New Jersey's Lit: Cover Art for the NJ Literary Fellowship Showcase Anthology

The New Jersey Individual Artist Fellowship Showcase for Prose and Poetry is a co-sponsored project of Rutgers University Press and the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, a partner agency of the National Endowment for the Arts. The project showcases NJ's Poetry and Prose Fellows from the last decade and culminates with a published collection of works. The State Arts Council is inviting previous NJ Fellows to submit images of previously completed artwork to be considered for the selection of cover art for the anthology. This call is only open to past NJ Individual Artist Fellows awarded in any discipline from 2017 through 2023.

Artists must submit a minimum of 1 and a maximum of 3 examples of previously created visual artwork, an updated bio and resume, and complete a brief questionnaire. Accepted works include drawing (charcoal, graphite, pastel, pen & ink), graphics (digital illustration, printmaking, etc.), mixed media/painting (acrylic, gouache, oil, watercolor), and photography. Works should be in native digital format or high-quality digital images of 2-D artworks. Preferred submissions include abstract works, figurative works, and images expressing NJ's people, cultures, land/city-scapes, or landmarks. The selection committee is not prioritizing agricultural themes, portraiture, nudity, text-heavy images, or political themes.

The selected artist will receive a $750 stipend for the use of their work to be reproduced as cover art and will be properly credited in the book. The selected artist will contract directly with Rutgers University Press for payment and to coordinate the details of artwork reproduction. The call opens March 25, 2024 and closes April 23, 2024. Jury process runs April 26 - May 27, 2024, with artist notifications no later than July 1, 2024. Applicants must be current New Jersey residents and past NJ Fellows from Fellowship Program years 2017–2023. Literary Fellows showcased in this anthology are not eligible.