Art’s Next Up is an annual showcase curated to connect emerging local artists with arts and culture stakeholders of western Massachusetts. The program is designed to bridge the gap between western Mass creatives and those who will appreciate their art as first round art collectors. The Arts Next Up program seeks applications from western mass based emerging local artists. All showcase entries are competitively judged and chosen by local art stakeholders. Accepted applications will receive a stipend package for their involvement in the showcase. 

Funds for this year’s Springfield Art’s Next Up program are provided in part by MassCultural Council, and Berkshire Bank. Art’s Next Up is facilitated by the Love Art Collective, an official partner of the Springfield Creative City Collective (SCCC). The SCCC is funded by MassDevelopment/TDI and the Barr Foundation; the Arts Next Up program is one component of a broader “TDI Creative Cities” initiative to boost arts-based economic development.

PROGRAM TIMELINE:

Applications Open: May 3rd, 2023

Webinar/Information Session: May 22nd + 23rd, 2023 12:30 PM - 1:30 PM Virtual

Application Deadline: May 27th, 2023 @11:59 PM EST

Juror Review Period: May 28th, 2023 - June 1st, 2023

Award Notification & Public Announcement: June 7th, 2023

Awardee Contract and Responsibilities Workshop: June, 9th 2023 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM

Awardee Contract Submission Deadline: June 9th, 2023

Art’s Next Up Showcase : June 29th, 2023  6:00 - 9:00 PM

Location : Reevx Labs 270 Bridge Street Springfield MA 01103

  • Any Individual who identifies as an artist, creates and participates in the function of artistry. Anyone who currently creates visual art in any form and will continue to do so. Persons ready to showcase their created pieces during the June 29th showcase. Acceptable applicants will feature artworks with a physical form that can be organized through art curation for the showcase.

  • A series or groups of artwork that speak to a larger concept or narrative present in your artistry. The goal is to introduce the City of Springfield to a few artist’s bodies of work. Then create a demand around their work helping them to sustain the continued production of such pieces, as is essential to a long term art career. All artwork shall be original to the applicant submitting the works.

  • Each artist will be judged according to a 25 point system. The scoring will be done anonymously. Please see the scoring rubric HERE

  • Awardees will be required to sign a Contract agreement in order to showcase at Art’s Next Up

    Awardees will be required to adhere to deadlines expressed in the contract for the showcase and exhibition.

Art’s Next UP Jury Committee

  • Ellen Freyman

    Partner at Shatz, Schwartz and Fentin, P.C

  • Edward L. O' Gilvie

    Visual Arts Teacher, Longmeadow Public Schools

  • Giovanni Perez

    Financial Planner, Davis Financial Group

  • Yaning Xing

    Masters of Fine Arts, Practicing Artist