Open Call for Artists – DIVERSE BY DESIGN | ART + ACCESSIBILITY

Mainframe Studios invites artists to submit work for the April 2025 First Friday exhibition, DIVERSE BY DESIGN | ART + ACCESSIBILITY, which explores diversity in art and design through multisensory engagement and accessible spatial design. This exhibition encourages artists to present work that invites alternative, inclusive ways of experiencing art, such as audio descriptions, movement-based performances, tactile tours, and spaces for de-escalation, rest, and sensory relief. The goal is to create a more multi-modal, accessible environment where audiences can connect with the exhibiting artists and their work on a deeper, human level.

The exhibition will be curated by Jill Wells, an interdisciplinary artist, advocate, and mentor based in Iowa. Her work addresses the intersection of accessibility, disability, race, and history, often incorporating tactile and Braille-infused elements in public art. Wells founded the ARTIST X ADVOCACY (AXA) Mentorship Program in 2020 to support emerging artists of all abilities, and her notable projects include collaborations with the United Nations, The Zero Project in Vienna, and the Des Moines Art Center, among others. She is an inaugural artist fellow of the Harkin Institute, a TEDx speaker, and the recipient of the 2024 Tanne Award and 2025 Iowa Artist Fellowship.

You can submit an application online, record an application, or interview us over the phone to submit your work. Due to our capacity, we cannot support applications past our original deadline. Submissions are due by MARCH 3rd at 11:59 PM (CST). All applicants will be notified of the results. If you wish to report an accessibility issue, have any questions, or need assistance, please click here to contact us or call us at 515-216-4253.