Venue

The Dr. Otis S. Johnson Cultural Arts Center
201 Montgomery Street
Savannah, GA 31401

Theme

This exhibition will explore the realities of mental health through the shared perspectives of a select group of artists. Together, we will present emotional highs, lows, and the quieter moments in between. Each work can reflect personal experiences – moments of energy, stillness, confusion, and clarity. The pieces will be expressions of what can be difficult to put into words, aiming to create understanding. This is a space to witness, to reflect, and to feel. We invite the public to engage with the complexity of mental health, as seen through our collective lenses as artists.

Exhibition Co-Chairs

CAC – Antonia Larkin
FAAA – Nae’Keisha Jones, Pamela McLaurin, Brian Woods

Entry Fee

FAAA Members only: $15 to enter up to 3 artworks.

Both Telfair and FAAA membership must be current no later than Tuesday, July 15, 2025.

To join or renew FAAA, visit Telfair Museums and FAAA for details.

Exhibition Requirements

  • FAAA membership is required to enter.
  • For labeling, artists will be asked to provide a brief summary about their process
  • Artists are responsible for the delivery and pick up of selected entries to and from the CAC within the specified dates and times.
  • Substitutions and late drop off outside CAC hours will not be accepted.
  • Submission does not guarantee selection for the exhibit.
  • You may change or adjust your submissions up until Tuesday, July 15, 2025 at midnight.

Artwork Requirements

  • Original paintings, drawings, photographs, and sculptures
  • Digital art, photography, and collage may be used in your original composition
  • The weight limit for free-standing and pedestal-displayed sculptures is 30 lbs.
  • Standard sculpture pedestals are available on-site but must be requested in your application.
  • Maximum size: 3’ high x 12” wide x 12” deep for pedestal art.
  • Wall-hung sculptures and bas-reliefs must be under 20 lbs.
  • Crop your ShowSubmit application photos to include only the artwork, against a plain background.
  • Make certain your images are right-side-up.
  • Files will be automatically resized to the correct specifications. You do not need to resize your image.
  • Files will be automatically renamed using your Name, Title of work, Medium, Size, and Price. You do not need to name your image files.
  • Artwork must be available from receiving through pick-up
  • Artwork must be labeled with your name, the title of the work, and your best contact method.

Other Exhibit Requirements

  • All artwork represented must be original
  • AI assisted, as a minor component, (not entirely AI-generated or under painted) and Digital media is acceptable if labeled with “digital” and/or “AI assisted” somewhere in the medium label.
  • Original digital artwork is acceptable as a fine-quality printout.
  • If AI is determined and not declared, it will be disqualified.
  • Unframed work is allowed; all sides must be finished.
  • For plexiglass only: glass is permitted for pastel artwork.
  • For 3D artwork, 2 images, each showing a different view of the work, are options through ShowSubmit.

Sales

  • Works for sale are encouraged. Please note that all sales are subject to a commission – 15% to FAAA. Please price your work with that in mind.
  • All work must have a dollar value, even if it is Not For Sale (NFS).

Awards

Cash prizes, Sponsor gifts, and Ribbons for Honorable Mention and Certificates of Merit will be awarded at the Jurors’ discretion

Artwork Removal

All art MUST be picked up after the exhibit closes September 29–October 3, 2025. Works not removed will be stored at the artist’s own risk.

Agreement of Entry and Liability

While every effort will be made to safely handle your art, artists should self-insure their work. Entry gives your consent to participate in this exhibition with the understanding that neither our host gallery: the Johnson Cultural Arts Center (CAC), nor Telfair Museums’, or its affinity group: Friends of African American Arts (FAAA) can be held liable for any damage, loss, or dispute.

Entry gives your consent for a selected work to be included in promotional materials printed and online.


We are proud of this Exhibition theme and are excited to look forward to your submissions!

Questions

For questions about FAAA or this Prospectus, please contact:

Nae’Keisha Jones
[email protected]

Pamela McLaurin
[email protected]

Antonia Larkin
[email protected]

Additional Notification Information

Notifications will be emailed and posted in your ShowSubmit account by the end of the day on July 22, 2025.

You may view the notification in your ShowSubmit account by logging in and tapping the Notifications at the top right of the screen, or in your Entry History.

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.

Note: Entries made prior to 2023 may not display the View Notification link.

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 (July 15, 2025.)
  • 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

For questions about FAAA or this Prospectus, please contact Pamela McLaurin ([email protected]) or Nae’Keisha Jones ([email protected]).

For technical support or entry questions, first check our Help Center or Entry Guide. If you still need help, email ShowSubmit Support ([email protected]). We’ll respond between 9am and 6pm Eastern Time, Monday through Friday.