Launching May 1, 2026, Art at the Time Like This presents its open call for Take On Action, a public art project and virtual exhibition inviting artists to propose one action everyday people can take to protect democracy. Responding to civic and environmental crises–including threats to civil liberties and global human rights—this project asks how art can move beyond reflection and towards participation. What does it mean to act, collectively, in a time like this?

Selected works by two artists will be wheat-pasted across the city from September–October 2026, each presenting step-by-step actions for public engagement.  Others will be chosen for a virtual exhibition that will serve as an everlasting repository of hope, serving as an antidote to fear and helplessness. The open call runs through August 30, allowing enough time to address the U.S. midterm election cycle.  This positions artistic practice as a space to think through political systems and imagine more equitable futures grounded in dignity, agency, and collective care. 

The open call is juried by ATLT co-founders Anne Verhallen and Barbara Pollack, alongside its assistant curator Shameekia Shantel Johnson. The artists selected for the public art component will receive a $1,000 honorarium. Please refer to the application form for more information.