The South Bend Museum of Art features a full spectrum of historical and contemporary art featured in five galleries. A wide range of artistic traditions are taught in our world-class art studios. Located inside the Century Center in downtown South Bend, Indiana, the SBMA is an architectural delight. Designed by Philip Johnson and John Burgee, the museum occupies three levels in the northern wing of the building.
Mission
The South Bend Museum of Art affirms the enduring power of the visual arts to reflect and create community, engage minds, and nurture growth through exhibitions, collections and educational programs.
History
Since its founding in 1947, the SBMA has provided insight into the art, history and culture of the region and nation. Since 1987, SBMA has been recognized as achieving the highest level of professional standards in the field, awarded accreditation from the American Alliance of Museums. Accreditation status must be renewed every 10 years and, in March of 2011, SBMA was awarded ongoing accreditation. Accreditation inspires museums to achieve a higher standard. It strengthens the field as a whole, as well as the museums that receive accreditation. The rigorous process leads to sustained organizational improvement and a clearer sense of purpose. Of the estimated 17,500 museums in the U.S., only 750 are accredited.
The South Bend Museum of Art accepts submission materials from artists, art organizations, community organizations, and curators. All submissions are reviewed by the museum’s Curatorial Staff quarterly in March, July, September, and January and are considered for all available opportunities.
The Project Room: We're looking for screen based works (video, performance, sound/visual, and game-based) as soon as 2024!
Community Gallery: booked through 2025.
The Art League: booked through 2027.
Note: We are no longer accepting submissions for Warner Gallery.
Required Submission Materials:
- Up to 20 images and/or up to 3 video links;
- Artist Statement and Bio (no more than 500 words) -or- a Community Arts Organization mission statement and submitter bio (no more than 500 words);
- A Mission Connection statement that describes how your exhibition idea relates to our mission, including any programming activities that might include our Collections, Exhibitions, and Education Departments at SBMA. You'll also be asked how your exhibition idea engages the diverse communities of South Bend and the surrounding region.
There are 3 galleries at the SBMA available for changing exhibitions, each with its own focus. You will be asked which space is the most suitable for your work:
- Art League Gallery (approximately 1200 sq. ft.): Solo, two-person, and small group exhibitions. 3–4 open slots per year.
- Project Room Gallery (approximately 110 sq. ft.)
Solo or small group exhibitions of screen-based work. This small gallery space adjoins the Art League Gallery and is dedicated to new media, animations, video, etc., that can be played on a single screen. Equipment includes: Samsung 55″ 1080p flatscreen smart tv, Micca Spec G2 media player, Mac mini. 3–4 open slots per year. - Community Gallery (approximately 600 sq. ft.). 2 open slots per year for area community art organizations.
Available Floorplans:
- The Art League Gallery (includes entrance into small rectilinear Project Room Space).
- Crowley Community Gallery
SBMA Undergraduate Summer Residency Program
The South Bend Museum of Art is excited to announce the 2024 Undergraduate Summer Residency Program! This unique experience is available for self-directed and motivated fine arts majors enrolled in Iocal studio arts programs. Undergraduate residents receive access to our suite of unique studio spaces, including dark room photography, fibers, ceramics, drawing and painting, jewelry, and space for 3D sculpture based inquiry. Residents can attend workshops, audit classes, participate in critiques and studio visits from guest artists, and interact with a vibrant artist community. Additionally, residents have opportunities to work directly with members of the museum staff in various roles as they volunteer hours in our exhibitions, curatorial, and education departments to experience the inner workings of museum life. Lastly, all participants will be awarded a group exhibition in the museum’s Jerome J. Crowley Community Gallery the following March.
Who: This residency program is available to any college undergraduate enrolled in a local Studio Art Program. All college residents must reside in the Greater South Bend area during the months of June, July, and early August.
When:
The Summer Undergraduate Residency program runs from June to August 2023. In exchange for participation in this program, all residents are required to volunteer a minimum of 5 to 8 hours per week at the South Bend Museum of Art. Volunteer hours/ duties may vary. All residents are required to assist in various museum activities and events including our Art Beat youth activity area. Residents may continue to volunteer or participate in museum programming as they desire or are available throughout the academic year, but it is not a requirement of the program. College residents will participate in an exhibition of their work in the Spring of 2024.
*NOT ALL APPLICANTS WILL BE ACCEPTED
For further program details/ instructions, please contact:
Kolt Lucius Sizer, Curator of Education
Application Deadline : FRIDAY, MAY 10, 2024
All submissions are reviewed. If accepted, you will be notified via email or phone. Please make sure to include contact information. Please do not call or email to check the status of your submission.
