Unspoken: Survivor Stories

Overview

The 7th Annual Unspoken: Survivor Stories exhibition provides a platform for individuals impacted by suicide to share their experiences through art. Presented during National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, the exhibition seeks to foster connection, understanding, hope, and awareness while reducing the stigma surrounding conversations about suicide and mental health. This year's exhibition will be presented as a virtual gallery, allowing participants from around the world to share their stories and perspectives.

Key dates

• Submissions Open: Wednesday, July 1, 2026
• Entry Deadline: Monday, August 17, 2026
• Exhibition: September 1–30, 2026

Eligibility

Open to anyone impacted by suicide, including survivors of suicide loss, survivors of suicide attempts, individuals whose lives or work have been affected by suicide, and mental health professionals, first responders, and others working in the field. This is an international call for art.

Submission guidelines

This is a trauma-informed exhibition intended for audiences of all ages. Artwork may address difficult experiences and emotions; however, submissions may not depict, promote, or glorify violence, suicide methods, death, or self-harm. Artists are encouraged to submit a brief artist statement (150 words maximum) to accompany their work. Submit original, high-quality JPEG image files only (PNG and TIFF not accepted). Ensure only the artwork itself is visible; do not show matting, frames, or background distractions. Verify image orientation is correct. Images should be high resolution (30 mb maximum file size). No need to resize or rename files before uploading; the system will handle this automatically.

Entry fee

$10 per artist for up to three entries. To help offset exhibition administration and online platform costs, a modest entry fee has been introduced for the 2026 exhibition.

Acceptance & exhibition catalog

This is a non-juried exhibition. Acceptance notifications will not be sent. However, an email with the exhibition link will be sent to each artist. Curators reserve the right to decline artwork that does not meet exhibition guidelines. If a submitted work is deemed inappropriate for inclusion, the artist will be contacted and invited to provide a substitute piece. A digital catalog will accompany the exhibition, listing participating artists by name along with artwork title(s) and sale information, where applicable.

Sales & copyright

Artwork may be offered for sale; NFS (Not For Sale) works are welcome. Arizona Art Alliance does not take a commission on sales. All sales inquiries and transactions will be handled directly between the artist and buyer. Artists retain full copyright to their artwork. By entering the exhibition, artists grant Arizona Art Alliance permission to use submitted images for promotional and educational purposes related to this exhibition and future Unspoken: Survivor Stories exhibitions.

Special workshops

• Whimsy & Witness – Spirit Doll Making, September 1, 2026, 6:00–8:00 pm at Arizona Artists Guild. Create a personal spirit doll using fabric, wire, fibers, and found objects. All materials provided. No prior experience required.
• Kintsugi: The Art of Repair, September 20, 2026, 1:00–4:00 pm at Arizona Artists Guild, 18411 N 7th Avenue, Phoenix, AZ 85023. Break and reconstruct a ceramic bowl while incorporating imagery and words reflecting personal experiences. $20 materials fee payable to instructors on the day of the workshop. No prior experience required.

Contact

For questions, contact Tess Mosko Scherer at [email protected] or 928-300-7185. Visit azartalliance.com/creative-journey-workshops-2026-schedule for more information.