Illumination 250: My Signature, My Declaration
Submit a visual signature (monochromatic line drawing with written declaration) or musical signature (2-8 bar melody with written declaration) for incorporation into a public light art installation.
Does this fit your work? 5 questions score every call to your medium, location and budget. Free.
Get matched →- Deadline
- 17 days left
- Entry fee
- Free
- Award
- $200
- Location
- New Jersey
- Exhibition window
- Oct 3, 2026 → Oct 25, 2026
- Size cap
- ≤ 24" max dimension
About
Overview
The City of Hackensack invites Northern New Jersey artists to submit visual and musical signatures for incorporation into a public light art installation titled My Signature: My Declaration. The installation will feature lighted acrylic tablets throughout the Hackensack Green, merging light and sound in the twilight hours. This project honors New Jersey's signatories to the Declaration of Independence and invites artists to contribute their own signature to a shared artwork celebrating creativity, community, and civic participation.
Key Dates
- Submission Period: August 6, 2026 at 12:00 a.m. ET to August 26, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. ET
- Installation Activation: October 3–25, 2026 (Hackensack Green nightly)
- Church on the Green Projection: October 3–4, 2026
Submission Options
- Digital Submission through ArtCall.org
- Physical Drop-Off at Northern New Jersey Community Foundation, 1 University Plaza, Ste. 102, Hackensack, NJ 07601 (M-F: 7 am–8 pm; Sat: 8 am–1 pm)
- In-Person During Puppet Building Workshop Makerspace, 284 Hackensack Ave., Hackensack, NJ 07601 (Free, ages 12+): August 14–19, 2026 at various times
Visual Artist Requirements
- Digital submissions: scaled to 24"x24" at 300 DPI; vector-based files preferred
- Physical submissions: 10"x10" on high-quality paper
- Approximately 60 visual signatures will be selected based on creativity
Musical Artist Requirements
- Approximately 10 melodies will be selected based on creativity and incorporated into a looping soundscape
Award
Selected artists receive a $200 stipend upon receipt of W-9 and invoice.
About Illumination 250
Illumination 250 is a major collaborative arts festival scheduled for October 3, 2026, in downtown Hackensack, celebrating America's 250th anniversary. The expanded event features a giant puppet parade, live cultural performances, an audio flash-mob, and an immersive light installation. This project is supported by funding through the NJEDA's A.R.T.-Phase II Grant Program.
- Award
- $200 artist stipend for selected submissions, upon receipt of W-9 and invoice
- Entry fee
- Free to Enter
- Theme
- Artists are invited to create visual or musical signatures representing their identity and submit a personal declaration honoring creativity, community, and civic participation in celebration of America's 250th anniversary.
- Eligibility
- Local
- Size & format
- Visual: 24"x24" at 300 DPI (digital) or 10"x10" on high-quality paper (physical); Musical: 2-8 bars, no longer than 15 seconds
- Format
- Drop off in person
- Also worth noting
- Visual: 24"x24" at 300 DPI (digital) or 10"x10" on high-quality paper (physical); Musical: 2-8 bars, no longer than 15 seconds
Every listing links to the organizer's official page. Always confirm deadlines, fees, and entry rules there before you apply.