Driven

Driven is a national competition for young artists ages 16-25 living in the United States who have a physical, cognitive, or mental disability. The competition invites artists to explore the theme "Art is a kind of innate drive that seizes a human being and makes him its instrument" (Carl Jung). Artists are encouraged to submit work that illustrates what moves them to create, whether through representational or abstract work that reflects personal discoveries, emotions, or their experience of living with a disability.

Grand Prize: $20,000; First Award: $10,000; Second Award: $6,000; 12 Awards of Excellence: $2,000 each. There is no entry fee. Eligible media include paintings, drawings, fine art prints, photography, computer-generated prints, and two-dimensional mixed media. Artwork must be original work completed within the last three years and should not exceed 60 inches in either direction. Applicants must submit four JPEG images of their work online through CaFE at www.callforentry.org. An artist's narrative (no more than 2,500 characters), personal statement responding to the theme (no more than 350 characters), and a headshot photograph are also required. The artist's narrative should address artistic background, techniques and media used, the role of art in living with disability, significant educational experiences with the arts, and when the arts were most effective in education.

A panel of distinguished practicing artists and arts administrators will select finalists based on the development of original ideas, imagination, competence, and skillful use of materials. Selected artwork will be exhibited in Washington, D.C. in October 2007 at the S. Dillon Ripley Center of the Smithsonian Institution and will then tour throughout the United States for approximately two years. The top three finalists will be honored at an opening reception on Capitol Hill in late September 2007. Artists will be notified by Friday, August 17, 2007. VSA arts is responsible for shipping costs and insurance. Previous award recipients are not eligible to apply.