OPEN CALL FOR "The World is Watching"

Photo artist/credit: Matheus Toscano (description: Maradona & Peter Shilton, 1986 World Cup)

Dates: Monday, June 15, 2026 - Sunday, July 19, 2026

Deadline for all entries: Saturday, May 30, 2026, 11:59 pm PTD

Futbol/soccer is exciting and celebrates discourse on all aspects of the game. Art can express all these things.

First a land acknowledgement for Pioneer Square, Seattle: We recognize the area as the ancestral land of the Coast Salish peoples, particularly the Duwamish and Suquamish, who have stewarded the land since time immemorial. It honors their enduring relationship with this land despite colonization and the 1865 ban on the Indigenous in America.

Second, please forgive us as we, the world soccer community descend upon Seattle, overloading the transit/light rail system and intruding on the lives of those in the greater Seattle area.

Now consider the dark side of futbol/soccer and "Yes," FIFA and soccer deserve critiquing.

Consider some of the following:

1. FIFA's unabashed collusion with Trump
2. The unabashed commercialism of the sport
3. The astronomical ticket prices which exclude most fans.
4. Radical right wing politics that can rear its ugly head through the sport's hooliganism.
5. Misbehaving fans: how the passion for the game blinds fans and makes them forget common decency.
6. How fandom focuses on the game and ignores blatant political issues e.g. How slave labor prepared Qatar for the World Cup '22.
7. How hero worship intrudes on the personal lives of players who are subjected to it.
8. Blatant product endorsement of superficial products such as beer, soda, junk food and credit cards.

You can love the game but hate the sport's controversial aspects such as:

9. Penalty kick shootouts.
10. Simulation (blatantly pretending to get fouled)
11. Gamesmanship e.g. The provocation of players to retaliate and draw a yellow or red card.
12. Cynical fouls.
13. Dangerous head injuries
14. Big money salaries.
15. Violent match brawls during or after the game.

Does your passion for the sport still increase despite all this? Do you enjoy making art that pushes the boundaries? Are you still looking forward to World Cup 2026? There maybe some of you who just work on the periphery of the sport and don't share a common passion for the game, that's okay. You should all consider applying and submitting your art for this opportunity, where the world comes together to celebrate the game every four years.

Conceptual art and satire are strongly encouraged.

Jimmy Quatier (he/him), a CoCA Board Member, will curate this show. He is a practicing artist and former player that wants to see what you can contribute. As mentioned he is looking for fútbol/soccer art that pushes beyond the status quo. All media will be considered: Performance Art, humor, painting, photography, printmaking, installation, glass, fiber, jewelry, sculpture, murals, video, digital media, computer art, AI, conceptual art, identity & social justice, politics, satire, NFT's and Para athletic soccer and women's soccer, etc.

Note: This is a series of pop-ups so the art may have to be taken down, stored and remounted. Size will be taken into account, but give Jimmy your best.* Fútbol/soccer is a game of beauty, improvisation, set pieces and creativity as well as controversy, violence and excesses. Why not make art that can cover all these aspects? Let's celebrate the good with the bad. Good Luck, and CoCA looks forward to your submission.

* As artists we all wish for our work to sell, but often it doesn't happen and for those of us who rely on the sales of our art for income, it can be difficult. Consider then, that international travelers will probably buy art that they can take home on the plane with them. Most major airlines allow carry-on bags with maximum dimensions of 22 x 14 x 9 inches (56 x 36 x 23 cm), including handles and wheels, to fit in the overhead bin. It's something to think about.

Read the complete call at https://www.cocaseattle.org/calls-for-art

ELIGIBILITY:

This call is open to all. The AAPINH, BIPOC & LGBTQ+ communities are welcome. Let's celebrate the global, soccer art community !

Artist statements (max 300 words) and artist biographies (max 200 words) are encouraged but not required. Consider expressing your views and opinions on the game in your artist statement.

There will be 7 total pop-ups. 5 will be on game days in Seattle: Monday, June 15, Friday, June 19, Wednesday, June 24, Wednesday July 1, and Monday July 6. And the other 2 dates on Thursday July 2, (art walk event) and the celebration of the final match (in New Jersey), Sunday July 19.

For drop off in-person:
Tuesday 9th, from 12:00 to 17:00 (12pm to 5pm) at Center on Contemporary Art
Wednesday, June 10th from 12:00 to 17:00 (12pm to 5pm) at 9614 214th PL. SW., Edmonds, WA, USA, 98020

For shipping, by June 10th to: c/o CoCA Show, 9614 214th PL SW, Edmonds, WA, USA, 98020

Note: We may not have space for all the work submitted. Would you be interested in showing in the case that space opens up during the course of the show?

Center on Contemporary Art is a Seattle-based nonprofit organization that advances contemporary art by supporting experimentation, critical dialogue, and innovative artistic practices.

Do you want to become a CoCA member? Visit: https://www.cocaseattle.org/join-give

Contact: jimmy@cocaseattle.org

APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS:

A complete application consists of a bio, statement, up to 5 images, with descriptions, and any other information noted below.
Images can be of one piece, 5 pieces, or any combination.

Please prepare the following before beginning your submission. Here are the specific requirements:

  • An Artist’s statement specific to the theme of the exhibition (300 words): This will appear in the catalog (if any) if accepted.

  • An Artist’s biography (200 words), including year of birth, city of origin, awards, honors, shows, degrees. This will also appear in the catalog (if any) if accepted.

  • Up to 5 images of the artwork for consideration. Format is jpg file, minimum. dimension of 2400 pixels in at least one direction. If you are submitting video of your work, please include a link in the description, and make sure that access is open for review period (or include password in description).

  • Artwork is for sale at 60% Artist, 40% CoCA (70% Artist, 30% CoCA for members) and can also be "NFS".

  • There is no submission fee for this application.

EXHIBITION TIMELINE:

  • Deadline: Saturday, May 30, 2026, 11:59 pm PTD
  • Notify By: Saturday, June 6, 2026
  • Confirm By: Monday, June 8, 2026
  • Exhibition Start: Monday, June 15, 2026
  • Exhibition End: Sunday, July 19, 2026
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