The 3rd Annual Envisioning A Just Pittsburgh Call for Art has closed its 2025 submissions as of November 2. The theme asks artists to explore how libraries, archives, and storytelling can serve as conduits for education, activism, and a more equitable Pittsburgh. Categories include writing, visual art, performance, video/interdisciplinary work, and youth arts. Juried winners will be announced in December 2025, with exhibitions and performances held at venues such as Carnegie Museums, Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, the University of Pittsburgh, 1Hood Media, and the August Wilson African American Cultural Center in February 2026. Monetary awards range from $50 to $2,000.
This call matters because it directly addresses systemic racial and class inequities in Pittsburgh by centering marginalized histories and voices through creative expression. By linking art with archives and community memory, the initiative positions artists as activists and educators, fostering a more inclusive cultural narrative. The involvement of major local institutions and the focus on youth participation underscore its potential to shape both the city's artistic landscape and its social consciousness.