Call for Artists

Deadline to Apply: June 20, 2025

Exhibition Dates: October 26, 2025 – March 2026

Notification of Acceptance: July 1, 2025

Artwork Delivery Deadline: October 14 - 16, 2025 by appointment

Artist Compensation: $750 - $1,500

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Rochester Art Center invites local artists of all disciplines to participate in a unique opportunity to create original interactive or performative artwork in response to historical objects selected from the collection of the History Center of Olmsted County.

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Project Overview

This collaborative exhibition bridges past and present by pairing artists with culturally and historically significant artifacts. Selected artists will produce new interactive or performative works inspired by these objects, interpreting and reimagining them through contemporary lenses. Final artworks will be exhibited alongside the original artifacts at Rochester Art Center.

Approximately 60 historical objects have been selected by a committee of historians, curators, and community members.

 

These items represent a wide range of narratives and categories, including:

• Black History: Black Historical Calendar from 1976, Items about and from the Avalon Hotel

• Books: History of Olmsted County, Mayo High School Literary and Otherwise Magazine, Our Minnesota (Children’s), Minnesota in the Civil War and Indian War

• Business: Matchbooks from businesses

• Emergency: Red call box, Old Central School bell, Firefighter Commissioner's Badge, A piece of hay stabbed into bank from the tornado

• Household/Clothing: Hair wreath, Pillow sham, Dress form, Purple wedding dress

• IBM: 5140 Personal Computer, Socket keys pouch, Computer disk, Manual

• Immigration: Hmong textile, Drawing of Somalis in Rochester, Filipino Rice Dance, Wong’s Cafe

• Land/Geese: Farmers’ Bulletin: Goose Raising, Fossil, Mechanical Animal

• Medical: Vintage wheelchair, Brain bust, Methodist Kahler School of Nursing Cape, Coin

• Indigenous: Dan and Cheyenne King, Pipe Bag, Yankton Sioux Chief named “Wahktageli”

• Pride: Flag

• Rochester Art Center: Zodiac Motif drawing, Rochester Art Center construction site

• Toys: Toy truck, Doll tea set, Rochester Trivia game

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Click Here to view a full list of objects.

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Who Should Apply

We welcome proposals from artists and artist teams working in all mediums—painting, sculpture, textile, installation, digital media, sound, performance, and more. Artists must be based in the Southeastern Minnesota region or have a strong connection to the area.

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How to Apply

Please submit the following materials via email or online form by June 20, 2025:

1. Artist Statement

2. Statement of Interest: Tell us why you want to be part of this project and how you envision responding to a historical artifact. Explain how your proposed artwork will be interactive.

3. Resume or CV and a Portfolio (up to 10 images or links to work samples) Include at least one interactive work you have created or a sketch for the interactive work you plan to create for this exhibition.

4. Project Budget

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Submit your materials through this Google Form: Click Here

 

Selection Process & Timeline

• June 9 - 20, 2025: Open call for artist submissions.

• July 1, 2025: Artists will be notified of decisions.

• July – September 2025: Artists are paired with objects and gain access to research resources.

• October 14 - 16, 2025: Final artworks must be completed and delivered to Rochester Art Center between 10am - 4pm by appointment.

• October 26, 2025 – March 2026: Exhibition will be on view at Rochester Art Center.

 

Compensation & Support

Selected artists will receive:

• A stipend to support material costs & time: $750 - $1,500 in two installments.

• Research access and curatorial support from the History Center and Rochester Art Center staff

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Download a copy of the List of Objects: pdf file

Download a copy of this Call for Artists: pdf file

Download a copy of the Google Form: pdf file