In Oct 2024, NYC, we will celebrate a major milestone—our 2nd anniversary!
As an indie editorial and curatorial platform, we have spent the past two years exploring and embracing emerging waves in art and design, spotlighting creative practices that provoke change.
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Through our diverse approaches—publications, narrative-focused curations, and virtual world productions—we collaborate with artists, curators, visionary practitioners, and organizers to carve out spaces beyond traditional institutions, spark dialogues, and envision radical futures.
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As part of our 2024 Festival and two-year celebration, we’re inviting friends who have journeyed with us, as well as new friends—artists, visionary practitioners, storytellers, and world-builders who vibe with our vision. Join us for our virtual/hybrid festival to showcase your works, visions, past projects, or ongoing initiatives and connect with like-minded creatives in early October.
WHAT WE'VE DONE IN THE PAST 2 YEARS
At the frontier of digital culture, "Jukebox of Dissonance" crackles with the voltage of change. Here, a playlist of subversive art and visionary ideas flows like electric rivers, minds clash and merge in creative chaos— birthing a powerhouse of innovation. In this carefully curated jukebox, we mix genres, shatter norms, and awaken slumbering senses through this event.​
PROGRAM
[ All the programs share the same application link. ]
EXHIBITION
[HYBRID]
This exhibition is held in collaboration with the Li Tang community. We invite artists, storytellers, world-builders, and visionaries to participate through this open call, regardless of medium, form, genre, or concept.
Deadline: Aug 30th 23:59 EST, 2024
To apply, please click the button below and fill out the application form.
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Exhibition Format and Period:
Immersive Virtual Exhibition - Open since Oct 12, 2024
In-person showcase & event - The weekend of Oct 12 & 19, 2024 (May subject to change.)
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Application Fee: $15 (USD)
Participation Fee (If selected): $65 per artist (USD) ​​
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Co-Organizers: UAAD (Instagram: @uaad.art),
Li Tang (Instagram: @litang_official)
Words from
Since its establishment two years ago, UAAD has upheld an inclusive vision, striving to profoundly understand, encompass, and unite the diverse voices of artists. We invite audiences to immerse themselves in the collisions, tensions, and harmony within the complexity. The concept of this exhibition, Jukebox of Dissonance, perpetuates UAAD's unwavering support for diverse independent artists, reflecting the trust in the cohesion of the art community and an open and inclusive philosophy towards audience participation and selection. Echoing the principle of a jukebox: a vintage music device that carries records of different styles, combining individual melodies into a unified platform, offering the audience an interactive and liberating approach to appreciate art. This exhibition is accompanied by the second-anniversary celebration of UAAD and is held in collaboration with the Li Tang community. Adopting an open selection process, we call for outstanding artists from both art communities. We sincerely invite emerging artists to partake in this grand event regardless of medium, subject matter, form, genre, or concept. With Jukebox of Dissonance as the theme, community dialogue as the measure, and audience participation as the cornerstone, we aspire to create an open space that provokes more challenging and meaningful conversations. Through this exhibition, we aim to showcase the diversity and complexity inherent in artistic creation, emphasizing the importance of diverse artistic expressions and audience interaction. We anticipate each viewer to find resonance and inspiration within this dialogue, experiencing the interplay and collisions between different artworks. The collaboration between UAAD and Li Tang is not only a support for emerging artists and diverse cultures but also an exploration of the profound dialogue between art and community. Through this exhibition, we aim to foster interaction between art and society, ignite new creative sparks, and bring more possibilities for the future development of art.
SHORT FILM SCREENING
[In-Person]
Submit your film for a curated short film selection on our website that explores critical themes and innovative storytelling. Engage with a global audience through our online platform, and participate in live or pre-recorded Q&A sessions with filmmakers, providing deeper insights into their creative processes. Our in-person screenings will offer a communal viewing experience, followed by interactive discussions.
PANEL TALKS
[In-Person]
Share your works, insights, and expertise through keynote presentations (5-10 minutes) or participating in thought-provoking talks and panels. Delve into topics such as the intersection of technology and art, ecological sustainability in creative practices, and the role of art in social justice movements. Our panels will feature renowned artists, scholars, and industry leaders, fostering rich dialogues and networking opportunities.
PERFORMANCE
[In-Person]
Present your live performances that span genres and mediums, from avant-garde theater to contemporary dance and experimental music. Engage audiences through livestreams and in-person events that captivate the senses and challenge conventional performance boundaries. Each performance will be followed by an artist talk, offering insights into the creative journey and conceptual underpinnings.
PARTICIPATORY EVENTS
[In-Person]
Host a workshop or participatory event. Collaborate with fellow artists and enthusiasts in sessions designed to co-create, co-envision, or share skills. Workshops will cover a wide range of topics, including digital art techniques, sustainable design practices, community-based art projects, and more. Both online and in-person formats will ensure inclusive and interactive learning experiences.
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How do I submit my works?Please scroll down to the bottom of the page to fill out the submission form.
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What type of works do we publish?Underground accepts submissions in a text-only format as well as a text-and-media format that are: Original: You can only submit works and concepts of your own. To report a case of plagiarism, please email hello@uaad.art. Change-provoking: Projects that have or could have a positive impact on our audiences and society. In-depth: We love to learn about your research and insights, your ideation process, your approach and methods, your positionality, your challenges, and the impact of the projects. Authentic: Be true about your research, process, and outcome. Respectful for Others' Works: Please give credits to everyone you've worked with and share references and links of your inspirations and sources! Non-commercial: Content that is not aiming to sell anything.
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Who can publish on Underground?Underground is a media platform aiming to uplift emerging artists and designers, including but not limited to: College Students Artists and designers who are 0-4 years past graduation Artists and designers with less than 4 years of industry experience
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What is the rest of the submission process?If we think that your work is a great fit for Underground, we'll get in touch with you within one week. The following process depends on your submission. We'll let you know about any edits we would like to make to your submission. Please note that the edits might be (but are not limited to): Grammar Corrections The title and description to match our editorial style guide (especially changing it to a third-person narrative) Removing promotional links and ads Adding an artist bio (if provided) at the bottom of the post We'll send you an invite to preview the post 48 hours prior to publishing your work. Meanwhile, we can give you the access as a guest writer so that you may update your work and make edits in the future (All changes will be reviewed).
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How can I share my works on social media?We encourage our contributors to share their works on social media. Therefore, for every published works, you can generate and download posters for sharing. Simply click on the share button and click "Get Poster".
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How can I get featured on the "Weekly Highlights"?Each week, our editors will pick 7 of the best works to be displayed at top of the home page based on the following criteria: The depth of the idea behind the work The potential impact of the work The level of creativity The visual quality of the work If your work is selected to be featured, you will also get a digital badge from us to honor your work.
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Is it free to publish my works?It is free to submit your work. There might be an editorial fee of $30 if your work requires extensive writing, editing or revision. For example, if you require an in-depth interview with an editor or need additional guidance during the writing and editing process, this may incur the $30 editorial fee.
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I have a project which I want to publish, but I need assistance in the writing/ it's in a different language. What can I do?Please follow the submission guidelines on our submission FAQ page and send us the images and a short English description. If our editors like your project, we'll offer you a publishing service with a charge depending on the work.
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Can I publish works in progress?Of course! We welcome unfinished projects. Please submit your project via the form and our editor will reach out to you to learn more about your future work! If you're interested doing a text-based interview, our editorial teams will send you some interview questions, and we’ll quote your responses in the stories as well.