Organizer Information

The Kansas City Public Library is a public library system serving Kansas City, Missouri. As the capstone exhibition to the Library’s 250 & Counting initiative, the exhibition takes place at the Guldner Gallery located within the Central Library in downtown Kansas City. The Library promotes open civic dialogue, intellectual freedom, and community engagement through curated public visual art exhibitions.

Title & Description

Free To: Free From: A Mail Art Exhibition Exploring Freedoms — Call for Submissions

The Kansas City Public Library has launched a mail art open call for Free To: Free From: A Mail Art Exhibition Exploring Freedoms, running from October 14, 2026, through January 17, 2027, at the Guldner Gallery. Investigating diverse human perceptions of liberty—asking whether freedom means being free to act or free from external constraints—the project invites creators of all ages, skill levels, and backgrounds to mail in 5×7 inch 2D artworks. Compliant mailed entries are guaranteed inclusion in the physical exhibition.

Categories

The call accepts All 2D Media & Genres, including Collage, Drawing, Painting, Photography, Fiber Art, Text-Based / Typographic Art, Representational, Narrative, Non-Narrative, and Abstract Work.

Eligibility

  • Age & Skill Benchmark: Open to creators of all ages and skill levels.
  • Geographic Scope: Open unconditionally to local Kansas City metro area residents, national US creators, and international artists globally.
  • Content Guidelines: In keeping with library practices, entries must not contain nudity, sexually explicit content, graphic violence, profanity, or discriminatory/hate speech (racist, sexist, homophobic, transphobic, ableist, or religiously exclusive content).

Program Benefits & Support

  • Guaranteed Physical Exhibition: All mailed entries adhering to size, mounting, and content guidelines are guaranteed placement in the exhibition at the Guldner Gallery.
  • Media & Promotion: Exposure through public promotional media and visitor photography.

Application Fee

Participation in the exhibition is 100% free of charge ($0 entry fee).

Application Requirements

  1. Artwork Dimensions: Exactly 5×7 inches, 2D format with a maximum depth of 1/4 inch.
  2. Mandatory Mounting: The 5×7 artwork must be mounted in the center of a white 8×10 inch mat board to ensure uniform gallery installation.
  3. Postal Mail Submission: Artwork must be mailed in an envelope or box directly to:
    Kansas City Public LibraryATTN: FREEDOM14 W. 10th St., Kansas City, MO 64105, USA
  4. Return Logistics (Optional): Include a folded, self-addressed, stamped envelope if you wish to have your physical artwork returned after January 17, 2027.

How to Apply

Mount your 5×7 inch artwork onto an 8×10 inch white mat board and mail it to the Kansas City Public Library before the receipt deadline.

  • Inquiries Email: submissions@kclibrary.org

Key Dates

  • Mail Art Open Call Window: August 3, 2026 – October 10, 2026
  • Mailed Submission Arrival Deadline: October 10, 2026
  • Physical Gallery Exhibition Run: October 14, 2026 – January 17, 2027

Location

The physical exhibition takes place live in the United States at:

Guldner Gallery, Kansas City Public Library (Central Library)

14 W. 10th St., Kansas City, MO 64105, United States

Website Link: https://kclibrary.org/exhibitions/free-to-free-from

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