QNF Open Call

The Queer Narratives Festival (QNF) is a stage, a gallery, and a meeting ground for artists who challenge, celebrate, and redefine queer storytelling. We invite visual and performing artists to be part of an eight-week festival that amplifies diverse creative voices through exhibitions, performances, and community engagement.

What QNF Offers:

• Performance Opportunities – Set the stage with a 10–25 minute set for music, comedy, drag, DJing, or other live performance disciplines.

• Visual Arts Exhibition – Display your work in an eight-week gallery show at Zhou B Art Center KC, with opportunities to sell artwork.

• Artist Compensation – $300 for individual performers, $500 for bands, and a $100* for visual artists.

• Exposure & Networking – Connect with curators, fellow artists, and arts organizations. Many QNF performers have gone on to appear in Boulevardia, Pride, and other major festivals.

• Recognition – Featured artists are showcased on the QNF website and may receive media coverage.

• Professional Development – Lead workshops, gain festival experience, and perform for an engaged, dedicated audience.

*Zhou B Art Center manages all artwork sales and retains a 40% commission on sold pieces.

QNF Visual Art Exhibit 2025: Past Futures

June 6 – August 31, 2025
Zhou Brothers Art Center | Kansas City, MO

The Queer Narratives Festival hosts a visual art exhibition each year, and this year’s theme is: Past Futures.

Queer identity is shaped by history—echoing across generations through personal discovery, community-building, and cultural shifts. Past Futures invites artists to explore the cyclical nature of queer existence, where memory, resilience, and transformation continually redefine our path forward.

Through visual and performance art, we ask:

• What lessons do we carry from the past?

• What histories do we reclaim?

• How does our past guide the future we create?

This open call seeks works that examine repetition, evolution, and the ways queerness exists within time, tradition, and change.

Key Dates:

Opening Reception: June 13, 2025
Festival Dates: August 1 & 2, 2025
Exhibition Duration: June 13 – August 31, 2025
Call for Submissions Closes: May 4, 2025 (Midnight)

Submission Details:

Artists may submit up to 10 images along with a statement on how their work connects to the theme. We welcome all mediums, including painting, sculpture, photography, fiber art, digital media, video, ceramics, and performance.

Need More Info?
Join our Virtual Info Session on April 9, 2025, at 6 PM to learn more!

Form more assitance:

• Visual Art Submissions: gallery@nodividekc.org

• Performance Art Submissions: waleska@nodividekc.org