Gaines Center seeking submissions for multidisciplinary showcase on addiction and recovery
LEXINGTON, Ky. (Dec. 21, 2023) — The University of Kentucky Gaines Center for the Humanities is planning an interactive multidisciplinary exhibit to highlight stories about addiction and recovery related to drugs and alcohol and dispel myths surrounding these issues.
The goal is to feature artists, researchers, community members, advocates and more who have some relationship with addiction to create an immersive and accessible exhibit for members of the community. The Gaines Center hopes to facilitate discussion on addiction in a way that shifts negative stigmas to a more compassionate and holistic perspective.
"The rest of the junior fellows and I have been really passionate in our planning about emphasizing accessible language and using the platform of Gaines to cultivate interconnectedness locally," said Anna Lauren Benton, co-chair of the exhibit and student in the College of Fine Arts. "With subject matter so close to the hearts of many, it is crucial to allow STEM and the fine arts to work in harmony and show that the disease of addiction is not a choice — addiction's impacts do not discriminate, and neither do we."
The work will be displayed in the Commonwealth House from March 28 until May 26.
Submissions can be textual, visual or performative. Posters, essays and similar projects should include a 200-word abstract along with the full document. Visual, acoustic or performative projects should include a 200-word artist statement and a link to an online archive of your project containing relevant image, audio or video files. If the project has any specific space or display requirements, please also include those details in your submission.
Exhibitors will receive an honorarium of a minimum $150. Additional funds may be available based on the number of exhibitors selected.
Submission can be made at the online form here. The deadline for submissions is Feb. 9, 2024.
For further information, please contact gainesaddictionexhibit@gmail.com.
Founded in 1984 by a generous gift from John and Joan Gaines, the Gaines Center for the Humanities functions as a laboratory for imaginative and innovative education on UK’s campus. Devoted to cultivating an appreciation of the humanities in its students and faculty, the center embraces varied paths of knowledge, and particularly strives to integrate creative work with traditional academic learning.
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