Call for Art
Due date for submissions – May 17, 2026
Send submissions to Dropbox Submission Box
Notification date – By June 19, 2026
Questions? Contact Mary Kate Kwasnik – mkkwasnik@curtislibrary.com
Project Overview:
Curtis Memorial Library seeks to curate and expand its art collection to ensure it reflects the many voices, histories, and stories from Brunswick and Harpswell, Maine.
To this end, we invite artists, donors, and collectors to submit original artworks that capture the essence of our area and the diverse communities that live and work here.
Selected works will become a vital, working part of the Library’s mission. We plan to integrate art into through:
- Long-term displays
- Rotating, temporary exhibits
- Hands-on programming for both adults and children
By submitting work, artists and donors confirm their understanding and acceptance that the Library will use the art in a variety of ways.
As the collection expands, some works may be featured in educational and public programming through discussion, interpretation, or digital reproduction. Submitted artworks will not be physically handled as part of hands-on activities but artists interested in participating in this project should be comfortable that their art could be used in a number of different ways by the Library.
The Mission of Curtis Library:
To enhance the quality of life in our towns by providing community, connections, creativity, information, and ideas.
Selection Criteria for Art
Theme:
We plan to expand the Library’s art collection so it becomes an evolving, living mirror of the people and voices of our community. Additions to the collection should articulate a vision of what community means today in Brunswick and Harpswell, considering any of the following:
- The people who live/d here
- The sense of place
- The goals that we have for the future
- Our interactions with each other as citizens
Provenance:
Purchases and gifts from artists, donors, and art collectors based in Brunswick/Harpswell and/or with significant Brunswick and Harpswell connections.
Style and Nature:
The art should be appropriate in scale, material, form and content for the Curtis Memorial Library public library environment and may include three-dimensional work. The art will be examined for durability, taking the Library environment and the condition of the piece into consideration. Extremely fragile items are not appropriate for the Library setting.
Quality and Elements of Design:
Work should display artistic excellence and attention to craft. The committee is looking for evidence of originality, creativity, and clarity of the theme.
Installation/Maintenance Costs:
When selecting a work of art to purchase, or determining if a gift may be accepted, the Library must consider security issues, the cost of installation and maintenance of the work over its lifetime, and ongoing costs for cleaning and/or storage.
Public Liability:
Works that create unsafe conditions or contain other factors that may bear on public liability will not be accepted.
Conditions of Acceptance:
In the case of gifts or donations, the donor’s conditions may affect whether the gift will be accepted.
Photo/use Rights:
The Library may photograph or digitally document accepted works for non-commercial educational and promotional purposes, including use on the Library’s website, social media, printed materials, and related communications, with full credit provided to the artist.
Size limitations:
Two-dimensional work up to 40×40” in size that is framed and ready to hang. Three-dimensional work up to 20x20x20”. The Committee will consider larger sizes of both formats, depending on how they support the theme.
Dates of review:
Submissions will be received on a rolling basis through May 17, 2026. Final decisions will be announced by June 19, 2026.
Submission requirements
- Name, address, and email and phone contact of artist (18+)
- Website, Instagram username (optional)
- Artist one page bio
- Artist one page statement including description of process
- List of works for submission with title, dimensions, materials, date completed, and price (if applicable)
- The Library has secured some private funding available for the purchase of art, and the committee is prepared to make investments where appropriate.
- However, we would also appreciate gifts of, or discounts toward, the purchase of artwork as contributions to our mission. We encourage pricing options accordingly.
- Up to ten low resolution (limit 2 MB) jpeg images labeled with ArtistName_Title_dimensions_media_date.
- Due date for submissions – May 17, 2026
Send submissions to Dropbox Submission Box
- Notification date – By June 19, 2026
- Questions? Please email Mary Kate Kwasnik – mkkwasnik@curtislibrary.com
