Call for Proposals

21Minus is a showcase of young artists curated and executed by the MCA Teen Creative Agency. Proposals cannot disrupt or directly affect the exhibitions that are already on view, but all the public areas of the building are made available for live performances, interactive experiences, workshops, and installations. It is an energetic, dynamic, and always exciting day!

Young people who are:

Passionate

We are looking for people who have something to say, no matter if you express yourself through music, dance, drawing, social justice work, science, philosophy, economics, religion, math, and more. Everyone is welcome.

Open

All 21Minus projects directly engage audiences. We are looking for people who are open to interacting directly with museum visitors.

Flexible

Because of the complex systems that make the museum run, all 21Minus project artists will need to work closely with museum staff and TCA members to shape their projects so that they best respond to the spaces in the museum.

TCA works to make 21Minus a platform for people of all identities and backgrounds. We work to ensure the equity of our process by prioritizing applications from individuals who have traditionally been underrepresented at the museum, including Black, Indigenous, brown, femme, queer, and immigrant artists as well as artists from Chicago’s South and West Sides.

Yes, as long as you are still under 21.

Anyone who is:

• 21 years old or under on June 19, 2026.1
• Living in the Chicagoland area.
• Available all day on June 19, 2026.
• Flexible and committed to working with others to develop a project.

People over 21, including adult leaders of youth organizations, can propose a project if the majority (more than half) of all artists working on the project are under 21.

You get to be:

• Featured in the museum’s annual youth festival, 21Minus.
• Included in the MCA’s marketing and outreach.
• You’ll also receive an honoraria: individual artists receive $250; groups/bands/collectives receive $250 for the first artist plus $125 per additional artists (up to 3); and youth-focused organizations receive $750.

If your application is accepted, you must commit to:

• Being available all day (10 am–6 pm) during 21Minus on Saturday, June 19.
• Attending the all-contributor meeting at the MCA on a Saturday in May.
• Being able to drop off finished product(s) (art, video files, zines, etc.) at the MCA on May 30, 2026.
• Being flexible and adapting your project according to museum guidelines and restrictions.

Previous participants have . . .

• led a workshop about microaggression.
• invited visitors to interact with a giant baby made of tape.
• performed an original sand-art performance piece.
• danced inside of giant balloons.
• played poetry games with visitors.
• live-mixed video and audio on multiple screens with a fog machine.
• invited visitors to print their darkest secrets on dirty laundry.

All projects are reviewed and voted on by the 25 current TCA members. They use the following rubric for all projects:

• Clarity—Can we understand from your description and image what this is about and what's going to happen?
• Urgency—How important is the topic?
• Uniqueness—How does this add something special to a bigger conversation?
• Feasibility—Can this project happen at the museum, on our timeline, and in our budget?

Because the museum is full of other visitors and delicate artwork, we have to be flexible and compromise. Some things to keep in mind:

• 2D art can be no larger than 16”x20”x2”. 3D art can be no larger than 16”x16”x20”.
• There are only a few places where any liquids or messy materials (like paint) are allowed.
• We need to approve all materials that come in and out of the museum but some things are off-limits for sure: nothing wet, nothing that omits a strong smell, and absolutely no glitter!

If you have questions about this process, want to talk through your ideas, or have questions about 21Minus in general, contact us at [email protected].