Description

Description We are living in an era of uncertainty, where identity and belonging are constantly negotiated. For many who come to study or work abroad, the decision to “stay” is not just a choice—it is a struggle against systemic barriers, isolation, and invisible weight. Instead of clear paths, life becomes an ongoing process of adaptation, resilience, and redefinition. This exhibition seeks to make visible what often remains hidden: the cost, the courage, and the fragile hope behind staying. “The Ones Who Stayed” is a collective exploration of endurance and transformation. Through immersive rooms, personal objects, and stories, the exhibition creates a living archive—a space where narratives of struggle and perseverance intersect, inviting audiences to witness and reflect. We welcome submissions in different mediums: artworks, personal objects filled with feeling, or individual stories, poems—that respond to the experience of staying: visa struggles, quiet acts of survival, and the small narratives hidden in everyday life—stories told through objects or traces that carry memory. Your contribution will help build a shared landscape of memory and possibility. Eligibility: Open to all Visual Artists in different mediums. Accepted Artwork: We welcome small-scale works (no larger than 20 × 20 × 20 cm), including sculptures, images, paintings, and text-based installations. These pieces will be integrated into the immersive exhibition space as “emotional touchpoints” and “narrative objects”, creating subtle connections with viewers across storylines. Size Limit: Each piece must not exceed 20 × 20 × 20 cm.   Submission fee: $35 (The submission fee is collected by the curatorial team at A Space Gallery to cover curatorial and installation costs. The initiating organization, Tomorrow Lab, does not receive any portion of this fee.) Application Deadline: August 15, 2025 Exhibition Date: September 5, 2025 - September 7, 2025 Location: Memor Museum, 1130 Madison Ave, New York, NY 10028 ​ How to apply All mediums accepted. APPLY TODAY Application Deadline 08/15/2025 Application Fee $35.00