April Open Call: Fortitude

Our April Open Call, “Fortitude," has been created by our 34 Gallery Team to explore the themes of personal strength and courage in the face of adversity. Previous Winners can be found on the Open Calls page of our website. This initiative aims to channel the power of art to explore monthly mental health themes, particularly those related to suicide prevention.

• Internationally, the suicide rate spikes mid-April each year, particularly for men. 
• Mental Health care is not available for more than 85% of the global population. 

As a Mental Health Art Gallery, we are concerned about the rise in hardship that will surely happen due to the current financial instability in the global humanitarian sector and the tension in the international community. While April is often associated with themes of rebirth, growth & renewal, the shift of seasons also coincides with a spike in suicide. These two facts have prompted our theme. We are asking Creatives in all areas of The Arts to mobilize to help save lives at this time. 

Show us how fortitude is expressed through The Arts. Share your stories of strength. Inspire and encourage those without a voice:  individuals living with with mental and physical disabilities, residing in conflict zones, experiencing financial hardship, trauma/abuse survivors, orphans and foster children, the neurodivergent, and those suffering in silence from torment they are unable to escape. 

Remember: Artists create Golden Ages. Join us in starting one! Let's remind humanity to embrace the light of who we are. Your artistic advocacy with us can and will make a difference. 

Requirements: Submit up to 3 artworks or poems by March 28th. Include the following questions in your cover letter:

• Your artist name, artwork titles, and website/social media links. 
• 1 - 2 paragraphs describing the creative process regarding your work & how it fits with the Open Call Theme.
• 1 - 2 paragraphs describing an experience of fortitude in the face of life's challenges. 

Selected artists will be notified by April 10th.

Restrictions:

• Be advised that this open call also includes a global youth & adult audience.
• Works that are sexually graphic and/or advocate violence (self or others), discrimination, or hatred (societal/gender/religious/cultural) of any kind will be disqualified.
• Technique for this call is open but not limited to: Open Medium. Poetry, Audiovisual & A.I. Artwork Accepted. 
• File Type: .MP4, .JPG, .PNG --File Size: Up to 100 MB