Open Call for Exhibit Proposals
The Museum has three galleries - the Dr. Bird Room, the Exhibition Hall, and the Farquhar Gallery - in which we present engaging and contemporary exhibitions by regional artists in a variety of media.
Share Your Cultural Heritage Through Art
We present exhibitions that connect diverse communities and advance social equity through shared and inspiring experiences of our region's cultural heritage.
We invite artists whose work explores cultural traditions, community stories, and regional heritage to submit exhibition proposals. Exhibitions are planned at least one year in advance, and proposals are reviewed individually. Whenever possible, we work with artists to strengthen proposals so they align with the Museum's mission and exhibition criteria.
Before You Apply
Exhibitions are planned at least one year in advance. We encourage you to submit your proposal early.
Exhibitions typically include 30–50 works, depending on the size and nature of the artwork. We strongly encourage proposals for group exhibitions.
We review each proposal individually and, whenever possible, work with artists to strengthen proposals so they align with the Museum's mission and exhibition criteria.
If you have presented a solo exhibition in one of our main galleries within the past seven years, please wait until the seven-year period has passed before submitting another solo exhibition proposal.
Questions? Please contact Exhibit Coordinator Yu Jie.
What is Cultural Heritage?
Cultural heritage, sometimes called "folk art," is defined as the traditional art, literature, knowledge, and practice that is disseminated largely through oral communication and behavioral examples. Every group with a sense of its own identity shares traditions.
Cultural heritage and folk art are any decorative, musical, or practical art that is related to a group of people from a specific location. It is art that is produced by a group of people who utilize traditional techniques that are handed down to them from previous generations. Within folk art, there's a strong focus on historical continuity.
Cultural heritage art is handmade, decorative, utilitarian, and is made by and for the people. It expresses a cultural identity through showcasing cultural aesthetics, values, and social issues.
Many cultural heritage artists are self-taught or are trained through apprenticeships or by others in the community.
What is Social Equity?
Social equity means all community members feel empowered to participate, prosper, and engage in unmediated expression. We recognize that systemically disenfranchised groups of people are often misrepresented, underrepresented, and encounter barriers to cultural heritage experiences and resources. The Museum is committed to redressing these injustices by advancing social equity through the fair, just, and equitable management of our resources and the commitment to promote fairness, justice and equity in our programming.
Additional considerations
We prioritize exhibitions that fill all three galleries. This is estimated to be about 40-50 works but could differ depending on the type of exhibition and the size of the works. We can accommodate two- and three-dimensional works. Please, no repeat exhibiting artists from within the past seven years.
Please view the Sandy Spring Museum gallery maps.