Digital Latin America

516 ARTS presents Digital Latin America, an international exhibition with a weekend symposium and Downtown Block Party taking place in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The project explores the North/South axis of cultural development and exchange between South America, Central America and the Southwestern United States, with a focus on New Mexico as the Northern tip of Latin America. Digital Latin America examines how artists negotiate the complex terrain between global and local, virtual and real, and political and private, in the creation of work that proposes alternative understandings of technology, art and cultural exchange.

The call for entries is for both gallery projects in the exhibition and for visual art, demonstrations and performative works for the Downtown Block Party. The exhibition will be based at 516 ARTS' museum-style venue in Downtown Albuquerque, with off-site projects at The Albuquerque Museum of Art & History and possible other sites. It will highlight contemporary artists from Latin America and the Southwestern United States and showcase high caliber, innovative, interactive artworks presented in an educational context. Work will include digital media as well as photography and work that addresses technology through traditional mediums. The Downtown Block Party is a one-day outdoor event featuring artworks, demos, interactive projects, hands-on activities, music, dance and food celebrating the cultures of Latin America and New Mexico, taking place on Central Avenue between 5th and 6th Streets.

The exhibition is open to emerging and established contemporary artists working in all digital media formats or working with concepts that address digital media in relation to Latin American culture. Artists of Latin American, Native American and indigenous heritage are encouraged to apply, but the exhibition is open to all cultural backgrounds and artists worldwide whose work proposes alternative understandings of technology, art and cultural exchange. Artists must be 18 years or older. Proposed artworks must have been created within the last four years and must not have been previously shown in Albuquerque or the surrounding region. Completed artworks are not necessary; proposals for unfinished work will be considered if the submission provides enough information. The entry fee is $20. Submissions may include up to 9 images, one video, and/or one audio file. Deadline for submissions is September 27, 2013 at 11:59 p.m. MDT. Notification to artists will occur in early December 2013. The symposium, exhibition openings and Downtown Block Party will take place June 6-8, 2014. Accepted artists will be offered discounted and/or sponsored hotel stays and discounted fees for symposium sessions.