Open Call for Visual Arts
The New Zealand Baháʼí Office of Public Affairs is putting out an open call for artists to participate in an exhibition as part of the ‘Our Story is One’ campaign. The art exhibition is set to take place in March 2024. This event promises to be a poignant testament to the power of art in raising awareness, fostering empathy and promoting unity.
Co-sponsored by the Baháʼí community and Iranian Women in New Zealand, the aim of the ‘Our Story Is One’ exhibition is to enable visual artists in Aotearoa to raise consciousness about the struggles for gender equality around the world, to stimulate conversations about gender equality, justice and human rights, and to honour the sacrifices and resilience of all who stand up to prejudice and injustice, regardless of nationality, ethnicity or faith.
The exhibition is part of a year-long campaign, #OurStoryIsOne, begun in honour of the 40th anniversary of the execution of 10 Baháʼí women in Iran on 18 June 1983. Over six months in prison, they suffered harsh interrogations and torture to coerce them to recant their faith. In a final attempt to pressure them, they were forced to watch the hanging of those who preceded them. The last to be hanged was 17 years old. The ‘Our Story is One’ exhibition carries the significant mission of shedding light on a profound and tragic chapter in Baháʼí history. By including artworks that reflect the historical experiences of these 10 Baháʼí women, we aim to honour their resilience, and commemorate the deep suffering they endured.
The call is open to all visual artists at any career stage, including, for example, sculptors, weavers, filmmakers, photographers and animators. Artists interested in participating in the ‘Our Story is One’ exhibition are encouraged to submit their works for consideration. Further details are shared below.
Exhibition Date: 18 - 31 March 2024
Location: Studio One, Auckland
Submission Deadline: 11:59pm 19 January 2024
Eligibility: Open to artists of all backgrounds and experience levels
Submission Guidelines: Artists should submit their proposal, which should include a brief description of your proposed works, an artist bio (statement up to 200 words, or video up to 3 mins), and images of recent work or work in progress. Email your submissions to publicaffairs@bahai.org.nz with the subject line ‘Our-Story-Is-One.’
A pdf of the details can be found at the button below.
