Queer Art Festival Baku Announces Open Call for Artists

Queer Art Festival Baku 2023 has announced an open call for the art festival of the year and invites local visual artists to participate in a group exhibition with their creative works. The festival is specifically targeting trans, non-binary, gender-diverse, multisexual, and queer artists to explore the theme of “Underprivileged” and create artworks that highlight the stories of underprivileged communities.

The festival has decided to support six local artists with a stipend for their participation in the exhibition. The artists will work on their pieces with the festival team and the local curator’s support from May 20 to July 5, 2023. The final exhibition will be published on the social media platforms and website of “Baku Queer Art Festival” on July 14.

The festival is calling for visual artists who have experience working with trans, non-binary, gender-diverse, multisexual, and queer communities or related themes. Professional or amateur visual artists who work with paintings, graphics, prints, collages, photographs (digital or film), short video installations, handicrafts, illustrations, and digital works that relate to the aforementioned theme are encouraged to apply.

Selected artists will be required to participate in four online meetings organized between May 20 and July 5, and they must submit their works by July 7. Each artist can work on 1-3 pieces (one-page works or short graphic stories) that are significantly related to the exhibition’s theme. The presented works must be in a shareable format and size on social media, and the artist must write a description of their artwork of 150-500 words.

The festival encourages applications from young and aspiring visual artists who want to participate in the group exhibition. The deadline for submission is May 15, and interested artists can apply by filling out an application form. The festival offers a stipend of 340 AZN to the artists selected for the group exhibition.

Queer Art Festival Baku is an annual festival that promotes the visibility of queer art and culture in Baku, Azerbaijan. The festival provides a platform for local and international artists to showcase their works and celebrate the diversity of the queer community. The festival’s mission is to challenge societal norms and promote acceptance, tolerance, and respect for all people, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity.