June Open Call: Savor

Our June Open Call, “Savor,” has been created by our 34 Gallery Staff to explore memory and sensory experiences. This month, we are particularly interested in works by artists utilizing this art therapy open call to address:  Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD), Neurocognitive Disorders, Traumatic Brain Injury, Physical Disabilities, Chronic Illness & Substance Abuse Recovery.

Themes: As artists, we know that our memories and experiences shape our creative work. But how do these shape the moments we live through every day? This month, we ask you to channel your energy into expressing how you savor aspects of your everyday life.

Each of the conditions covered in this Open Call can make living moment by moment a necessity :

•  Adults with SPD often experience intense emotional exhaustion, anxiety, impulsivity and panic caused by sensory overload, which increases the risk of suicide.

• The risk of suicide is highest within the first year of a dementia, neurocognitive/TBI diagnosis or substance abuse treatment.

• If a physical disability and/or chronic pain is the result of a work injury, the suicide risk increases substantially. 

•  Individuals with multiple addictions (alcohol, drug, and tobacco) have up to an 11-fold increase in risk of suicide. 

•  People who use opioids are 14 times more likely to die by suicide compared to the general population.

For 2026, Artists are invited to express what "Savor" means. Delve into ways nostalgia can linger for a lifetime. Explore how a culinary dish can set the tone at a gathering. Seek out the thoughts making you smile when no one is looking. Remind us of a song or style that captures the mood of a time period. Authenticate the experience of losing yourself in a moment you'd like to last forever. Embrace the reality of being fully aware. Show us what Savor means to you.

Please Note: As a Mental Health Art Gallery, we are asking Creatives to mobilize to help save lives. Someone seeing your work this year can be inspired to keep going with hope and resilience despite their mental health struggles. Your artistic advocacy with us can and will make a difference!

Requirements: Open Medium. Fine Art, Poetry, Audiovisual, Short Film & A.I. Artwork Accepted. Submit up to 3 artworks or poems  by May 29th. 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 on a memory or self-care method that helps you positively cope with mental health diagnosis, disability, illness,  substance abuse recovery or having a loved one with these conditions.

Selected artists will be notified by June 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.

• File Type: .MP4, .JPG, .PNG --File Size: Up to 100 MB for art & audiovisual submissions; Word, Google Docs, .PDF for poetry.