Are you a Texas artist looking to create civically minded work? The American Civil Liberties Union of Texas has an opportunity for you.
The century-old civil rights organization is seeking applicants for their artist-in-residence program – which has already piloted two projects – to produce work centered around one of the organization’s three priority areas: border and immigration rights, criminal justice reform, and free speech and pluralism. The ACLU of Texas described the program, in a news release, as a “unique opportunity for Texas-based artists to boldly advance civil rights and civil liberties for every Texan.”
The selected artist will receive $30,000 in funding to cover labor and materials for the project, with work expected to begin in April. Over a six to 10 month period, the selected artist will work in collaboration with ACLU of Texas and with input from other community stakeholders to produce a project that “advances strategic advocacy goals.”
Prior works produced from the artist-in-residence program include two murals in Houston encouraging people to vote (one created by Houston artist Mathieu JN Baptiste and another by El Paso-based Chicano artist Jesus “CIMI” Alvarado). Another project resulting from the program produced 10-foot tall puppets, created through a collaboration between Houston street artist Kill Joy and Kitchen Table Puppets & Press, that have been used at rallies for immigrant rights.
The deadline to apply for the program is Jan. 31.
This article appears in January 10 • 2025.