APPLY TODAY 
Call for Art

Call for Art: “We The People” — America 250 Community Exhibition

Presented by Gallery 200 / People Made Visible in collaboration with the West Chicago City Museum at Main Street Gallery, 200 Main Street, West Chicago, IL

Gallery 200 and People Made Visible, in partnership with the West Chicago City Museum, invite artists to submit original artwork for “We The People,” a community art and history exhibition commemorating the 250th Anniversary of the United States (America 250). This exhibition will explore the many meanings of “We the People” through local stories, lived experiences, and creative expression rooted in West Chicago’s diverse communities.

Selected artworks will be paired with historical artifacts from the West Chicago City Museum’s collection, creating visual and narrative dialogues between past and present. The goal is to highlight how national history is experienced, interpreted, and shaped at the local level.

Exhibition Vision

“We The People” seeks to center community voices and align with the American Association for State and Local History (AASLH) America 250 themes, including:

  • Power of Place – How local spaces, neighborhoods, and landmarks shape identity and memory

  • We the People – Expanding the understanding of who is included in the American story

  • Unfinished Revolutions – Ongoing struggles and progress toward equity, justice, and representation

  • Doing History – Encouraging public participation in interpreting and sharing history

Artists are encouraged to consider how their work connects personal or community narratives with broader historical themes, especially those that highlight perspectives historically underrepresented in traditional museum spaces.

Eligibility

  • Open to artists ages 16 and older

  • Emerging and established artists welcome

  • Artists residing in or connected to West Chicago and the surrounding region are especially encouraged to apply

  • All visual art mediums accepted, including but not limited to painting, drawing, sculpture, fiber art, photography, mixed media, printmaking, and digital art (must be display-ready)

Artwork Themes & Inspiration

Submissions may explore topics such as:

  • Identity, belonging, and citizenship

  • Migration, settlement, and community change over time

  • Labor, industry, and local economic history

  • Cultural traditions, celebrations, and resilience

  • Civic engagement and social movements

  • Intergenerational stories and family histories

  • Visions for the future of community and democracy

Artifact Pairing & Collaboration

Selected art pieces will be paired with an artifact from the West Chicago City Museum collection. Artists will be provided with information of their piece’s paired artifacts prior to installation.

Sales & Prints

  • Artists may offer selected original artworks for sale during the exhibition.

  • A 20% commission will be retained by Gallery 200; 80% of the sale price will go directly to the artist and be paid out at the close of the exhibit.

  • In addition to the original artwork, artists may provide up to 5 prints of their selected piece for sale. Prints must be clearly labeled and display-ready.

  • Artists who wish to sell items during the exhibition are required to fill out a W9 and comply with all state and federal sales tax reporting requirements.

Submission Requirements

Please submit:

  1. Up to 3 images of completed artwork (or sketches/concepts if in progress) WITH dimensions

  2. Artist Statement (150–300 words) connecting your work to “We The People”

  3. Brief Artist Bio (100 words max)

  4. Artwork Details: title, medium, dimensions, year, and sale price if applicable

  5. Contact information

Key Dates

  • Application Deadline: February 20

  • Artist Notification: February 23

  • Artwork Drop-Off: February 27 & February 28

  • Exhibition Opening Reception: Friday, March 6, Main Street Gallery, 200 Main Street, 5-7pm

  • Exhibition On View Through: May 9

Selection Criteria

Artwork will be reviewed by a collaborative panel representing Gallery 200, People Made Visible, and the West Chicago City Museum. Selections will consider:

  • Connection to exhibition themes

  • Creativity and originality

  • Potential for meaningful dialogue with historical artifacts

  • Representation of diverse voices and lived experiences

  • Feasibility for display

Exhibition Goals

  • Amplify local voices within the national America 250 commemoration

  • Encourage community participation in historical interpretation

  • Foster partnerships between artists, cultural organizations, and museum

  • Create inclusive narratives that reflect the full diversity of West Chicago

For questions or additional information, please contact:
West Chicago City Museum, wegohistory@gmail.com

“We The People” invites artists to help shape a living, evolving portrait of community history — one that honors the past while imagining a more inclusive future.