2025 MAIN GALLERY OPEN CALL

About the Open Call

Locust Projects invites local, national, and international artists to apply for the opportunity to access the space and resources to create ambitious, large-scale new work in our 2,500 sq ft MAIN GALLERY in our new home in Little River. Proposals are reviewed by a rotating jury comprised of local, national and international artists who have previously exhibited at Locust Projects and one local curator. The process is coordinated by artist Elizabeth Withstandley, co-founder of Locust Projects, with the final selection drawn from the panel's narrowed down recommendations by the Executive Director. Locust Projects is committed to supporting the creation and presentation of ambitious-scaled experimental new work. Existing work is not accepted. Proposals for new, installation-based work that has never been presented before should specifically be designed for our Main Gallery. We present visual artists working in any medium and any stage in their career as long as the work they propose for Locust Projects demonstrably pushes their practice in new directions as part of our mission to invite risk-taking and experimentation. Collectives and artist collaborations are encouraged to apply. Artists addressing social, political and environmental issues relevant to Miami through their projects are encouraged. The review process occurs in two stages. Round 1 Projects will be evaluated on feasibility, extension of practice, and evidence of professional practice. Round 2 Advancing projects will be evaluated on conceptual strength and ambition, strength of past work, and contemporary relevance. Please keep in mind, we are a non-traditional alternative art space. If the project could easily be presented in a traditional or commercial gallery setting or could be realized without the support of our organization, it is unlikely for us to consider your proposal. We do not show existing work, host traveling exhibitions, retrospectives, or group shows.

What is Offered

Locust Projects provides selected artists with curatorial guidance, production budget, artist WAGE fee, documentation, and an opportunity to stay in the Locust Projects residency for site visits and while they build their site-specific installation. Project support includes a $10,000 Project Budget (for production/fabrication, equipment, materials, labor, shipping, de-installation), a $5,000 Artist Fee, plus a $60 per diem stipend for meals, local travel and incidentals up to 21 days and $600 max towards roundtrip flights and ground transport available to artists that live 150 miles away from Miami. Accommodations are provided. Basic infrastructure includes 24/7 gallery access, access to existing work spaces, tools and av/digital equipment, up to 32 hours preparator labor/assistance for install/de-install, signage, installation documentation, and promotional support.

Requirements

The opportunity is open to local, national, and international visual artists working in any medium and any stage in their career. Proposals must be for new, installation-based work never presented before, specifically designed for Locust Projects Main Gallery. Collectives and artist collaborations are encouraged. Projects should allow for some flexibility in height and configuration due to lease renewal. It is not for existing work, traveling exhibitions, retrospectives, or group shows. Artists must submit a project description, impact statement, draft floorplan/rendering, artist statement, CV, images/sketches of proposed work, examples of previous work, image details, and a project budget.

How to Apply

The submission process will open on Submittable from September 21 - November 16, 2025. Late submissions will not be accepted. Applicants must submit: 1. Description of how your project fits Locust Projects mission (100 words) 2. Project description (max. 300 words) 3. Project impact (max. 200 words) 4. Draft floorplan/rendering 5. General artist statement (max. 250 words) 6. CV or Resume 7. Up to 3 images of proposed work 8. Up to 5 examples of previous/related work or links to video works 9. Image details 10. Project budget (estimate production costs). Start Submission at https://locustprojects.submittable.com/submit/337292/2025-main-gallery-open-call-for-proposals