A+CA Artist & Academic Membership Guid

Artist Membership is intended for artists, designers, and creators with relevant professional experience who wish to further participate in A+CA’s art, environmental, community, and public education programs.

Who It Is For

· Professional artists with substantial creative experience

· Professional designers

· Artists with exhibition experience

· Creators with public art project experience

· Professionals involved in cultural and artistic projects

· Creators with sustained professional practice in art, design, or related fields

Application References

Applicants will generally meet one or more of the following criteria:

· Participation in public exhibitions

· Participation in art projects or public art activities

· Educational background in art, design, or a related field

· Sustained creative practice

· An established individual artistic practice

· Relevant professional experience

Applicants may generally provide 1–2 professional recommendations.

Fellow Artist Membership is intended for artists with substantial professional experience, artistic achievement, or industry recognition who are willing to support A+CA’s art education, professional development, and public-interest programs.

Application References

· Long-term artistic practice

· Individual exhibitions or significant art projects

· Recognition by professional institutions or within the arts field

· International or cross-cultural artistic practice

· Contributions to art education, community art, or public art

· Positive engagement with environmental art, social responsibility, or sustainable artistic practice

· Ability and willingness to mentor emerging artists

Applicants will generally provide 2–3 professional recommendations.

Possible Contributions

Qualified Fellow Artists may be invited to:

· Serve as mentors for art and design programs

· Serve as project reviewers or judges

· Mentor emerging artists

· Participate in art education programs

· Participate in professional forums and lectures

· Share research, professional knowledge, and innovative practices

· Provide professional advice for A+CA programs

Specific responsibilities and project participation will be determined by A+CA according to the member’s professional background and the needs of each project.

Academic Membership is intended for scholars, researchers, educators, and professionals interested in art, culture, environmental, educational, and interdisciplinary research.

Who It Is For

· Art researchers

· Art educators

· Art history and cultural researchers

· Design researchers

· Environmental art researchers

· Interdisciplinary researchers

· Higher education and related education professionals

· Practitioners with relevant research capabilities

Application References

Applicants may meet one or more of the following criteria:

· Demonstrated ability to conduct original research or analysis of artworks

· Published research articles in art, culture, environmental studies, or related fields

· Participation in art education or academic research projects

· Relevant academic or professional educational background

· Professional recommendation

· Alignment with environmental protection, social responsibility, and A+CA’s mission

Possible Contributions

· Academic forums

· Art and environmental research

· Art education programs

· Interdisciplinary research

· Program and topic development

· Research presentations and knowledge sharing

· Student and youth art education

· Project review and professional consultation

Depending on membership category, professional background, and project needs, A+CA members may have access to the following opportunities.

1. Artistic & Professional Visibility

· Inclusion in the A+CA member directory

· Professional profile on the A+CA website

· Presentation of artworks or research

· Participation in A+CA exhibitions

· Participation in public art and community art projects

2. Professional Development

· Art forums and lectures

· Workshops and educational programs

· Sharing artistic and research work

· Access to relevant program and event information

· Professional collaboration opportunities

· Interdisciplinary exchange

3. Program Participation

· Environmental art projects

· Public art projects

· Community art projects

· Art education programs

· School partnership programs

· Art exhibitions

· Cultural exchange programs

· Interdisciplinary research projects

4. Professional Contribution

· Mentorship

· Judging or reviewing

· Project leadership

· Curriculum development

· Professional consultation

· Sharing professional knowledge and research

The above benefits and opportunities are not automatically available to every member. Participation depends on membership category, professional background, project requirements, and A+CA’s arrangements.

A+CA encourages members to participate in ways that fit their professional expertise, availability, and interests.

1. Volunteer Service

· Activity mentorship

· Exhibition assistance

· Community art activities

· School art education

· Public art projects

2. Knowledge Contribution

· Sharing environmental art practices

· Giving lectures

· Participating in forums

· Sharing research

· Providing professional exchange and consultation

3. Project Collaboration

· Environmental-themed exhibitions

· Community ecological art projects

· Public art projects

· School environmental art education

· Interdisciplinary art projects

4. Artwork Support

· Public-interest exhibitions

· Charitable sales

· Environmental art auctions

· Educational project presentations

Artwork support is voluntary, does not affect membership status, and is subject to separate agreements regarding copyright and attribution for each project.

Artist applicants are generally expected to submit portfolio materials.

A portfolio is recommended to include 10–15 representative works, with the following information where applicable:

· Title

· Date

· Medium and materials

· Dimensions

· Description

· Concept or artistic statement

· Project background, if applicable

A+CA encourages work in the following areas:

· Eco Art

· Environmental Art

· Land Art

· Community Art

· Sustainable Design

· Upcycled Art

· Socially Engaged Art

Important: An applicant’s portfolio does not need to consist entirely of environmental-themed work. A+CA places greater emphasis on artistic quality, innovation, professional practice, and alignment with the organization’s mission.

Applicants should submit materials appropriate to the membership category for which they are applying.

