CALL FOR ARTISTS FROM THE SALVATION ARMY OF NORTH TEXAS
Dallas Social Service Campus
21 Acre campus with five new multi-story buildings under construction
8625 N. Stemmons Freeway -To Open early 2027
The Dallas Salvation Army of North Texas is the largest Salvation Army in the nation and by far the largest provider of social services in Dallas. They currently serve 80,000 people experiencing poverty, homelessness, or addiction each year.
Last month, the organization broke ground on a new $200+ million dollar, 21-acre campus at 8625 N. Stemmons Freeway. The campus will include 5 multi-story buildings and landscaped open areas. It will include an emergency shelter, inpatient and outpatient addiction recovery programs, shelter for survivors of domestic violence and sex trafficking, housing for veterans and family services including on-site child care, and integrated medical, dental, and behavioral health clinic. The new campus is expected to open in early 2027. The new campus is called The Dallas Social Service Campus (DSSC).
From the start, the Board and designers for this facility have had a commitment to including art into the campus. They know that the arts uplifts the soul and they want the residents and visitors to have some beauty in their surroundings, and they were committed to using best practices at intersections of art and health, congruent with the TSA’s values and campus design. A decision was to limit the art to work by North Texas artists.
The Salvation Army is a Christian organization and the beautiful Chapel is the center structure on the campus, however, all religions are honored and no one is required to attend religious services. It is important to note that art which highlights harmony, diversity, and spirituality is valued.
Images of nature, regional cityscapes, music, color, movement, soothing regional outdoor landscapes, friendly animals, happy children, people helping one another - this kind of art rather than blank institutional walls has been proven to lower stress, physical pain and aggression. Images that are dark in mood, violent, depict nudity won't be included.
A small group of art professionals and funders have been appointed by the Board of the Salvation Army as the DSSC Art Committee. The committee is currently looking for overall ideas, images that might suggest themes or visual inspirations that are consistent with improving mental, physical, and spiritual wellbeing. The purpose for the initial round of selections is to identify approximately 30 artworks to use in key spaces like lobbies, lounges, or entranceways. Thematic elements may be drawn from these key images to be displayed in adjacent rooms or corridors.
This committee is looking for these initial images from a curated lists of local artists who specialize in two dimensional art - drawings, graphics, photographs, paintings, prints will be considered. All members of the Dallas Camera Club have been included as photographer artists.
This is a “call-for-artists”. Each individual artist will be allowed to submit five images for the initial review by the DSSC Art Committee. They will select art that they want to investigate and they will contact individuals to discuss the next steps.
This project is NOT a project for the Dallas Camera Club as a group, but it is a singular opportunity for individual photographers from this group to submit five images from their own portfolio which can be reviewed by the committee and if selected, the individual photographer can get the specific requirements and develop their image (s) to meet those parameters.
The request notice and link to the submission form is from the DSSC Art Committee:
Dear Artists,
Thank you so much for your partnership to integrate art within the Dallas Social Service Campus that broke ground just a few weeks ago.
We not only believe that art elevates the spirit but also know that looking at art can lower anxiety and stress: two factors that accompany and maintain poverty, abuse and addiction. In this setting, your work will have lasting value.
Following is how your work could be used:
For almost all two-dimensional images, your original artwork will be digitally printed on heavy vinyl and applied to the walls. There may be some cases where original paintings, textiles and so on are installed, but that remains to be decided.
At this juncture, we not asking for your original artwork, but for permission to use digitized images of it. We also ask your permission to replace any vinyl that is damaged in the future with the same image. The copyright will remain with you.
Additionally, we they ask for permission to use details of your work to carry the visual tone you have set through to other areas. For example, if your work is placed in a key area (a lobby), we might use details or elements in an adjacent corridor to create visual unity
We will properly credit you and your work if we feature it in promotional materials such as brochures, newspaper articles, and press releases.
In return, we are able to offer a $500 honorarium for each selected artwork. Additionally, if you do not have a digital image (300 dpi) of the selected artwork(s), we will arrange for photography at our expense.
We will integrate a label into the printed vinyl with your name, title of the work, and gallery affiliation or website as desired.
We not only believe that art elevates spirit but also know that looking at art can lower anxiety and stress: two factors that accompany and maintain poverty, abuse and addiction. In this setting, your work will have lasting value.
Please submit your five images to us by July 29, 2025! Here is the link: https://near.tl/art-form
Submissions
Please note that we are open to further discussion about ideas that you might have, and that we may also ask for additional images. All submissions will be evaluated to match specific areas through the summer, and we will be back to you by fall, 2025.