A note on submissions for 2026:

We are celebrating our 20th anniversary this year! To commemorate this milestone, we will be running special programs with some old friends and family, one in March, then another this summer. The fall will feature two special Double Exposure exhibitions featuring past applicants.

So we will not be accepting new submissions for 2026 for Double Exposure nor CONNECT.  The next call for proposals for winter/spring 2027 will  take place this summer. Stay tuned for more info about all of these good things!

Roots & Culture offers two core programs for submission:

Double Exposure, exhibitions which pairs two artists and consist of six exhibitions annually. We accept two person proposals as well as individual portfolio submissions for consideration by our programming committee. The deadlines for Double Exposure typically occur in the winter and the summer. Double Exposure supports primarily Chicago- based artists. Programming is organized 6- 9 months ahead of exhibition dates.

CONNECT is a curatorial program supporting cis and trans women, femme spectrum, and nonbinary people of color. The program links innovative curatorial practices with Roots & Culture’s community of artists and audiences. CONNECT is open to curators working locally as well as nationally and internationally. The program takes place during the summer. Deadlines occur in March.

The current jurors for the review panel remain anonymous until the programming has been selected. Past jurors include: Julia Arredondo, Alberto Aguilar, Devin Balara, Britton Bertran, Kate Bowen, Edward Cabral, Benjamin Chaffee, I-Chien Chen, Elizabeth Chodos, Mel Cook, Stephanie Cristello, Jen Delos Reyes, Jory Drew, Robyn Farrell, Star Feliz, Eric Fleischauer, Flor Flores, Lauren R Fulton, Jenny Gheith, Danny Giles, Cathy Hsiao, Ross Jordan, Kelly Kaczynski, Ivan LOZANO, Noel Maghathe, Ciera McKissick, Heather Mekkelson, Michael Milano, Raven Falquez Munsell, Aay Preston- Myint, Anisa Olufemi, Risa Puleo, Tyson Reeder, Joshua Rios, Sharmyn Cruz Rivera, Oli Rodriguez, Edra Soto, Scott Speh, Anthony Stepter, Lorelei Stewart, Odette Stout, Sheridan Tucker, Gan Uyeda, Erin Washington, Zuri Washington & Sarah Workneh.