We are looking for artists to draw inspiration from the Rural concept above and from the history of IGL’s artist-driven projects. Check out our past projects below to get a feel for the diversity, experimentation, and collaborative spirit that makes up our history and approach to the media arts.

Past Projects

Two Cities 2018 | Seen & Heard | Visiones 2017 | Waterlines 2016 | Daughters 2016

This year we are particularly interested in projects based in documentary film and experimental video, VR, animation, video games, radio, etc. However, we are open to all forms of art, including multi-media installations, sculpture, paintings, drawings, and photography. No matter the medium, we encourage artists to consider how their project could be enhanced by or viewed through the lens of media arts.

All applicants and/or their project must have a connection to the Southeast, US. It is up to each applicant to make an argument for a valid connection. ALL disciplines of art are acceptable: painting, drawing, photography, sculpture, sound, video, installation, mixed-media, etc. Artwork can be pre-existing, but it must have a connection to the 2018 Rural concept. In the application each artist must describe how their proposed work ties into the Rural Project.

We will work with each artist individually to coordinate the exhibition of their artwork. All work will be shown during the Indie Grits Festival, March 28-31 2019, and all accepted artists will receive a festival pass. Depending on the nature of the project, we will find the proper sight and venue. Films and videos may be shown at the Nickelodeon Theatre, Indie Grits Labs exhibition space, or another yet-to-be-determined venue. We will need an exhibition proof or rough draft of your work to show. For visual art, timing for installation and deinstallation will depend upon site and venue and may vary from artist to artist. We will provide support for the install of traditional work, however installation artists will be expected to install and uninstall their own work. We will provide physical support as needed.

We ask all applicants to provide a budget in the above application for all proposals and entries. We have included a budget template in the application. Indie Grits will provide modest financial support to all artists who are accepted in order to help with production as well as facilitate shipping and exhibition and other incurred costs. Always remember that the Indie Grits Festival is a program of Indie Grits Labs and the Nickelodeon Theatre, a non profit institution with a tight budget; we ask that all artists put forth an effort to hold down costs and be resourceful. For this open call we have a total budget of $10,000. All budgets will vary in scope and we will attempt to accept and approve as many projects as we can out of the pool of applicants. Therefore it is unlikely any one project will receive more than $2,000.

*Include your entire budget in the provided template, including in-kind support, and make sure to specify the exact portion of the budget your requested funds will go to support.