open call for submissions
may 29th - july 31st
liberté - international neurodivergent art and poetry contest
Liberté is a neurodivergent art and poetry contest held annually in Santiago de Chile and organized by ArtLabbé. This year ArtLabbé is opening its first Liberté contests in Coral Gables, FL and Santa Barbara, CA. Accepted artwork includes paintings, drawings, sketches, and collages. Other mediums such as photography and sculpture are not accepted. Registration is free. All submissions will be exhibited at the Coral Gables ArtLabbé gallery and a jury of community leaders will choose the winning three artists and three poets who will each receive a cash prize of $250.
2025 theme
"The Centennial Project"
Our Architecture...
This year marks the 100th anniversary of Coral Gables! In order to celebrate the city’s history and heritage, this years’ contest theme will center around the architecture of Coral Gables. Through the expression of its architecture, the artist may capture in a visual work of art or poetry the essence, pulse, and unique identity that makes Coral Gables what it is today.
Rules and Information
Download as a PDF
overview
Liberté is a neurodivergent art and poetry contest held annually in Santiago de Chile and organized by ArtLabbé. This year ArtLabbé is opening its first Liberté contests in Coral Gables, FL and Santa Barbara, CA. Accepted artwork includes paintings, drawings, sketches, and collages. Other mediums such as photography and sculpture are not accepted. Registration is free. All submissions will be exhibited at the Coral Gables ArtLabbé gallery and a jury of community leaders will choose the winning three artists and three poets who will each receive a cash prize of $250.
OUR MISSION
For those with cognitive and developmental disabilities, self expression can be one of the biggest challenges of life. We named our contest “Liberté,” a french word meaning “freedom,” because art, in all its forms, offers an amazing freedom to express our deepest wants, desires, hopes and dreams that are often inexpressible otherwise. It is the language of the spirit and the tongue of the unspoken word.
“In its essence, art is the profound expression of the spiritual side of humankind,” says Néstor J. Soto Godoy, cofounder of ArtLabbé and honorary doctorate in Theology and Philosophy. Through projects such as Liberté, we hope to further greater social inclusion of neurodivergent artists for all ages and nationalities.
PARTICIPANTS
Anyone with a degree of cognitive impairment can participate, regardless of their diagnosis or age. Residence in Florida is required. Participants may submit up to one artwork and one poetry submission. Collective works done by multiple artists will not be accepted. Participants under the age of 18 must have a legal guardian apply on their behalf.
IMPORTANT DATES FOR CORAL GABLES
Applications open
Submissions received
Submissions exhibited
Jury deliberation
Award Ceremony
May 29th - July 31st
July 31st - October 30th
November 20th - December 5th
November 20th
November 22nd
CATEGORIES
Art:
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Under 18 years of age
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Between 18 and 65 years of age
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Over 65 years of age
Poetry:
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Under 18 years of age
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Between 18 and 65 years of age
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Over 65 years of age
THEME FOR 2025: “The Centennial Project, our architecture…”
This year marks the 100th anniversary of Coral Gables! In order to celebrate the city’s history and heritage, this years’ contest theme will center around the architecture of Coral Gables. Through the expression of its architecture, the artist may capture in a visual work of art or poetry the essence, pulse, and unique identity that makes Coral Gables what it is today.
For additional inspiration, photos of the architecture of Coral Gables can be found at this link.
TYPOLOGY AND REQUIREMENTS OF WORKS
Visual artworks:
Accepted mediums include acrylic, oil, mixed media, watercolor, oil and dry pastels (properly sealed), collages, drawings, and sketches. Works of photography and sculptures will not be accepted. Works must not exceed 16 inches by 22 inches. No works created with the help of AI will be accepted.
Poetry:
Any form of written poetry will be accepted. Poems must be between 50 and 250 words and can be submitted in either English or Spanish. No poems created with the help of AI will be accepted.
DELIVERY INSTRUCTIONS
Artwork submissions must include the participant’s full name and age on the back of the artwork. Artwork will be received between July 31st - October 30th and is to be mailed or dropped off at:
Coral Gables Economic Development building
2506 Ponce de Leon, Coral Gables, FL 33134
Poems may be submitted in a copyable text format or, if handwritten, as a photo or color scan. Submissions must be emailed to: coralgables@artlabbe.org
EXHIBITION OF WORKS
All artworks and poems regardless of having received a prize will be exhibited in the ArtLabbé Coral Gables gallery from November 20th to December 5th.
THE JURY AND SELECTION OF WINNERS
Jury members will consist of community artists and leaders. Members will be revealed on our website one month before the deliberation. The winners will be notified via email between November 20th - 21st.
AWARD CEREMONY
An award ceremony will take place on November 22nd in which all the winners will be presented with their prizes and a certificate. Honorable mentions for each category will also be named. In addition, each artist regardless of having received a prize will receive a certificate of congratulations for having participated in Liberté.
Register