Art That Matters to the Planet: Dark Skies

Overview

The Roger Tory Peterson Institute invites artists to submit work for the sixth annual juried exhibition Art That Matters to the Planet: Dark Skies. This exhibition explores the night skies and what they mean to us, drawing inspiration from Roger Tory Peterson's work. Artists are invited to turn their attention upwards and explore who uses the night skies—birds that navigate in the darkness, animals that awaken when dusk settles, the effects of space pollution (orbital debris or "space junk")—and what lies beyond the Earth's atmosphere.

Key Dates

• Submission deadline: November 7, 2026
• Exhibition: January 29 – May 30, 2027
• Winners announced: January 29, 2027 (at exhibition opening)

Eligibility

Open to international artists.

Media & Submissions

• Images: 1–4 required
• Audio: 0–4 optional
• Video: 0–4 optional
• Submission limit: 1 per artist

Judging Criteria

Artists will be judged on originality, personal voice or vision, and technical skill. The institute is especially interested in interdisciplinary projects with demonstrable environmental impact that creatively combine art and science.

Awards

• First place: $1,000
• Second place: $500
• Third place: $250

Themes to Explore

• Advocacy: Investigations of and advocacy for creatures that make the night skies their own, and for the health of our night sky itself.
• Species/Location-based artworks: Artworks that home in on artist-specific concerns or adorations of the night sky.
• Environmental impact: Art that helps us see and feel what is happening with the night sky, stars, and planetary systems, and connects us to something so very far away.