1. Membership application form

2. Biography

3. Artist Statement or Professional Statement

4. Portfolio or research materials

5. Relevant educational and professional experience

6. Exhibition, project, or publication record, if applicable

7. Professional recommendations, as required by the membership category

8. A brief statement describing the applicant’s expectations, goals, or plans as an A+CA member

A+CA may request additional materials depending on the membership category.

Step 1: Application Submission

Applicants submit the membership application and supporting materials.

Step 2: Initial Review

The Membership Committee conducts an initial review of the submitted materials.

Step 3: Comprehensive Evaluation

Applications are evaluated based on:

· Artistic or professional ability

· Innovation

· Professional experience

· Academic or research ability

· Environmental values

· Sense of social responsibility

· Willingness to participate in A+CA programs

Step 4: Membership Confirmation

Upon approval, the applicant completes the applicable membership procedures and confirms acceptance of A+CA membership rules.

Step 5: Membership Begins

After completion of the applicable procedures, the applicant becomes an official A+CA member.

A+CA may use the following framework as a general reference for membership review:

Evaluation Area Reference Weight

Artistic / Professional Quality 30%

Innovation 20%

Alignment with Environmental & Organizational Values 25%

Social Impact 15%

Willingness to Participate 10%

Total 100%

These percentages are intended as an internal reference for the Membership Committee. Specific evaluation standards may be adjusted according to membership category and applicant background.

A+CA believes that art can address not only artistic creation itself, but also the environmental and social impact of artistic practice.

Environmental Responsibility

· Climate action

· Biodiversity protection

· Resource reuse and circularity

· Sustainable development

· Sustainable living

Artistic Responsibility

· Using art to raise public environmental awareness

· Exploring connections between art and ecological issues

· Supporting participatory community art

· Respecting the natural environment

· Respecting cultural diversity

Subject to A+CA policies and the requirements of the applicable membership category, members may:

· Participate in member activities

· Receive member-related information

· Apply to participate in A+CA exhibitions, forums, and art projects

· Apply or be invited to serve as mentors, judges, or project leaders

· Exercise applicable membership rights under relevant policies

· Use their official A+CA membership status in professional introductions

· Access collaboration and development opportunities applicable to their membership category

Members may not represent A+CA externally or make organizational, commercial, legal, or financial commitments on behalf of A+CA without authorization.

Members shall:

1. Comply with A+CA’s bylaws and applicable policies.

2. Respect the intellectual property and original work of others.

3. Respect people from different cultural backgrounds and community members.

4. Provide accurate application and personal information.

5. Protect A+CA’s professional image and public-interest reputation.

6. Follow activity and safety requirements.

7. Comply with applicable laws and regulations.

8. Participate in A+CA public-interest and educational programs voluntarily according to their circumstances.

A+CA encourages active participation but does not require members to participate in every organizational activity.

Members shall disclose any personal, professional, or financial interest that could affect fair and impartial judgment in an A+CA project.

This applies particularly to:

· Artwork judging

· Project selection

· Project funding

· Procurement

· Selection of partners

· Other matters that may create a conflict of interest

Members involved in a conflict shall recuse themselves from the relevant decision-making process in accordance with A+CA policies.

A+CA is committed to maintaining an open, fair, and transparent membership system.

A+CA respects the independent creative rights and professional development of every artist.

Membership does NOT require:

· Artists to create environmental-themed work

· Members to donate artwork

· Members to participate in every organizational activity

· Members to change their artistic style or creative direction

A+CA seeks to provide artists, designers, educators, and researchers from different fields with opportunities for exchange, collaboration, and participation in public-interest programs.

Members may participate in A+CA in ways that fit their professional abilities and personal circumstances.

Members may support A+CA through:

1. Payment of annual membership fees

2. Volunteer service

3. Sharing professional knowledge

4. Participation in public-interest art projects

5. Voluntary project support

Membership support is not limited to a single form. A+CA encourages members to contribute according to their abilities, professional strengths, and availability.

Membership fees are used to support organizational operations, environmental art programs, public education, and community cultural activities, and are managed in accordance with the organization’s internal financial policies.

Q1: Can I apply if I am not an environmental artist?

Yes. A+CA welcomes creators from different artistic disciplines. Membership does not require applicants to create environmental-themed work. We focus more on whether applicants support A+CA’s mission and are willing to engage with environmental, community, and social responsibility issues.

Q2: Do I have to donate artwork?

No. Artwork donations or project artwork support are entirely voluntary and are not conditions of applying for or maintaining membership.

Q3: Do all members have to participate in activities?

No. A+CA encourages members to participate actively, while respecting each member’s schedule, career development, and personal creative practice.

Q4: Can students apply?

Yes. Qualified art and design students may apply for an appropriate membership category based on their educational background, portfolio, and professional development.

Q5: Can art educators apply?

Yes. Art educators, art researchers, design educators, and related professionals may apply for an appropriate membership category based on their professional background.

Q6: What are membership fees used for?

Membership fees support A+CA’s organizational operations, environmental art programs, public education, and community cultural activities and are managed in accordance with the organization’s internal financial policies.

A+CA seeks to build a professional public-interest platform connecting art, nature, community, and the future with artists, scholars, educators, designers, and creative professionals.

We believe:

Art can change the way we see the world,
and it can also change the relationship between people, nature, and community.