DemFest Posters

Context

Democracy is not just exercised in government, but in the actions of citizens.  Artists speak to people, periods, materials and issues relevant to democracy through their art, from historical events and leaders, to famous government symbols (e.g., Congress, the American flag, Uncle Sam, etc.), to topics and trends like political polarization, disinformation, and civic (dis-)engagement.  Thus, a festival devoted to democracy should feature democracy-related art too!

Learning Life invites visual and performing artists to submit their democracy-related art for display or performance at the first Democracy Festival in the DC region on Saturday, October 26, at 1:00-6:00pm at Friendship Collegiate Academy, 4095 Minnesota Ave NE in DC, across the street from the Minnesota Avenue Metro Train Station on the Orange Line. 

Criteria for All Art Works

All professional and amateur visual and performing artists in the Washington, DC region can submit democracy-related art for presentation at DemFest.  “Democracy-related art” is defined broadly here to include art about past or present, local to global government or people’s action concerning issues of public concern (civil rights and/or responsibilities, elections, use or abuse of power, citizen engagement, poverty, discrimination, climate change, etc.).

The Visual Arts

Visual artists can submit only one application, but that application can be for one single art piece, a digital or material collection of art, or a poster collage of art.  Visual art submissions can be of diverse kinds: paintings, drawings, graphic design, photography, digital art, sculpture, ceramics, but not film. No visual art — any piece, collection or collage — should be wider than about a standard student school desk-and-chair, given space constraints.  If approved, the artist can display their collage on the floor, a desk, an easel, or on their laptop.  DemFest organizers will provide easels and desks.

There will be one or more visual arts exhibits at DemFest, depending on the number and kind of qualified submissions.  Visual artists will display their art at one, one-hour DemFest exhibit at 1:00-2:00pm, 2:15-3:15, or 3:30-4:30pm (DemFest organizers will announce your exhibit time), and will also have the choice to display their art at the culminating celebration at 4:45-6:00pm.  Each exhibit will feature up to 15 visual art works, collections or collages, and will occur in a classroom at Friendship Collegiate Academy. Any given art work can be by one or more artists, but given classroom space constraints a maximum of three artists (or artists and their teacher) can stand by any one art work.

During their one-hour exhibit, artists will stand at their respective works and engage DemFest attendees about their art, answering questions, discussing, and networking.  Artists do not need to be standing beside their art work during DemFest’s culminating celebration if they choose to display their art at the celebration.  Volunteers will monitor the celebration’s art displays.

The Performing Arts

Performing artists can submit one or two applications, each application for one democracy-related performance.  Performances can be of diverse kinds: theater, dance, opera, music, poetry, miming, puppetry, circus, comedy, etc. Artists can perform alone or with one or more fellow performers. Performances can be up to one hour long, but preference will be given to those 3 to 15 minutes long to allow for more performances. 

Learning Life especially encourages artists to submit theatrical performances, much preferably in costume, of little-to-well-known, past or present, U.S. or foreign democracy leaders’ speeches, debates, other critical moments in history, or excerpts thereof.  Actors should, ideally, have their lines memorized, but performances read compellingly from a script are admissible.   

Approved artists are responsible for bringing their own costumes, music, props and other materials necessary for their performance.  DemFest  

Approved democracy-related performing arts will take place in the theater at Friendship Collegiate Academy at 1:00-2:00pm, 2:15-3:15, or 3:30-4:30pm on October 26.  DemFest organizers will announce your performance time in advance, but in the meantime, please reserve 1:00-4:30pm on October 26, or in students’ cases, 1-6pm, including the culminating party at 4:45-6:00pm, where best student art exhibits and performance certificates and cash awards will be announced and handed out.          

Selection & Student Awards

Art submissions must follow the above guidelines to be eligible for exhibit or performance at DemFest.

For young artists ages 25 and under: If Learning Life approves at least twelve student visual art submissions for exhibit at DemFest, there will be certificates and cash prizes of $150, $100 and $50 for first, second and third place youth finishers.  The same goes for performing art submissions.  The student art awards will be announced and handed out at DemFest’s culminating party between 4:45 and 6:00pm on October 26.

Submission & Acceptance Process

When you are ready, submit your democracy-related visual or performing art work here. 

Submissions are accepted until midnight Sunday, September 22.  We will accept and review up to 100 arts submissions on a first-come-first-served basis.  Acceptance decisions will be emailed to all applicants by midnight Sunday, September 29.   

All artists accepted for DemFest performance or exhibit must pay their own DemFest entry ticket either in advance ($3 for youth 17 and under, $5 for adults 18 and over), or at the door ($5 for youth, $7 for adults).  All proceeds support DemFest.