Envision: The Michigan Artist Initiative

Envision: The Michigan Artist Initiative is an exhibition and awards program organized by Stamps Gallery at the University of Michigan, designed to support the development of contemporary artists living and working in Michigan. The program recognizes the creativity, rigor, and innovation of Michigan-based artists and collaboratives. Stamps Gallery invites emerging and mid-career contemporary artists from Michigan working in all types of media to apply. A shortlist of 3 artists will be selected by a prominent national panel of jurors: Neil A. Barclay (President & CEO of Charles Wright Museum of African American Art), Shannon Rae Stratton (Executive Director of Ox-Bow School of Art and Artists' Residency), and Nayda Collazo-Llorens (award-winning artist and winner of the inaugural Envision: Michigan Artist Initiative Award 2020-2021).

Short-listed artists will be invited to exhibit their work in a group exhibition at Stamps Gallery from June 1-July 23, 2023. Finalists will receive logistical and curatorial support from the professional staff at Stamps Gallery. The jury will select a winner to be announced on the opening night, June 1, 2023. The winning artist will be awarded a $5,000 cash prize. It is free to apply. All submitted works must be original and produced within the last four calendar years (nothing created before January 2018). Submissions in all media are welcome.

Eligibility: Artists must live and work in Michigan, be at least 20 years old, and not be enrolled in a University program at an undergraduate or graduate level. The initiative is open to emerging and mid-career artists and collaborators. Emerging artists must have been practicing professionally for at least three years. Work samples must include a minimum of 2 images and a maximum of 14 images, with 0-5 audio files and 0-5 video files, for a total of 7-14 samples. Evaluation criteria include artistic merit, eligibility, and impact and legacy.