WHOSA
2025

Mental health is deeply shaped by culture, migration, history, and lived realities. This exhibition, "Shaping the Face of Global Mental Health," amplifies diverse voices from Indigenous cultures,  the Global South, and Global North artists with immigrant backgrounds to explore how mental well-being is experienced, challenged, and nurtured across cultures.

From traditional healing practices to modern interventions, from ancestral wisdom to technological innovations, we invite artists to reimagine mental health through storytelling, immersive experiences, and artistic expression.

We welcome all artists. Artists working in the following media are encouraged to apply:

Visual Arts – painting, sculpture, photography, mixed media
Film & Animation – short films, experimental cinema
Performance & Interactive Art – live art, participatory experiences
Sound & Music Installation – sonic explorations of mental well-being
Gaming, VR & AI – interactive storytelling, immersive digital environments

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Artists MUST be 18 or older

Artists are encouraged to explore one or more of the following:

• Cultural Perspectives on Mental Health – How do different societies understand and approach mental well-being?

• Resilience, Healing & Migration – The mental health impact of displacement, diasporic identity, and generational trauma.

• Breaking the Silence – Challenging stigma, personal narratives, and untold mental health stories.

• The current impact of Deportation on Children and families on Mental Health.

• The Future of Mental Health – The role of AI, VR, and digital storytelling in therapy and awareness.

Submit your application by July 1st. 2025

1. Work must be for sale

2. Artist Statement (Max 250 words) – Describe your work and its connection to the theme.

3. Portfolio (3-5 Works) – High-resolution images, video links, or project documentation needs to be submitted for acceptance. The work can not be different from the original submission. 

4. Bio & CV (Max 2 pages) – Include relevant exhibitions, residencies, and projects

5. Images for the juror must correspond with the actual work.

6. All entries must be original and completed solely by the artist’s hand. A maximum of 5 original works created within the past 3 years may be entered.

7. There is a $50 fee to participate in WHOSA™ and the fee is non-refundable. The registration fee is processed through a secure payment system using Visa or MasterCard. The fee covers up to three (5) entries per WHOSA™ Artist of any combination of media.

1. ​Maximum size of work, including edges of artwork or frame, cannot exceed 48″ in any direction.

2. For installations, the Artist will need to provide display instructions and/or assist in the setup.

3. For video work, the Artist will need to provide a viewable link to the video

1. The artistic work submitted by each artist is selected based on the following criteria:

2. event's theme, vision, creativity, originality, and impact.

3. Technical Execution: Technique, skill, degree of difficulty, mastery of materials

WHOSA ™ is dedicated to the promotion, creation, appreciation, and exhibition of creative works of art of different genres and mediums, including fine arts and visual arts

1. Partnering Galleries receive  30% of the sales price of each piece. The artist receives 70% of the sale price. 

All work will be handled with all possible care, but pieces submitted for exhibition are at the artist’s risk. In the event of damage or theft, the WHOSA™ will not be held liable. If insurance is desired, the artist must carry it.

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All shipping will be at the artist's expense.