Call to Artists

Adored: Our Lives with Pets

Dates: July 10 – August 29, 2025

Summer at the Mosesian Center for the Arts is a time of creativity, learning and playing. Our summer classes, welcoming and supportive, are designed to foster creativity and connections between participants of various ages. To celebrate summer and its spirit of playfulness and friendship, the Mosesian Arts is accepting artwork of all media that explores ideas of how pets impact our lives. Often, pets provide comfort and companionship, joy and friendship. Their antics are amusing, and they make us laugh.

Pets, furred or feathered, have been our companions for centuries. They have inspired writers and artists to create artworks that capture their likeness, playfulness or their amazing spirit and personalities.

Jules Vern wrote: “I believe cats to be spirits come to earth. A cat, I am sure, could walk on a cloud without coming through.” And another famous author, Orhan Pamuk said: “Dogs do speak, but only to those who know how to listen.” Do you relate to these words? Is your pet an inspiration, a best friend and a constant source of joy and amusement?

The Mosesian Center for the Arts invites artists to submit work inspired by pets. Work in any 2D and 3D media such as painting, drawing, printmaking, collage, artist’s books, graphic novels, sculptural works including video and installation will be considered.

Important Dates:
Submission Deadline: May 27
Announcing Selected Artists: June 9
Work Drop Off: Saturday, June 28, 10:00 AM–12:00 PM and Tuesday, July 1, 10:30 AM–3:00 PM
*Shipped work must be received by July 3
Exhibition Opens: July 10
Opening Reception: Thursday, July 10, 3:00 PM–5:00 PM special earlier reception for young audiences / 5:00 – 7:00 PM all ages
Exhibition Closes: August 29
Artwork Pick Up: Thursday, September 4, 10:30 AM–3:00 PM and Saturday, September 6, 10:00 AM–12:00 PM
*Please note that the Mosesian Center for the Arts reserves the right to make minor adjustments to the exhibition timeline.

About Mosesian Arts:
The Mosesian Center for the Arts is a multidisciplinary arts venue in Watertown, Massachusetts. The 30,000 square foot center, located within a former U.S. Army arsenal, houses a 339-seat main stage theater, a 100-seat black box theater, exhibition galleries, classrooms, and rehearsal studios. Mosesian Arts is located six miles from downtown Boston, borders the Charles River and Brighton, and is easily accessible from surrounding suburbs and Metro West. Programs include professional theater and musical performances, gallery exhibitions, literary and art discussions, and performing and visual arts classes and workshops for all ages.

Eligibility:
Artists located in the U.S.A are welcomed to apply. Local artists will be provided with drop-off times and date details upon acceptance. Non-local selected artists’ work must be received at the Mosesian Center for the Arts, 321 Arsenal Street, Watertown, MA 02472 c/o exhibitions by July 3, 2025. Non-local artists are responsible for shipping costs both to and from the MCA, unless other arrangements are made, and are responsible for insuring their work while in transit. If shipping works, each artist must provide a pre-paid, UPS or FedEx return shipping label including insurance. Please pack your work in sturdy reusable packaging. The Mosesian Center for the Arts carries appropriate insurance to cover all artwork in the show for the duration of the exhibition, including the time frame of drop-off, installation, de-installation and pick-up.

Additional guidelines: 

• Any work accepted for exhibition may not be removed or exchanged during the duration of the exhibition.
• Work must be framed and ready to hang with wires and screws. Saw tooth hangers and sandwich frames may not be used.
• Works on paper and smearable mediums such as charcoal and pastels must be protected under glass or acrylic.
• For framed artwork larger than 24” on the longest side, glass may not be used. Instead, artists must use Plexiglas or comparable acrylic glass.
• If used, mats must be white, off white, gray, or other neutral tones. Frames should be neutral colors (white, black, silver, wood).
• Unframed stretched canvases must have the sides painted or otherwise finished to be integral to the work and must be dry.

Submission Fee:
$15 per submission. Limit 5 submissions per artist. Artwork must be submitted online here at: https://mca-our-lives-with-pets.artcall.org To submit work, click the register or login buttons at the top of this page. There's an Application Process Tutorial if you'd like more info on the submission process.

Commission Structure:
Artists receive 60% commission, and the Mosesian Center for the Arts receives 40% for art sold during the exhibition. The Artist reserves all copyrights and reproduction rights on the artwork in the exhibition. Mosesian Center for the Arts may duplicate and reproduce images of work for purposes of public relations and exhibition announcements directly related to the exhibition.

The Mosesian Center for the Arts is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.

Featured image: Boriana Kantcheva, Black Cat