Critical Mass for the Visual Arts

Critical Mass was established in 1995 by a group of artists and administrators determined to create new opportunities that would attract and retain artists who study at St. Louis-area universities to work and live in our community after they graduate. Past programs have included Passport to Contemporary Art (a region-wide effort to celebrate contemporary visual art in the region), One Night Stand exhibitions, and Three-Day Weekend curated by Dave Mueller.

Critical Mass has also hosted a series of workshops in different areas of St. Louis to consider public art planning and programming. Imagine Art Here workshops were designed to spark a lively debate about art as a visible, street-level enhancement, by identifying public spaces where art could be located and opportunities where artists could be utilized to tackle design challenges created by distinct, site-specific characteristics. Artists, designers, architects, residents, business owners, and interested citizens in Downtown St. Louis, Grand Center, South Grand, Forest Park Southeast and the Central West End have contributed their time and creativity to these programs. The resulting reports have served as a tool for these communities to begin to fundraise for and implement the recommended public art projects.

Today, Critical Mass engages with the community through the Creative Stimulus Project, which awards deserving St. Louis-area artists with unrestricted operating capital; the 5 Questions podcast, in which we ask 5 questions of our interviewees aimed at positioning and contextualizing their respective bodies of work within the St. Louis art world; Public Works Project, which invites artists from the St. Louis metropolitan area to submit an idea or concept that they would like to explore though a temporary, public work of art; and Critical Conversations, which seeks to strengthen vital connections between individuals, institutions, spaces and creative communities, and to set the stage for profound criticism and discussion on a wide range of topics.

Featured Program: Creative Stimulus Awards
Each year, Critical Mass for the Visual Arts issues an open call to all artists living and working in the St. Louis area. A jury made up of local artists, curators, and arts professionals review the artists' submittals. The award serves to highlight and recognize the artists' work and their commitment to developing their career. This year, the 12th annual Creative Stimulus Awards are presented to José Garza, Simiya Sudduth, and Chloe West. Each artist will receive an award of $1,500 for their use as creative operating capital, and will also be featured in a group exhibition curated by Yvonne Osei.