About the Project | Freedom, But for Whom?
We're about to enter 2026, 250 years after the American Revolution, and many of us are living through what feels like another Revolution, moments of upheaval, uncertainty, and change.
This Call invites artists, writers, and storytellers to respond from where they stand right now—to reflect on what freedom means (or doesn’t), what feels possible or fragile, and how this moment is shaping them.
This is not about explaining history. It’s about speaking from inside the moment in which we’re living in.
This Call invites artists, writers, and storytellers to respond from where they stand right now—to reflect on what freedom means (or doesn’t), what feels possible or fragile, and how this moment is shaping them.
This is not about explaining history. It’s about speaking from inside the moment in which we’re living in.
Who Can Apply?
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This call centers Latinx artists, and also welcomes submissions from other people of color whose stories and art deepen our understanding of freedom, exclusion, and becoming American.
- Latinx individuals of all ages
- Emerging and established artists
- Writers, poets, performers
- Community members with a story
- Oral history practitioners and beginners
- Other people of color whose work resonates with the theme
Questions | Q & A
What is this project really asking for?
Q: What are you asking artists to respond to?
A: We’re asking you to respond to the present—to the sense that the world is shifting, that something is ending or beginning, and to your own feelings, questions, or hopes within that moment.
Q: How does the theme Freedom, But for Whom? fit?
A: It’s a personal question. How does freedom show up—or fail to—in your life, your community, your body, your work, or your imagination right now?
Q: Does my work need to be political or historical?
A: No. Your work can be emotional, quiet, abstract, poetic, intimate, unresolved, or deeply personal. It only needs to be honest. Your art, poetry or writing will be shared, seen, and heard.
Q: What will happen to my work?
A: Visual art will be exhibited and also included in a printed catalogue alongside original poetry and written narratives. Together, these works will become a shared witness of this moment—so future generations can understand not just what happened, but how it felt to live through it. Your work will be your legacy, so that 10 years or even 100 years form now, people will know that you existed and this piece of art was one of many contributions you offered to our society.
Q: Why is RILA doing this now?
A: Because moments of change are often understood only in hindsight. This project creates space for artists to speak before that happens.
Q: What are the deadlines to apply?
A: Deadlines for each category vary, depending on the medium. These activities will take place between February and August 2026.
Click here to learn how you can submit Visual Art ➤
Click here to submit poetry, a reflection or short narrative ➤
A: We’re asking you to respond to the present—to the sense that the world is shifting, that something is ending or beginning, and to your own feelings, questions, or hopes within that moment.
Q: How does the theme Freedom, But for Whom? fit?
A: It’s a personal question. How does freedom show up—or fail to—in your life, your community, your body, your work, or your imagination right now?
Q: Does my work need to be political or historical?
A: No. Your work can be emotional, quiet, abstract, poetic, intimate, unresolved, or deeply personal. It only needs to be honest. Your art, poetry or writing will be shared, seen, and heard.
Q: What will happen to my work?
A: Visual art will be exhibited and also included in a printed catalogue alongside original poetry and written narratives. Together, these works will become a shared witness of this moment—so future generations can understand not just what happened, but how it felt to live through it. Your work will be your legacy, so that 10 years or even 100 years form now, people will know that you existed and this piece of art was one of many contributions you offered to our society.
Q: Why is RILA doing this now?
A: Because moments of change are often understood only in hindsight. This project creates space for artists to speak before that happens.
Q: What are the deadlines to apply?
A: Deadlines for each category vary, depending on the medium. These activities will take place between February and August 2026.
Click here to learn how you can submit Visual Art ➤
Click here to submit poetry, a reflection or short narrative ➤
My Letter to the World | Listen Now
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Amos (Ramos) Butler (right). This is an artist rendering of Ramos. No actual photos of him to date have been found. The entry in his military papers said he was a 38-year-old jeweler and was from Matamoros, Mexico at the time of enlistment. Read more here ➤
Oral History: Training + Stipends
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Storytelling & Written Narrative or Poem
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- ★ Click for Details
- You may submit:
- A written narrative or poem - To be shared live - dates TBD. Deadline: April 30. 2025
- A request to perform live. Deadline to submit your interest in performing: January 31, 2026. We will schedule performance dates after deadline closes.
In addition to visual art, writing, and performance, RILA is expanding this Call to include personal stories — told live at our storytellers event, a poetry reading, or recorded live at one of our sessions. Our goal is to make sure that the lives, voices, and perspectives of today’s communities—especially Latinx artists, culture-bearers, and people of color—become part of Rhode Island’s historical record for the next 250 years.
Too often, the lives of everyday people are left out of the official archives. This project seeks to change that. Your artwork matters, and your story matters just as much.
