Call for Artists

Embodied Ecologies is a funded, collaborative artists working group dedicated to elevating the creative voices and experiences of artists who are interested in making work about disability, health, and their relationship to the environment. Representing a singular idea through multiple mediums, this project foregrounds accessible communication across various abilities, with the larger goal of sparking change-making conversations within the Salt Lake Community.

In the selection process, we will prioritize artists with disabilities but are also accepting applications from artists of all backgrounds who have experience, stake, or interest in issues that arise at the intersection of health and the environment. 

Some guiding questions include: 

• Where do environmental justice and disability justice meet? Where do they diverge?
• How do environmental concerns in Salt Lake City (i.e. climate change, air quality, drought, Covid-19, the built environment, food access, urban heat island effect, etc.) impact ideas and lived experiences of health? 
• What is  the role of art in communicating issues of health, accessibility, and the environment? 

Program Benefits

Program benefits include a $1,500 stipend per artist and support from Art Access in procuring materials whenever possible. We also hope the working group will provide nourishing and fertile ground for fellows to grow as artists, foster creative partnerships, and engage in rewarding work relevant to the Salt Lake City community. 

Expectations for Working Group Participants

1. Work on an individual project in any artistic medium, (including but not limited to painting, drawing, sculpture, craft/folk art, comics, collage, music/ audio art, film, writing/poetry, computer-assisted art/design, multimedia art, architecture, dance, performance, and theater)
2. Participation in the creation of a group project related to the themes of health and the environment
3. Participation in group meetings. Currently, we plan to meet as a group from March - July with the end goal of a public exhibition in August 2022. Though subject to change, this includes an estimated 40 hours of group meetings over the five months. Once the fellows are selected, we’ll work together to find meeting times and formats (i.e. in-person, via zoom, hybrid, asynchronous) that work for all. 

About Art Access and Group Facilitators

Art Access builds an inclusive and diverse arts community in Utah through creative opportunities for people with disabilities and other marginalized communities, and through public engagement in the arts. Art Access has supported people with disabilities having access to the arts since 1984. Our programming has changed over the years, but we have always focused on making art accessible for all. 

Max Barnewitz (they/them), and Natalie Slater (they/she) will help facilitate and structure the program. Max is a program manager at Art Access. They have a background in cultural studies and are passionate about arts, education, social equity, and environmental sustainability. Natalie is a graduate student at the University of Utah working at the intersection of Environmental Humanities and Critical Disability Studies through the medium of film. Due to a car accident and preexisting spinal instability, Natalie experiences intermittent debilitating back pain that impacts the way they move through the world and understand the environment. 

Application Instructions

Please complete the online application available below.

Note on Accessibility - Application Options: This application is designed to be flexible and accessible. We are here to support you and work with you and do not want the application process to be a barrier to your participation. There will be no penalties for lack of traditional writing conventions, such as grammar, punctuation, and formatting in the application process. There’s also flexibility in regards to how you submit your applications and materials*. Options include: 

• Written submission via the online application form (below)
• Written submission in a separate document
• Audio/video recording 
• Phone/video interview with Natalie and Max

* Note: No mode of submission will be given preference over another. 

We are here to support you with what you need to successfully submit an application. If none of these methods work for your needs but you are still interested in applying, we want to hear from you! Please reach out to Natalie and Max at workgroup@artaccessutah.org or 801-328-0703. We’d also love to hear from you with any other questions or concerns. 

Thank you for your time and we look forward to hearing from you! Please complete the application by February 15, 2022.