Open Call for 2026 Shared Dialogue, Shared Space — Submit Your Proposal!

SHARED DIALOGUE, SHARED SPACE 2026

Open Call for Artists

Deadline: July 20, 2025

Key Information:

• Who Can Apply: Individual artists and collectives working in any medium or discipline and available in 2026
• Project Period: January 1 — December 31, 2026
• Deadline for Submissions: Sunday, July 20, 2025, at 11:59 pm
• Submission Requirements:
• Project description (one-page)
• Artist CV (one page) with dates of degree conferral
• Proof of authorization to work in the U.S. 
• Work samples (up to 5 images or URLs with captions and blurbs)
• The streamlined application form, guidelines, and requirements are accessible here in a Google form. 
• Selection Process:
• Proposals are selected through a panel of experts and community representatives based on the criteria of artistic excellence and merit, including strength of the work, feasibility, the capacity of the artist and KAF, and benefits to the artist, KAF, and communities. 

We are excited to announce a special open call for Korea Art Forum (KAF)'s 2026 Shred Dialogue, Shared Space initiative (SDSS). We invite artists from the New York metropolitan area to submit proposals for participatory art projects that foster public engagement, encourage dialogue, and inspire a shared sense of community.

SDSS is Korea Art Forum's flagship initiative, and provides a platform to support artists in creating innovative and thought-provoking works in community hubs such as parks, streets, and plazas throughout New York City, amplifying diverse artistic voices and perspectives in public spaces. Since 2020, over 49 artists have brought their work to under-served neighborhoods. By expanding access to art, SDSS fosters cultural engagement and serves as a catalyst for strengthening the art ecosystem in marginalized neighborhoods.

SDSS 2026 will launch on January 1, 2026 and consist of nine, outdoor Saturday participatory art events of social engagement, culminating in public art installations within remote, under-served, and immigrant communities, as well as an an indoor exhibition at a gallery or vacant storefront at the end of the year.

This open call welcomes all artists, regardless of gender, career stage, or ethnicity, with a focus on supporting emerging, underrepresented, BIPOC, LGBTQIA2S+, women, and immigrant artists. We welcome proposals that emphasize participatory and socially engaged practices, celebrate cultural diversity, and create a meaningful impact in public spaces.

SDSS Project Guidelines & Criteria

KAF will support up to five artists with $5,500, technical resources, and permitting to realize their vision. Artists are required to apply with their initial concepts by July 20, 2025, at 11:59 PM .

We are open to a range of projects that include hands-on art-making, participatory movement, observation, and theater. Projects generally have these characteristics: 

• Work based off the artist’s established process, concepts, or concerns
• Prompt inter-generational conversations among participants and artist
• Easily portable and on view for up to 8 hours
• Fun and engaging to all ages
• May teach or model new skills or ways of looking at the world
• Leads to a culminating public art installation at the end of the program

Locations

KAF works with the NYC Parks Department, NYC Department of Transportation, and local community-based organizations, such as MinKwon Center in Flushing, Queens, and South Bronx Unite in Mott Haven, South Bronx, to secure locations to share work. 2026 SDSS will be presented in Flushing, Harlem, Bronx, and Brooklyn.

Korea Art Forum will provide:

• $5,500 fee to cover artist’s time and materials
• Guidance to artists to develop their proposals
• A cohort of artists to work with and share experiences with
• Obtain permits and permissions to present the projects in parks, streets, plazas, etc.
• Translation services at the events in Mandarin, Korean, and Spanish (as needed)
• Photo and video documentation of projects
• Exhibition(s) documenting the overall program
• Catalogue with essays and interviews

The Artist will:

• Work to develop their initial concept into a practical and realizable project
• Obtains materials and tests processes
• Present their project in-person at nine Saturday events from April - September
• Present a final, culminating outdoor public art installation
• Adapts project as needed

Additional Information

KAF recognizes that for many artists, the opportunity to work in a community-participatory framework is new. We offer an online information session on July 12, 2025, from 10–11 am, accompanied by 15-minute information sessions by email appointment on July 13 to July 19 , 2025, from 10–11 am. The session will be recorded and made available at www.kaf.org. Find the zoom link for the information session here.

More about Shared Dialogue, Shared Space in our Open Call Document.

Submission Process:

The streamlined application form, guidelines, and requirements are accessible here in a Google form. 

Selection Process: Proposals are selected through a panel of experts and community representatives based on the criteria of artistic excellence and merit, including strength of the work, feasibility, the capacity of the artist and KAF, and benefits to the artist, KAF, and communities. 

We are excited to see your innovative ideas and creative contributions that will bring new life to our shared public spaces. Your participation will play a key role in building stronger, more connected communities. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to Austin Kim at [email protected]. We look forward to receiving your proposals.

07/20/2025