Illumination 250
Visual and musical artists living in Northern New Jersey are invited to submit original signatures and musical melodies, along with written declarations, for incorporation into a public light art installation.
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Get matched →- Deadline
- 6 days left
- Entry fee
- Free
- Award
- $200
- Location
- Hackensack Green, Hackensack, NJ; Church on the Green, Hackensack, NJ
- Exhibition window
- Oct 3, 2026 → Oct 25, 2026
- Size cap
- ≤ 24" max dimension
About
Overview
Illumination 250 is a large-scale interactive public art celebration of America's 250th happening in Hackensack, NJ on October 3rd. Artists are invited to contribute visual and musical signatures for incorporation into an immersive light and sound installation on Hackensack Green, exploring the signed name as both a personal and communal commitment.
Key Dates
- Submission period: August 8 at 12:00 a.m. ET to August 26 at 11:59 p.m. ET
- Installation activation: October 3–October 25, 2026 (nightly)
- Church on the Green projection activation: October 3–October 4, 2026
Eligibility
Open to artists who live in Northern New Jersey.
Visual Artist Requirements
Create a monochromatic line drawing signature based on your name in any style or alphabet. Digital submissions should be scaled to 24"x24" at 300 DPI; vector-based files preferred. Physical submissions should be 10"x10" on high-quality paper. Include a written declaration (no more than 50 characters) as a personal attestation to be etched alongside your signature. Approximately 60 visual signatures will be selected based on creativity.
Musical Artist Requirements
Create a simple melody line (2–8 bars, no longer than 15 seconds) that serves as your musical signature. Record as MP3 or WAV file played on a single analog or digital instrument in a specified key. Include a written declaration (no more than 50 characters) as a personal attestation. Approximately 10 melodies will be incorporated into a looping soundscape. Selections based on creativity.
Submission Options
- Digital submission through ArtCall.org
- Physical drop-off at Northern NJ Community Foundation, 1 University Plaza, Ste. 102, Hackensack, NJ 07601 (M-F 7 am–8 pm, Sat 8 am–1 pm)
- Physical drop-off during Puppet Building Workshop at Makerspace, 284 Hackensack Ave., Hackensack, NJ 07601 (free, ages 12+): Friday, August 14 (2–5 pm, 5–8 pm); Saturday, August 15 (12–3 pm, 3–6 pm); Sunday, August 16 (12–3 pm, 3–6 pm); Monday, August 17 (2–5 pm, 5–8 pm); Tuesday, August 18 (2–5 pm, 5–8 pm); Wednesday, August 19 (2–5 pm, 5–8 pm)
Award
Selected artists receive a $200 artist stipend upon receipt of W-9 and invoice.
Questions & Support
Contact Artist Engagement Coordinator Shannon Hui at [email protected] for questions or accommodations for disabilities.
- Award
- $200 artist stipend for selected submissions, upon receipt of W-9 and invoice.
- Entry fee
- Free to enter
- Theme
- Celebrate America's 250th anniversary by creating a personal signature—visual or musical—that explores the signed name as both a personal and communal commitment, honoring creativity, community, and civic participation.
- Eligibility
- Open to artists who live in Northern New Jersey.
- Audience
- Artists who live in Northern New Jersey; ages 12 and up for puppet building workshops.
- Size & format
- Digital submissions: 24"x24" at 300 DPI. Physical submissions: 10"x10" on high-quality paper.
- Format
- Drop off in person
- Also worth noting
- Digital submissions: 24"x24" at 300 DPI. Physical submissions: 10"x10" on high-quality paper.
- Contact
- [email protected]
Every listing links to the organizer's official page. Always confirm deadlines, fees, and entry rules there before you apply.