AACHM and RAC Partnered Exhibit From Riverside Arts Center

2026 Black History Month Art Exhibition
In honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Ronnie and Gloria Peterson, the African American Cultural and Historical Museum of Washtenaw County (AACHM), and the Palm Leaf Club (PLC) will host the 2026  Black History Month Art Exhibition featuring local artists responding to the theme of UNITY. Artwork does not necessarily need to express the theme of "unity."  This premiere event is an opportunity for you to showcase your art at Riverside Art Center in Ypsilanti from January 16 through February 28, 2026.  

Age: Artists of all ages are welcome to apply. Artists under 18 must provide written permission from a parent or legal guardian, and a parent or legal guardian will need to co-sign any exhibition agreements.

For submissions, artists under 18 should include a brief letter or email from their parent or guardian that lists:

Students may bring this documentation when dropping off their artwork.

Original Work: All submitted work must be the original creation of the applicant. Work created wholly or partially with AI tools must be disclosed at submission. Such work will be evaluated under the same criteria as other submissions. Please do not submit previously submitted works.

Medium: Eligible mediums include painting, drawing, printmaking, photography, fiber, sculpture, installation, and mixed media. Proposals for time-based, new media, or performance work may be considered if feasible within the gallery’s resources.

Availability: Work must be available for the full exhibition period and cannot be withdrawn before the exhibition closes.

Condition: Work must be in display-ready condition (framed, wired, or otherwise prepared according to gallery specifications).

Location: Open to artists locally. 

Copyright: Work that infringes on the copyright, trademark, publicity rights, or other intellectual property rights of others is ineligible. By submitting, the artist warrants that their work does not infringe on any third-party rights and agrees to indemnify Riverside Arts Center against any claims related to such infringement.

Safety: Works containing hazardous, toxic, or perishable materials may be disqualified at the gallery’s discretion.

Size Limits: Oversized works must comply with maximum dimensions of 48 x 72 (4ft by 6ft) unless pre-approved.

Installation: Works requiring unusual installation methods must be feasible within the gallery’s existing infrastructure. If you have questions or concerns, please contact Maggie Spencer at [email protected].

Please submit the following materials as part of your application. Fields marked with (*) are required for all applicants. Additional items are required depending on the application type (Solo Artist or Group/Curated Show).

3. Artwork for consideration (*)

Include an image list with the following details for each work:

1. Exhibition Commitment

Accepted artworks must remain on display for the entire exhibition period, as outlined in the acceptance notice. Early removal is not permitted without prior written approval from the gallery.

2. Delivery, Pickup, and Shipping

Artists are responsible for delivering their artwork to the gallery by the designated delivery deadline, in display-ready condition as described in the eligibility criteria.

Artists are responsible for retrieving their artwork at the designated pickup date and time.

The gallery does not cover packaging, shipping costs, or return shipping; these costs are the sole responsibility of the artist.

3. Installation and Curation

Content Disclaimer: Riverside Arts Center respects the right of artists to make personal, social, and geo-political statements through their creative work. At the same time, RAC serves an all-ages audience and a wide public community. For works that may contain sensitive or potentially offensive material, artists will collaborate with RAC staff and board to ensure appropriate context is provided. This may include a public disclaimer about the nature of the work or, in some cases, a mutual decision about whether RAC is the best venue for presentation.

The gallery has final authority over the inclusion, placement, installation, and arrangement of all artworks. Decisions by the gallery regarding inclusion are final and not subject to appeal, damages, or compensation.

The gallery may make reasonable adjustments to installation methods for safety or presentation quality.

Works requiring special equipment or installation must be pre-approved and feasible within the gallery’s existing infrastructure.

4. Sales and Commission

Artists may sell their work independently. All inquiries, transactions, and delivery arrangements are handled directly by the artist.

5. Promotion and Image Use

By submitting work, the artist grants the gallery the right to photograph, record, or reproduce images of the artwork for promotional, publicity, educational, grant reporting, and archival purposes.

Copyright remains with the artist. The gallery will credit the artist whenever images are used publicly.

6. Insurance and Liability

The gallery will exercise reasonable care in handling and displaying all works.

The gallery provides insurance coverage for exhibited work while it is on the premises and for the duration of the exhibition only, up to the maximum insurable value allowed under the gallery’s insurance policy, with a per-piece limit of $5,000 unless otherwise agreed in writing. The gallery is not liable for damage in transit, even if gallery staff assist with loading or unloading.

The gallery is not responsible for damage or loss caused by acts of nature, terrorism, war, theft, vandalism, or other events beyond reasonable control. This includes accidental damage that may occur during installation or deinstallation, unless such events are covered under the gallery’s insurance policy.

Accepted works may not be withdrawn before the close of the exhibition without the gallery’s prior written approval. After the exhibition ends, artists must pick up their work within 30 days. Work not collected within this timeframe may incur storage fees or, at the gallery’s discretion, be disposed of.

Failure to comply with delivery deadlines, presentation standards, or reasonable communication may result in the removal of the work from the exhibition.