Thanks to a recent $5,000 grant award from the Quad City Arts Dollars program, the Rock Island Public Library is issuing a call to local artists to exhibit 2D artwork in three shows this year at the RIPL Watts-Midtown Branch, 2715 30th Street.
Three rotating exhibitions will feature a select group of local artists selected by David Zahn, the grant-funded arts curator for the project. Zahn was selected due to his experience with maintaining rotating art collections at the Moline Public Library, and numerous connections to local arts. The grant-funded project also includes a modest $300 stipend for each artist selected for a show.
Artworks inside the branch auditorium will be available for viewing during branch hours, and at numerous events. Each five to six-week exhibit includes a free opening night reception, allowing the public to explore the works and learn from featured artists.
Larger works of original concept and design created within the last five years are preferred. Formats may include painting, drawing, photography, charcoal, pastel, printmaking, pen and ink, mixed media and other 2D mediums.
Application requirements include:
- A short artist’s statement
- Art resume, or a listing of some of past art experiences and accomplishments
- 6 to12 images representing past works, and/or the kind of pieces you wish to display at the library
- Details about medium and approximate work sizes.
To apply, interested artists should email the library’s arts curator David Zahn at dzahnkoi@yahoo.com by May 15. Extensions may be available. See attachment for full details.
The library was among 29 local organizations and 9 individual artists to receive Quad City Arts Dollars funding. In total, Quad City Arts granted almost $150,000 to local artists and organizations during this grant cycle, up from $115,000 in the 2024 cycle. Arts Dollars funds are generously provided by the Hubbell-Waterman Foundation, the Quad Cities Community Foundation - Isabel Bloom Art Education Endowment, and the Illinois Arts Council Agency, a state agency.