Call to Art

Here, Now, Always: Everybody’s Neighborhood

The Lower East Side is more than a point on a map—it’s a living archive of memory, resilience, and change. Nestled between the Manhattan and Brooklyn Bridges, this small but mighty corner of Manhattan has been home to generations of immigrants, dreamers, builders, and survivors. From tenement halls to high-rise public housing, schoolyards to sidewalk stoops, street murals to art galleries, the Lower East Side embodies cultural vibrancy, struggle, and interconnectedness.

We invite artists to submit proposals for a new public art exhibition that explores the spirit of “Here, Now, Always: Everybody’s Neighborhood.” This exhibition seeks to reflect the inclusivity, cultural vitality, and contested histories of the area, while asking: What does it mean to belong—here, now, and always-—to a block, a borough, or a city—and to celebrate the places and people that shape our shared urban lives.

It is up to the artist how to interpret “everybody’s neighborhood.” From personal memories to the rhythms of daily life, this theme invites reflections on community, belonging, and shared space.

Think of it from a personal perspective—as the people and places that feel like home. From a social view—as the ties that connect neighbors, cultures, and generations. From a historical lens—as the stories and legacies woven into the streets. From a creative angle—as the murals, food, music, and language that give a neighborhood its soul. And from a citywide view—as a reminder that in New York, every block holds a story, and everyone belongs.

What will the project look like? 

Art on the Ave uses vacant storefronts and existing businesses in high-visibility locations to create interactive art exhibitions for all to enjoy. Our next exhibition will be a collaboration between Art on the Ave NYC and New York Presbyterian Hospitals.

We want to spotlight this neighborhood’s shops, restaurants, outdoor markets and vendors, its vibrant art scene, its schools, and its people. This is a place where culture, community, and commerce converge.

Submissions should reflect, in a literal or symbolic way, our organizations’ values. Inclusivity, empathy, equity, growth, action, and activism are some of the key values that applicants can integrate. We look at artist statements closely to ensure that they reflect the exhibition theme.

Technical Parameters: 

There is no fee for applying. The artwork submitted may be new or existing works.

Artwork must be:

  • 2-dimensional

  • There are two sizes of gallery walls. 2ft wide and 4ft wide. Pieces CANNOT exceed 36in by 36in.

  • Gallery-Ready (ie. photography must be framed either without glass or with non-reflective glass, canvas must be stretched)

Project Timeline: 

  • June 1st  2025: Application Deadline

  • June 6th  2025: Selections Announced

  • June 13th 2025: Deadline for artwork to be deposited at storage facility

  • June 20th 2025:  Installation

  • Sept 20th 2025: End of Project

Application Requirements: 

  • Artist Statement (including rationale detailing why the submission meets the mandate of the project) 

  • Artist Bio

  • Links to website and social media channels (if applicable) 

  • Phone Number/Address

  • Artwork Image - May submit up to 3 pieces for consideration (submitted as a JPeg or PNG, maximum 5 MB per image) 

  • Artwork medium and dimensions (dimensions should reflect the final framed size if the piece will be framed) 

  • Price (cannot exceed $3,000)

Accepted applicants will receive more detailed information about the logistical parameters of the exhibition as well as how the sale of works will be handled.

If you have any questions or would like some clarity about your submission, please email info@artontheavenyc.com.  Applications that do not follow the most basic parameters of the guidelines, or Artwork that is not as was represented in the submission, may delay acceptance or not be accepted at all.

NOTE- Art of the Ave storefront exhibitions are presented in spaces made available by commercial property owners. Accordingly, the exhibition’s capacity to present as many artists as can physically fit is contingent as empty storefront availability is confirmed.