2026 PROGRAM CALENDAR
Art of the African Diaspora 2026
Exhibition at Richmond Art Center: January 14, 2026 – March 14, 2026
Artistic Achievement Awardee Talk: Saturday, January 24, 2026, 11am-12:30pm
Reception: Saturday, January 24, 2026, 1pm-3pm
Closing Reception: Sunday, March 15, 2026, 2pm-4pm
Satellite Exhibitions: Throughout January, February, March and April
Open Studios: March 7-8, 14-15, 21-22
Art Of The African Diaspora is a non-juried group exhibition featuring artwork by artists of African descent. The showcase exhibition is held at Richmond Art Center and is accompanied by self-guided open studio tours and satellite exhibitions throughout the Bay Area.
Questions?
Program Questions: Art of the African Diaspora Steering Committee, aotadexhibition@gmail.com
Registration Questions: Richmond Art Center, info@richmondartcenter.org
HOW TO PARTICIPATE
Artist Registration
Deadline to Register: Wednesday, October 1, 2025, 12pm
Artist Info Session (online): Saturday, September 20, 1pm-2:30pm
Registration Fee: $85
Eligibility: Participation is open to all artists of African descent, who are 16 years or older, and who reside/work within the nine counties of the Bay Area (Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Napa, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Solano, Sonoma).
Richmond Art Center Exhibition Artwork Requirements:
- Media: All media considered
- Artwork size: Wall-hanging artwork may not exceed 40 inches high and 40 inches wide (including the frame); 3D artwork may not exceed 40 inches in any direction
- Artwork number: One artwork entry per artist
- New and original work: Artwork must be original work created since 2023 that has not previously been exhibited at Richmond Art Center.
Each Registered Artist Receives:
- Opportunity to exhibit 1 artwork at Richmond Art Center:
- Available until exhibition is full. There is space for maximum 150 artists in the exhibition at Richmond Art Center. Once we reach capacity artists can still register to participate in satellite exhibitions, open studios and the online listing.
- Artist listing in the Art of the African Diaspora catalogue
- Artist listing in the online artist gallery
- Opportunity to participate in open studios/satellite exhibitions:
- Artists without a space for open studios/satellite exhibitions can request to be offered a space. Artists who do not wish to participate in open studios/satellite exhibitions may choose to opt out at the time of registration (the fee remains the same).
Participation Terms:
- Fees: Entry fees are non-refundable.
- Photography and Image Use: Richmond Art Center and Art of the African Diaspora reserve the right to use images of submitted artwork, and to photograph the artist, artwork and exhibition for publicity, documentation, and fundraising purposes.
- Exhibition at Richmond Art Center:
- Delivery of Artwork: Artwork must be delivered to Richmond Art Center on scheduled drop off days: Friday, January 2, 11am-4pm OR Saturday, January 3, 11am-4pm. Artists who cannot drop off their artwork during these times should arrange for someone else to deliver it for them.
- Sales: For any artwork sales at Richmond Art Center: RAC’s commission on a sale is 30%; artist retains 70%. Artists may choose to list their work as NFS (not for sale).
- Pick Up: All unsold artworks must be picked up on the scheduled days: Sunday, March 15, 4pm-5pm OR Monday, March 16, 11am-4pm
*OPTIONAL* ADVERTISE YOUR WORK
Artists can upgrade their Art of the African Diaspora print catalogue listing by purchasing a discounted Artist Ad. Total catalogue circulation: 3,000
Deadline to Purchase Ads: Monday, November 17, 2025
Artist Ad Rates:
- 1/4 page ad $60 – 4 ¾” H x 3 ½ W
- 1/2 page ad $100 – 4 ¾” H x 7 ¾” W
- Full page ad $200 – 10 ¾” H x 7 ¾” W
Submit Ads: PDF or EPS, full color, 300 dpi, print-ready. Email with payment receipt to aotadexhibition@gmail.com by the deadline.
Terms: Artists must be registered to participate in AOTAD 2025 to qualify for a discounted ad; The Steering Committee reserves the right to assign ad space; All sales are final.
100% of ad funds (less any online processing fees) go to the Art of the African Diaspora Steering Committee, who is solely responsible for producing and publishing the catalogue.
MORE ARTIST INFO
Information for Participating Artists
Artwork Drop Off at Richmond Art Center: Friday, January 2, 11am-4pm OR Saturday, January 3, 11am-4pm.
Artwork Pick Up at Richmond Art Center: Sunday, March 15, 4pm-5pm OR Monday, March 16, 11am-4pm
Artwork Drop Off Location: Richmond Art Center is located at 2540 Barrett Avenue, Richmond, CA 94804. Parking is available in the parking lot on 25th Street across the street from the art center. You can enter the building via the gallery entrance on Barrett Avenue or via the loading ramp on 25th Street.
Artist Bio/CV and Statement (optional): When you drop off your artwork you may bring in a printed artist bio/CV (1 page) and artist statement (1 page) for the artist info binder.
Insurance: Richmond Art Center provides fine art insurance for all artwork while it is on loan at the center. Coverage ends after the artwork’s scheduled pick-up date. Please note, this insurance does not cover artwork during transportation to or from Richmond Art Center. ABOUT ARTWORK INSURANCE
Artwork Loan Form: When you drop off your artwork at the center you’ll be asked to sign an artwork loan form (we will have this prepared for you).
Packing Material: We cannot store your artwork packing material for you. Please be prepared to take it with you after you drop off your artwork
Sales: Artists may list their work for sale. Richmond Art Center’s commission is 30%. The artist retains 70%.
Installation Ready: Before you bring your artwork to the gallery check that it is:
– Labeled with your full name (on the back for 2D work, underneath for 3D work)
– Ready to hang with any appropriate hardware: hanging wire, d-rings, etc.
– Any glass is clean and free of fingerprints
– Work on paper should be framed
Artwork Size Requirements:
– Wall-hanging artwork may not exceed 40 inches high and 40 inches wide (including the frame)
– 3D artwork may not exceed 40 inches in any dimension
