Deadline: February 2, 2024, 11:59 CST
Details
Submissions Portal
Program Details:
The chosen writer will collaborate closely with Erin Cluley Gallery staff and this year’s selected Cluley Projects open call artist to create a publication which highlights the artist’s practice and complements their exhibition. As part of the program, the writer will receive mentorship from Blake Bathman, the gallery’s on-staff press writer and a published author. Bathman will provide personalized guidance to help refine the writer’s voice and develop their work for publication.
The winner will produce a text (~ 750-1250 words) to be published in conjunction with the opening of the fourth annual Cluley Projects open call winner exhibition in May/June 2025. As a part of their mentorship, Bathman will connect the artists with industry contacts and help foster a continued interest in art criticism.
The produced writing will respond to and support the work of Leili Arai Tavallaei, winner of the fourth annual Cluley Projects open call. Tavallaei is a Dallas-based multi-disciplined artist working primarily in print, video, found object collage, and mixed media. Her work draws on generational memories through potent collages of photographs, ephemeras, and familial heirlooms. In her practice, she documents the active loss of memory through translation—linguistically, formally, and physically.
Recipient to Receive:
• Honorarium: $500 as compensation for your contribution.
• Mentorship: One-on-one guidance to refine your writing, strengthen your skills and voice, and gain insight into diverse writing approaches in the arts, such as press releases, critiques, journalism, and exhibition publications.
• Publication Opportunity: Your work will be professionally published and distributed physically and digitally as part of the exhibition.
Eligibility:
To be eligible, writers must meet the following criteria:
• Be at least 18 years old and currently residing in Texas.
• Be in the early stages of their career, with no more than two published pieces in print or online journals.
• Have a strong interest in contemporary art and a desire to develop their writing practice.
• Writers enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate program are encouraged to apply!
• Applicants associated with Erin Cluley Gallery are ineligible to apply.
How to Apply:
Please submit the following materials via our open call form on our website:
1. Statement of Interest (500 words or less): Share your background, writing approach, and hopes for this opportunity.
2. Two Writing Samples (up to 1,000 words each): These can include published or unpublished work, with at least one focused on art or cultural critique. Samples can be condensed from a larger work.
3. CV/Resume: Outline relevant experiences, education, or publications.
Deadline for Submissions:
Applications must be submitted by 11:59 PM CST on February 2, 2025. Late or incomplete applications will not be reviewed. Submissions by email, hand, or mail will not be accepted.
Selection Process:
Applications will be reviewed by Erin Cluley Gallery staff. Finalists will be notified by February 16, 2025. Please refrain from inquiring about your application status during the selection period—all applicants will be notified by this date.
This is a rare opportunity to develop your writing practice through mentorship and collaboration while contributing to the rich dialogue between art and writing. For inquiries or additional details, please contact victoria@erincluley.com