Seeking Alameda & East Bay artists to paint original works for an outdoor exhibit.

Since its opening in 2020, The Healing Garden has grown into an essential hub in Alameda’s West End. A beautiful space for gatherings, arts, events, and outdoor dining, this sacred space has become the keystone for cultivating community in the area.

The Healing Garden is lovingly managed and maintained by the West Alameda Business Association, but after almost 3 years of regular use, the space is in need of a revamp. We will be retiring some of the current murals and moving others to make space for 8 new commissions.

Our theme for 2023 is: “Difference is the essence of humanity.” The selection committee will be looking to curate an exhibit that speaks to the rich diversity of cultures that make up our community. We will provide each artist with one 8’x4’ board and a stipend of $500. We will notify selected artists by May 28, 2023, and collect completed works for installation by June 16, 2023.

To apply please send a short letter of interest to info@westendartsdistrict.org by Friday, May 19, 2023 NEW DEADLINE: Wednesday, May 24, 2023. Please include a link to your website or a sample of your previous work.

Note to artists: The art will be exhibited in The Healing Garden, which is a public outdoor space. There is nobody on site overnight and, while we seriously hope that it will not happen, there is a possibility that the work gets tagged or otherwise defaced in some way. Should this happen, we will reach out to you to see if there is anyway of covering up/fixing the damage. If not, we will work together to decide on the best course of action.

Artist FAQ’s

  • - Description of how the work will engage with the theme. This could be a description/sketch of ideas for this work, or a broader description of how you think your work represents cultural and social differences within our society.

    - Quality of past work samples.

  • - Artists are asked to collect their 8’ x 4’ plywood boards from The Healing Garden on Sunday, May 28.

    - Finished artwork should be delivered to The Healing Garden on Saturday, June 17 between 10am - 12pm.

    - The boards are big. If transporting them is a challenge, let us know and we will work with you to find a solution.

  • - Payment will be made by check once the work has been submitted. If artist needs an advance on payment in order to purchase materials for the mural, let us know.

WABA