Call for Artists

National Nurses United (NNU) invites you to submit work exploring the theme “Resistance and Resilience.” Existing work and proposals for new art are welcome. Work does not need to depict nurses.

The union is hosting about 1,500 registered nurses from across the country, as well as from some international RN and other health care worker organizations at the Global Nurses’ Solidarity Assembly in San Francisco. The visual art exhibition, “Resistance and Resilience,” will be part of the event, held Oct. 5–9, 2025.

All styles, media, and interpretations of “Resistance and Resilience” are welcome and encouraged (see details below). In our commitment to support artists, we are awarding a $700 honorarium for each artist selected for this exhibition. We will also cover shipping costs up to $700. Submission Deadline: Jan. 24, 2025.

Curation Theme
“Any human power can be resisted and changed by human beings. Resistance and change often begin in art,” said author Ursula K. Le Guin in 2014.

Union nurses embody the power of resistance and resilience. Resistance means standing up to injustice and adversity, particularly under challenging circumstances. In the workplace, nurses use their collective strength to advocate for their patients and to resist their corporate employers’ profit-driven policies that often harm patients or create unsafe working conditions. In society, resistance also means fighting for gender, racial, and environmental justice and fighting for a just world where everyone has health care, equal opportunities for education and employment, housing, and a safe environment to live in.

Resilience is the ability to persevere and thrive in the face of challenges, struggles, and setbacks. Through solidarity and collective action, nurses know they can build resilience to continue fighting for their patients and communities to ultimately create a world where caring and compassion are prioritized.

Who We Are
NNU is the largest and fastest-growing union and professional association of registered nurses in the United States with nearly 225,000 members nationwide. NNU affiliates include California Nurses Association/National Nurses Organizing Committee, DC Nurses Association, Michigan Nurses Association, Minnesota Nurses Association, and New York State Nurses Association. NNU plays a leadership role in safeguarding the health and safety of RNs and their patients and has won landmark legislation in the areas of staffing, safe patient handling, infectious disease, and workplace violence prevention.

Submission Requirements

Each artist may submit 1 - 3 works for consideration that would fit within the exhibit’s theme.
Media Specifications: Two-dimensional (painting, prints, drawing, photography, mixed media, posters, any work that can be displayed on a wall, maximum size: 52" x 46") and three-dimensional artworks (three-dimensional work must not exceed 2 feet square) are welcome. Maximum weight for all work is 75 lbs. If you have something specific in mind outside of these dimensions, please indicate in application. All pieces (framed or unframed) must be ready to hang. Sawtooth hangers are not acceptable. Artists must provide appropriate hardware.
New art: If you would like to create new art for this theme, please submit a proposal with a short description that also includes approximate dimensions and weight, along with samples of your previous work so the jurists get a sense of your style.
Eligibility: National
Fee: No fee to enter

Key Dates

Application submission deadline: Jan. 24, 2025, 5:00 p.m. (PST).
Artist notification: March 10, 2025
Deadline for high-resolution JPG or PNG of final artwork (for print catalog and promotion): May 5, 2025

Shipping Stipend
We will cover U.S. shipping costs up to $700 for each artist selected for this exhibition. Artists are responsible for coordinating all packing, shipping, and return shipping of their artwork, or in-person drop-off and pickup. Artists must provide an invoice to NNU and receipts for the cost of U.S. shipping art to and from California to receive their shipping stipend.

Honorarium
NNU is pleased to offer a $700 honorarium to selected artists.

Jurists
Jurists to be determined.

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First name*

Last name*

Preferred name

Pronouns

Email address*

Website

Instagram handle

X or BlueSky handle

Mailing address

Phone number*

Please provide a short biography about yourself. It will be used in the catalog accompanying the exhibit. Maximum word count: 150

Please submit a statement specific to your entry and how it explores the theme “Resistance and Resilience.” This statement will be included in the exhibition catalog. Maximum word count: 300

Please upload 1–3 high resolution JPGs or PNGs of pieces you would like us to consider for inclusion in this exhibit. High resolution is important for high-quality, enlarged printing purposes. File size limit: 16MB

Image 1

Image 1 details

Title

Medium

Dimensions (max size: 52" x 46" for two-dimensional work, 2’ square for three-dimensional.)

Weight (including frame if two-dimensional, frame not required)

Image 2

Image 2 details

Title

Medium

Dimensions (max size: 52" x 46" for two-dimensional work, 2’ square for three-dimensional.)

Weight (including frame if two-dimensional, frame not required)

Image 3

Image 3 details

Title

Medium

Dimensions (max size: 52" x 46" for two-dimensional work, 2’ square for three-dimensional.)

Weight (including frame if two-dimensional, frame not required)

If you would like to create new art, please upload a sketch or image here. It can be a PDF, JPG, or PNG. Please include approximate dimensions. We will contact you later about the piece’s weight.

Approximate dimensions (max size: 52" x 46" for two-dimensional work, 2’ square for three-dimensional.)

Please submit a written proposal to describe the new art you will create. Maximum word count: 300