Green Light

Green Light is a national competition for young artists ages 16-25 living in the United States who have a physical, cognitive, or mental disability. Previous award recipients are not eligible to apply.

The competition awards a Grand Prize of $20,000, First Award of $10,000, Second Award of $6,000, and 12 Awards of Excellence of $2,000 each. There is no entry fee. Artists must submit four original artworks completed within the last three years. Eligible media include paintings, drawings, fine art prints, photography, computer-generated prints, two-dimensional mixed media, sculpture (not exceeding 24 inches in any direction), and time-based media such as video and film. Artwork should not exceed 60 inches in either direction. Submissions must be made digitally through the CaFE system as JPEG images. Supplemental materials for video, film, and audio should be mailed on CD or DVD in Wav, midi, mp3, real player, or flash formats.

The theme asks artists to consider what signals their creative motivation and how art gives them permission to be who they are. Work may illustrate actual aspects of creative motivations or reflect abstract feelings and emotions. Work reflecting the artist's experience of living with a disability is encouraged. A jury 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 at the S. Dillon Ripley Center of the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C. from September 17, 2008 to January 4, 2009, 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 Fall 2008. VSA arts covers shipping costs and insurance for accepted work.