The DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities (CAH) in partnership with the family of George Clinton is excited to announce a special call for original artworks responding to the past, present, and future of funk music, psychedelic rock, and the cultural movements they inspire. This upcoming exhibition, A Toast to the Boogie: Art in the Name of Funk(adelic) will present never-seen archival works and memorabilia from the family’s private collection alongside original artworks by DC metropolitan artists. It significantly builds on The Cosmic Slop Experience, an exhibition originally mounted at the Eaton Workshop in Winter 2023 celebrating the 50th anniversary of Funkadelic's 1973 album Cosmic Slop. The exhibition will be hosted in CAH’s exhibition space located in the lobby of 200 I Street, SE.
CAH seeks works from DC artists that:
- Are inspired by Parliament Funkadelic’s discography, album artworks, and fashion, including the Afrofuturist and psychedelic cultural movements they influenced.
- Highlight artists' original documentation and interpretation of the funk landscape for musicians, artists, and fans on the local, national, and international level.
- Engage archival, historical, and artistic movements that have emerged since the release of Parliament Funkadelic’s music until the present day.
- Examine how present developments in musical and cultural forms that follow in the footsteps of Parliament Funkadelic’s legacy have shaped the landscape of Washington, DC specifically.
Each applicant may submit up to five original artworks for consideration, including, but not limited to:
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• Ceramics • Drawings • Textile Arts |
• Mixed media works • Paintings • Photographs |
• Prints • Sculptures • Videos, including music and documentary funk concert submissions(<20) |
For the purpose of this exhibition, “artist” is defined as a legal resident within a 50-mile radius of the Washington, DC boundaries, for at least one (1) year.
CAH will award each selected applicant $1,000 for the display of the artwork(s) in the exhibition and to support the delivery of the artwork to CAH offices. Award amounts are subject to CAH’s availability of funds and are based on the individual’s advisory review panel score and ranking.
All eligible submissions will be reviewed by a confidential panel jury:
- Zavier Croft – Cocurator of A Toast To The Boogie and grandson of George Clinton
- Adrian Loving – Curator, historian, DJ, artist, and faculty at Georgetown Day School
- Farrah Skeiky – Photographer
- Kevin Strait – Museum Curator, National Museum of African American History and Culture
Applicants should not contact the jury at any point to discuss their application. Discussion of the jury process will remain confidential.
Program Goals
- Provide the opportunity for District of Columbia metropolitan regional artists to exhibit their work in an innovative and educational thematic art exhibition.
- Provide support, exposure, and professional benefits for visual artists residing in the metropolitan region of the District of Columbia.
- Provide a unique exhibition and related programs for District residents and visitors.