The Art League of New Britain Presents
Call for Artists: Second Annual Artists of Color Show
Exhibition Dates: July 25 – August 24, 2025
Opening Reception: Friday, July 25, 2025, 6–8 PM
Location: The Art League of New Britain, 30 Cedar Street, New Britain, CT
Registration and registration fees will be handled online through ArtCall.org.
Artists will be required to upload a digital photo of their work for the online jurying process.
For help with registering, please email info@alnb.org. We appreciate your patience with this new process.
Overview and Importance
Artists of color throughout the state of Connecticut are encouraged to submit up to three works of art for ALNB’s second annual Artists of Color Juried Exhibit!
This dynamic group exhibition celebrates the talent, vision, and cultural narratives of artists of color across a spectrum of mediums. From bold contemporary statements to intimate reflections of heritage and identity, this show centers artists whose voices have historically been marginalized, yet whose work speaks powerfully to the present and future.
Connecticut’s cultural institutions have historically underrepresented artists of color.
A 2019 Hartford-area arts study found that “people of color are not proportionately represented in Greater Hartford’s art workforce” (hfpg.org), and a follow-up report noted this gap prompted an advisory group to seek ways to “increase opportunities for artists of color” (ctmirror.org). National data reinforce the problem: in 30 major U.S. museums from 2008–2018, only 2.3% of acquisitions and 7.7% of exhibitions were by Black artists (sothebys.com), while African Americans are ~12% of the U.S. population. In CT, even smaller institutions skew white. For example, the Florence Griswold Museum (Old Lyme) reported that of 172 works shown in 2023, just 29 (17%) were by artists of color (florencegriswoldmuseum.org). New Britain is 63% people of color—a majority-demographic city where immigrant and minority communities drive local culture. Yet its arts infrastructure (galleries, museums, schools) has not caught up to this diversity. The Art League of New Britain and the New Britain Museum of American Art operate in a city with one of the lowest median incomes in the state (ctdatahaven.org), suggesting fewer private patrons to support broad programming. Moreover, New Britain’s students and young artists have limited pathways: city schools have had to prioritize core needs (and face $300+ million in funding gaps statewide for high-need districts, schoolstatefinance.org), which often crowds out arts classes and visits to museums.
In this climate, BIPOC artists struggle for visibility. For example, before 2024 the Art League had never mounted an exhibition exclusively for artists of color—reflecting an unintentional oversight, given that well over half of New Britain’s populace is non-white.
Organizing a dedicated show of artists of color directly addresses these inequities. It gives local Black, Latino, Asian-American, Indigenous, and multiracial artists a platform they have historically been denied in Connecticut’s art venues. By centering underrepresented creators, the Art League of New Britain's Artists of Color Show begins to redress the imbalance noted by statewide arts studies (hfpg.org, ctmirror.org). Such a show also has immediate benefits: it can inspire youth from New Britain’s diverse communities by putting role models on the wall; attract a broader audience to the League; and build partnerships with BIPOC-led arts organizations working to diversify CT’s cultural scene.
In short, this exhibition is not just timely—it’s essential for equity. As Connecticut’s arts leaders acknowledge, “when artists [of color] are valued, the whole community wins” (ctmirror.org). The Art League of New Britain's Artists of Color Show helps make that winning scenario a reality for New Britain and beyond.
More than a showcase, this is a platform for dialogue and visibility—a space where diversity isn't a theme, but the heartbeat. Join us in honoring the contributions of artists of color and experiencing the transformative power of art that reflects the depth and breadth of our shared humanity.
Registration and registration fees will be handled online through ArtCall.org.
Artists will be required to upload a digital photo of their work for the online jurying process.
For help with registering, please email info@alnb.org. We appreciate your patience with this new process.
Juror
Darryl Oates – artist and winner of Best In Show at ALNB's Spring Juried Show
Entry Fees
Artists are invited to enter up to three (3) entries
Non-Members: $35 for first entry, 50% off additional entries
ALNB Members: 33% off entry fees with coupon code (sent in email)
Fees are non-refundable
Schedule and Key Dates
Submission Deadline: July 11, 2025, 11:59 pm
Entry Notification: July 20, 2025
Receiving of Accepted Works
All accepted work must be hand delivered to The Art League of New Britain on:
Monday, July 21, 10 am – 12 noon
Tuesday, July 22, 5 – 7 pm
Pick Up and Closing Reception
Post-show, to be announced.
Eligibility
Open to all artists aged 18 and older
Work must have been completed in the past three years, be original, and not previously exhibited in any ALNB show
Submission Requirements and Guidelines
All original media accepted. Digital art is acceptable.
Size Guidelines:
Artworks' total combined width (unframed) not to exceed 50 inches
All 2D works MUST be ready to hang with wire or D-rings/screw eyes. NO EASELBACK FRAMES. The exception is prints on metal, if they have a keyhole hanger
All canvases must be framed, except for gallery wrap canvases with painted sides
3D work: ALNB has a limited number of sculpture bases. Oversize sculptures are welcome if the artist supplies a base. Wall reliefs may not exceed 8” depth or a maximum of 40 lbs
Accepted work must remain on display until the show closes, including those that are sold. All accepted work must remain on display for the entire duration
Image Files:
JPG format, under 4 MB, sRGB colorspace
For best results, images should be at least 1920 pixels on the longest side at 72 dpi
For help with your submissions, contact info@alnb.org
Gallery Hours
During this exhibition, the Art League of New Britain will be open Saturdays and Sundays from 1:30–4 pm.
You may be asked about your availability to gallery sit upon acceptance.
Awards (4 awards totaling $300)
First Prize: $200
Second Prize: $100
Third Prize: $50
Honorable Mention: $50
Sales and Commission
The Art League of New Britain receives a 30% commission on art sales.
Liability
By entering this show, you agree to all stated conditions. This is a juried show, so your entry does not guarantee acceptance into this exhibit. The Art League of New Britain, its officers or agents, and the venue assume no responsibility for loss or damage of any kind during transit, drop off, storage, exhibition, or pick up.
Submission of all artworks, framing, and other materials is at the sole risk of the artist. ALNB reserves the right to photograph work or use submitted images for publicity. The show committee reserves the right to reject work for any reason. There will be no substitutions. The ALNB is not responsible for any loss or damage to any artwork whatsoever. Artists exhibit at their own risk.
Contact
For questions, contact info@alnb.org.