CALL FOR STUDENT ARTISTS (Grades 9–12)
CALL FOR STUDENT ARTISTS (Grades 9–12) WHEN THE WALLS ANSWER Fort Frederik Museum | Opening May 30, 2026 If the walls of our Historic Towns could speak…What would they say? The Virgin Islands Architecture Center (VIAC), in partnership with the Department of Planning and Natural Resources’ Division of Libraries, Archives and Museums (DLAM), SHPO, and HPC, invites high school student artists (grades 9–12) to submit artwork for When the Walls Answer. This exhibition honors the life and legacy of Gerville René Larsen and celebrates legendary Crucian artist El’Roy Simmonds, whose work has shaped how we understand art, culture, and identity in the Virgin Islands. Hosted at Fort Frederik Museum, a National Historic site where freedom was demanded and won by Virgin Islands ancestors, this exhibition asks a powerful question: If the walls of our historic places could speak…what would they say? What Is The Exhibition About? Buildings are more than structures; they hold stories. …
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CALL FOR STUDENT ARTISTS (Grades 9–12) WHEN THE WALLS ANSWER Fort Frederik Museum | Opening May 30, 2026 If the walls of our Historic Towns could speak…What would they say? The Virgin Islands Architecture Center (VIAC), in partnership with the Department of Planning and Natural Resources’ Division of Libraries, Archives and Museums (DLAM), SHPO, and HPC, invites high school student artists (grades 9–12) to submit artwork for When the Walls Answer. This exhibition honors the life and legacy of Gerville René Larsen and celebrates legendary Crucian artist El’Roy Simmonds, whose work has shaped how we understand art, culture, and identity in the Virgin Islands. Hosted at Fort Frederik Museum, a National Historic site where freedom was demanded and won by Virgin Islands ancestors, this exhibition asks a powerful question: If the walls of our historic places could speak…what would they say? What Is The Exhibition About? Buildings are more than structures; they hold stories. Homes, streets, galleries, churches, and schools across the Virgin Islands carry memories of: ● Family and community life ● Culture and identity ● Freedom and creativity This exhibition explores how architecture is a living record of who we are YOUR CREATIVE CHALLENGE Create artwork inspired by the theme: “When the Walls Answer” Explore how buildings, spaces, and places hold stories about: - Identity - Culture - Freedom - Change ✏️ CREATIVE PROMPTS (Choose one or more!) 🧠 Memory & Story - What would a building in your neighborhood say if it could talk? - Tell a story about a place important to your family. 🏠 Identity & Culture - What makes Virgin Islands architecture so unique? - How does design and architectural elements reflect culture? 🔥 Freedom & Resistance - What does freedom look like in a historic space? - How do places hold stories of struggle, triumph, and creative invention? 🌿 Change & Future - What is happening to historic buildings today? - Imagine the future of Virgin Islands architecture. 🎨 Creative Interpretation - Design your own storytelling building. - Reimagine a historic site. WHAT YOU CAN SUBMIT ● Drawing ● Painting ● Photography ● Sculpture ● Mixed Media ● Digital Art ● Woodwork / Small Installations IMPORTANT DATES ● Call Opens: April 13, 2026 ● Deadline: May 11, 2026 ● Drop-off: May 25, 2026 ● Opening: May 30, 2026 SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS ● Artist Name, Grade, School, Teacher ● Artwork Description (title, medium, size) SUBMIT TO Monica Marin, DLAM Chief Curator monica.marin@dpnr.vi.gov WHY PARTICIPATE? ● Exhibit your work in a museum ● Share your voice and story ● Explore Virgin Islands history through architecture and art ● Be part of a cultural legacy among legendary Virgin Islands Artists Presented by The Virgin Islands Architecture Center (VIAC) | DPNR-Division of Libraries, Archives & Museums | State Historic Preservation Office | Historic Preservation Commission, and funded in part by the Virgin Islands Council on the Arts