Submissions should include:
•Contact Information
- Name
- Address
- Phone
- Email Address
•General Information
- College/ University you are currently enrolled at
- Year of standing
- GPA
•References
- 3 References including Names, Phone Numbers, and Email Addresses of three academic/ professional references
- Please include a SIGNED letter of recommendation from one of these references
- Have references email their letters of recommendation to: sizerk@southbendart.org
•Portfolio
- 7-10 images of your current work (.jpg format)
Vimeo links of film/ animation/ kinetic/ performance or other time-based works will also be accepted
- Image list (.pdf format): Please include the title, year, media, and scale for each image, as well as a small thumbnail image or file number so we know which image the information refers to.
•Documents
- Artist and/or curatorial statement (.pdf format)
- Curriculum Vitae/ Resume (.pdf format)
SBMA High School Summer Residency Program
The South Bend Museum of Art is excited to announce the 2024 SBMA High School Summer Residency Program! This unique experience is available for self-directed and motivated fine arts majors enrolled in Iocal studio arts programs. High School residents receive access to our suite of unique studio spaces, including dark room photography, fibers, ceramics, drawing and painting, and space for 3D sculpture based inquiry. Residents can attend workshops, audit classes, participate in critiques and studio visits from guest artists, and interact with a vibrant artist community. Additionally, residents have opportunities to work directly with members of the museum staff in various roles as they volunteer hours in our exhibitions, curatorial, and education departments to experience the inner workings of museum life. Lastly, all participants will be awarded a group exhibition in the museum the following year.
Who: This residency program is available to Junior & Seniors enrolled in local high schools. All high school residents must reside in the Greater South Bend area(within an hour drive to the museum) during the months of June, July, and early August. All high school residents must have a reliable form of transportation.
When:
The Summer High School Residency program runs from June to mid-August 2024. In exchange for participation in this program, all residents are required to volunteer a minimum of 5 hours per week at the South Bend Museum of Art. Volunteer hours/duties may vary. All residents are required to assist in various museum activities and events including our Art Beat youth activity area. Residents may continue to volunteer or participate in museum programming as they desire or are available throughout the academic year, but it is not a requirement of the program. High School residents will participate in an exhibition of their work at TBD date in 2025.
*NOT ALL APPLICANTS WILL BE ACCEPTED
For further program details/ instructions, please contact:
Kolt Lucius Sizer, Curator of Education
Application Deadline: Friday, MAY 10, 2024
All submissions are reviewed. If accepted, you will be notified via email or phone. Please make sure to include contact information. Please do not call or email to check the status of your submission.
Submissions should include:
•Contact Information
- Name
- Address
- Phone
- Email Address
•General Information
- High School You are currently enrolled at
- Year of standing
- GPA
•References
- 2 References including Names, Phone Numbers, and Email Addresses of academic/ professional references
- Please include a SIGNED letter of recommendation from one of these references
•Portfolio
- 5-7 images of your current work (PDF or .jpg format)
- Vimeo links of film/ animation/ kinetic/ performance or other time-based works will also be accepted
- Image list (.pdf format): Please include the title, year, media, and scale for each image, as well as a small thumbnail image or file number so we know which image the information refers to.
Release Waiver
- Signed release waiver from parent or guardian (if accepted)
Thank you for your interest in partnering with the South Bend Museum of Art to provide art, education, and awareness to our community! This form will allow us to plan out and accommodate the needs of our community as we build our calendars.
If you are interested in proposing tours, activities, community programming, or partnering with the museum on art education for a specific group, please fill out the form provided.
*This programming scheduling form is to be filled out by the undersigned to apply for programming at the South Bend Museum of Art. Upon the completion of the form, the South Bend Museum of Art’s education department will review and be in contact with all relevant parties. The undersigned agrees and understands that this form is used for developing scheduling with the museum and will be altered in collaboration with the South Bend Museum of Art and all interested parties to accommodate the needs of the community.
Thank you for your interest in partnering with the South Bend Museum of Art to provide art, education, and awareness to our community! This form will allow us to plan out and accommodate the needs of our community as we build our calendars.
If you are interested in proposing tours, activities, community programming, or partnering with the museum on art education for a specific group, please fill out the form provided.
*This programming scheduling form is to be filled out by the undersigned to apply for programming at the South Bend Museum of Art. Upon the completion of the form, the South Bend Museum of Art’s education department will review and be in contact with all relevant parties. The undersigned agrees and understands that this form is used for developing scheduling with the museum and will be altered in collaboration with the South Bend Museum of Art and all interested parties to accommodate the needs of the community.
Aloft South Bend & the SBMA are collaborating to provide more opportunities and visibility to our local art community! Aloft South Bend has graciously offered to display the work of SBMA students and instructors in the hotel lobby for the 2024 year. Students that are interested need to apply via southbendart.submittable.com.
*This is a juried, public, art exhibition. Aloft South Bend and the South Bend Museum of Art are not liable for any damage to self or artwork related to this opportunity.
Criteria and considerations for students and instructors:
- Fill out the application including uploading images of artwork
- Must have been a student in the last two sessions
- Work will be displayed for 6 months at a time. Work will be displayed mid-May to mid-November
- Liability waiver must be turned in when art is collected to be displayed.
- This is a juried art opportunity, not all work will be submitted