Arts Access North Carolina and TLC (Founded as the Tammy Lynn Center) invites artists with disabilities in North Carolina to submit work for purchase and permanent display in the newly constructed Austin Collard Residence and Community Center at TLC, a long-term care home for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD). For over 55 years, TLC has been a nonprofit leader in compassionate, community-based support — serving children, adults, and families through programs rooted in dignity, connection, and care.
This new space will serve as both a residence and community hub. We’re seeking artwork that reflects what home means at TLC: a feeling of warmth, care, and belonging. We invite artists to help shape a space that will comfort, inspire, and uplift the individuals who call this place home.
About TLC
TLC is a nonprofit leader in delivering compassionate, long-term support to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD). For more than 55 years, TLC has empowered individuals of all abilities to live their fullest life, serving children, adults, and families through on-site and community-based programs: educational services, respite care, early childhood intervention, community living support, and residential living. TLC now supports more than 1,378 individuals with I/DD and their families annually and serves as a model for whole-person care across North Carolina.
TLC provides personalized care with dignity, warmth, and joy. TLC’s homes on its campus were originally built many years ago to care for medically fragile children. Many decades later, with quality medical and therapeutic care, education, and the ability to be an active part of their community, those children have grown into adulthood and are thriving. They are living full lives well beyond the prognosis many of their parents were given upon their birth. Today, our homes care for both older teenagers and adults for a lifetime. Several residents have lived with TLC for over 40 years!
Theme: “Home” at TLC
At TLC, home is more than a place — it’s a lived experience of safety, nurture, and community. We’re drawn to artwork that captures any of the following dimensions of “home”:
Emotional Connection & Belonging
Home, Belonging, Cozy, Embrace, Nurture, Togetherness, Welcome, Rooted, Grounded, Harmony, Warmth
Safety & Care
Comfort, Safe, Shelter, Haven, Rest, Respite, Peace, Sanctuary, Steady
Community & Gathering
Gather, Hearth, Settle, Nest, Simplicity
Sustainability & Responsibility
Sustainable — or even sustain-ABLE — in honor of TLC’s mission to empower people of all abilities. Flourish, Nourish, Reclaimed, Conscious, Mindful, Natural, Earth-first, Circular, Regenerative
Location
Selected works will be displayed throughout the new Austin Collard Residence and Community Center, including:
- Community gathering areas
- Hallways
- Residential lounges and shared spaces
Eligibility
This exhibition is open to North Carolina artists who identify as having a disability and are at least 18 years of age. Works from established, emerging and aspiring artists are welcomed.
All entries must be original works of art and ready to hang. Artists may submit up to 3 works for consideration. All work will be juried with the submitted digital image of the artwork.
Up to 20 artists’ work will be selected and purchased by TLC.
Submission Guidelines
- Media: Painting, photography, mixed media, fiber art, sculpture, or other 2D and relief works. All submitted work must be able to be wall mounted.
- Ready to install: All selected works must be framed or otherwise installation-ready
- Durability: Art must be appropriate for public-facing, high-traffic residential settings
- Size: The preferred artwork size ranges and the number of pieces we are seeking in each category are listed below. Exact dimensions are not required, but submitted works should fall within the general range for one of the listed size categories.
| Size Category | Dimensions | Quantity |
| Small | 8” by 10” | 2 |
| 11” by 14” | 3 | |
| Medium | 16” by 20” | 3 |
| 18” by 24” | 7 | |
| Large | 24” by 36” | 3 |
| 30” by 40” | 2 |
General Artwork Guidelines
TLC caters to families and people of all ages. Items to be excluded include, but are not limited to nudity, obscene language, or messages that may be offensive to certain groups of people.
Please refrain from submitting artwork with religious content or symbols. Religious symbols are defined as images, symbols and depictions of any kind that promote or imply a particular religious group or world religion.
The TLC and Arts Access NC staff will decide if artwork does not adhere to the policy.
All submitted work is subject to review. Submission of your entry constitutes your agreement with all the terms of this Call for Art.
Submission of your entry acknowledges the right of the TLC to use purchased artwork for marketing purposes. The TLC reserves the right to decline a submission for any reason or to remove a selected work for any reason.
Questions? Need help with your submission? Need support addressing any barriers to submitting your work? Contact Makayla@artsaccessinc.org
Sales
TLC will purchase up to 20 selected artworks for the Austin Collard Residence and Community Center at TLC. Artwork will be purchased at marketplace value, please price accordingly. All sales will be managed by TLC.
How to Submit
Please complete the form with the following materials by July 13, 2025.
Submission Materials:
- Artist contact information
- Artist bio
- Artist statement
- Brief description of how your work relates to the theme of “home“
- Visual description of artwork
- Image of artwork
- Title, size, medium, and price of artwork
- Website or online portfolio link (Optional)
Please label files clearly: LastName_Title.jpg
Timeline
- Submission Deadline: July 13, 2025
- Notification of Selection: Week of July 21, 2025
- Artwork Drop off & Installation: Week of July 28, 2025
Artists bear responsibility for delivering their artwork to the TLC during the time period stated above. TLC is located in Raleigh, NC.
For assistance or accessibility accommodations, contact:
Makayla Haag: Makayla@artsaccessinc.org