Call for Artists

Help make our “listening post” to tell stories of diversity and inclusion

We are creating a new way to listen to diverse voices and hidden stories at American University. Our installation will feature a physical listening post that is wired to the internet. Oral histories and audio clips will feature the voices of community members and surface new perspectives on the difficult questions of who we are, and where we are going.

We are looking for an artist to imagine and build a sculptural object to house the digital components already embedded in our payphone housing.

Here are some examples to help with brainstorming:

payphone-_art1  payphoneart3 sankofa-red-1090-6772 chloe_meineck_music_memory_boxes_1

phoneboothlibrary03

Our goals for the display are to be visually distinctive and inviting to listeners who might pick up the phone; to align with the look and feel of our community (e.g., integrating some of the American University colors); and to speak to issues of diversity and inclusion.

We will accept proposals from individuals, pairs, or small teams. We will cover your costs for materials (within reason), plus a stipend for the artist of a couple hundred dollars. You can be an artist, a designer, or anyone interested in shaping spaces for creativity and community building. This is a collaborative project so you must be willing to work with others and be receptive to ideas and input from the team. Your name will be attached to the installation, our website and print materials – a great way to get your artwork out there!

If you are interested, or want to learn more, send our editorial team an email editorialteam@auvoices.net.

UPDATE (11/16/2016): If desired, artists will receive some guidance from Prof. Andy Holtin, who is an expert in the use of technological systems to create performative objects; he has offered to provide tech guidance for the physical or electrical systems.

Release 1: call for alumni stories

Dear alumni of AU,

We are recruiting your stories of diversity and inclusion.

How can you participate?  Call our hotline to gather voices.  Here’s what we are looking for:

  • personal and direct (what you saw or experienced)
  • 1-5 minutes in length is fine, although a bit longer is ok too
  • something you’re willing to share publicly

For more, meet the editors on our team, who will be compiling and remixing the stories.

Have someone in mind?  Send them to this page, or have them contact us!