Griots: Our Stories, Ourselves

A juried exhibition at The Art Center in Johns Creek, Georgia, exploring artists as storytellers and keepers of cultural memory. Work may address personal narratives, family histories, cultural traditions, identity, place, migration, heritage, memory, community, social experience or imagined futures, through direct storytelling or symbolism, metaphor, abstraction, materials and visual language. The exhibition runs February 3–March 6, 2027. First Place receives a $500 cash award, with additional cash awards and recognitions dependent on entries and sponsorship.

Storytelling, cultural memory, personal and family histories, identity, migration, heritage, community and imagined futures.

Submit up to five artworks in one application with a non-refundable $30 entry fee. Each artwork must include a short paragraph explaining its relationship to the theme; this statement is an important part of jurying and will help gallery audiences engage with the work. Files must be JPG or PNG, up to 50 MB. AI work will not be considered. Eligible media include, but are not limited to, photography, mixed media, ceramics, drawing, fibre art, printmaking, painting, collage, digital art and sculpture; questions about a particular medium may be directed to the curator. The entry form also lists metalwork and woodworking. Photography is not a named option in the form's Accepted Media menu and should be submitted under Other. Mardi Gras Indian traditions, Gullah culture, the African American church, African American folklore and Afrofuturism are examples of thematic approaches, not limitations. Jury decisions are scheduled for January 16, 2027. First Place receives $500; additional cash awards and recognitions are promised, with the total depending on entry numbers and sponsorship.