Calls for Artists
In the Shaira Ali Gallery
Untold Stories
In celebration of Arlington250
Arlington Center for the Arts is currently seeking submissions to Untold Stories. This exhibition is presented in partnership with the Arlington League of Women Voters as part of the Arlington 250 celebration, and draws inspiration from historical and contemporary people, places and things that are little known in Arlington. Artists are invited to submit work which may provoke questions about what stories are considered “important” in Arlington’s history and current events, and what commonalities an artist may share with a current or previous resident’s experience. Artists are encouraged to find inspiration and make connections between these stories and their own artistic practice.
The Arlington League of Women Voters has compiled a list of resources to inspire creatives. Topics include stories that are not widely known, like the story of Georgianna M. Peatfield, the first woman elected to the Arlington School Board, or details about the market gardens that once occupied much of Arlington’s land. The resources provided are just a sampling of the wide variety of stories out there that haven’t been discovered and shared. While all artwork submitted should be tied to an element of Arlington’s past or current existence, inspiration is not limited to the resources shared below. We encourage you to explore the Arlington Historical Society’s website as well as the Robbins Library’s Local History collection, or get to know a new person or community space and their untold stories.
It’s as easy as 1,2,3!
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Identify an untold story inspired by the resources provided or your own connections/research
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Create new work or identify work you’ve previously created that amplifies the untold story you chose
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Submit work and share the connection to Arlington’s past/present in your artist statement to ACA as part of our fall exhibit, Untold Stories.
If you have questions or concerns, please contact Delia Tharnish, Education and Programs Director at delia@acarts.org or at 781-648-6220.
Image courtesy of Arlington Historical Society
This exhibition is made possible in part by support from the Grants Committee of the Arlington Commission for Arts and Culture. Untold Stories is presented as part of the Arlington250: Untold Stories of Menotomy Celebration happening through 2026 throughout Arlington, MA.
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Important Dates
Deadline to Submit: Sunday, August 17, 2025
Selected artwork announced: Friday, August 29, 2025
Artwork Drop Off: Tuesday, September 9, 2025
Exhibition Opens: Thursday, September 18, 2025
Opening Reception: Thursday, October 9, 2025
Exhibition Ends: Thursday, November 19, 2025
Submission Guidelines
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Creatives must be ages 16 and up.
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There is a $30 submission fee for up to 3 pieces of art. Scholarships are available.
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Work must be ready to hang, installed, or displayed. 2D works must be on canvas or framed with a wire in the back for hanging or it will not be accepted. Specific display needs must be specified and provided by the artist.
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Site-specific proposals are welcome, but there is no guarantee we can accommodate. Please reach out to delia@acarts.org if you have any questions.
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There are no size restrictions beyond the height of the gallery, which is 6 feet tall. There are limited opportunities for anything taller than 6 feet (see site-specific proposals).
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Artwork shown at ACA in the past year will not be accepted.
Untold Stories Jurors
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Anne Linn | Arlington League of Women Voters member
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Beth Locke | Arlington 250 committee member
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ACA staff
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Untold Stories Resources, References + FAQ
Untold Stories Reference Images
These compiled images may be used for inspiration as you consider submitting work to this call for art. Images were sourced from Arlington Historical Society, the Town of Arlington, and public domain.
Untold Stories Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to create new work for this exhibition?
We encourage all artists to discover and share an untold story related to Arlington through their artwork. You might already have a piece that connects to a story you've learned. Please ensure your artist statement explains how your work relates to an untold story about Arlington.
I am not an Arlington resident. Does my work need to relate to Arlington?
All submitted artwork will be reviewed by a panel of jurors. We encourage all artwork to align with the details outlined in the call. The theme of "Untold Stories" and its connection to Arlington's past and present will be a key factor in evaluating submissions.
If my work is selected, can I drop off or pick up my work early or late?
ACA staff has very limited availability outside of the scheduled drop-off and pick-up dates and times. We also do not have storage space for artwork. We kindly ask you to make every effort to adhere to the posted times and dates. If you need someone else to drop off or pick up your work on your behalf, please inform us in advance.
If my work is selected, can I make changes to it before or during the exhibition?
Artwork is evaluated based on the images submitted for the call. To ensure consistency with the jury's review, changes to the artwork between selection and drop-off, or during the exhibition, are not permitted.
Offsite Exhibit Program
Interested in exhibiting your work at local businesses and venues around Arlington, MA? The Arlington Center for the Arts has well-established relationships with many local business owners and cultural partners who are looking to display locally-made artwork in their public spaces. The ACA Offsite Exhibit Program is an artist bank that the ACA manages and presents to our local partners annually, and arranges exhibitions of selected artists work in these spaces for 3-6 months at a time.
How It Works
Our exhibits team reviews the submissions on a rolling basis as requests are made from the community for local art.
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Artists who are selected from this bank will be contacted by our Operations Manager, Pam Shanley who will review the opportunity for exhibition, and if accepted by the artist, will coordinate the artwork selection, installation, publicity, and reception for each artist.
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Submitting to the Offsite Exhibit Program does not guarantee an exhibition opportunity.
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Once an artist submits their work to the form, they are added permanently to the bank, but they are invited to reach out to ACA staff after a period of one (1) year if they have updates to their portfolio and have not yet been selected.
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Opportunities for exhibition range from a few pieces of art by one artist, to a large-scale exhibition featuring multiple artists.
How to Submit
Please complete the form below and be prepared to provide between 5-10 images of your work.
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Preference will be given to local artists.
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Exhibit opportunities are available for a range of large (10’ and under) medium (48” and under) and small (12” and under) sizes, and price points. All types of 2-D work is acceptable (painting, printmaking, photography, drawings, etc) as well as 3-D work that can be installed on a wall (fiber art, ceramics, etc).
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Unfortunately we cannot accommodate free-standing 3-D work at this time.
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All exhibited work will need to be ready-to-hang (wired, no saw hooks) prior to installation.
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The ACA takes a 30% commission and Artists will receive a 70% commission on all artwork sold during their placement.
Visit our Offsite Exhibits Page for more information. Any questions should be sent via email to ACA's Operations Director, Pam Shanley, at pam@acarts.org.
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