Building Culture
How do we honor our ancestral cultures? Who owns this narrative?
We invite you to participate in the creation of a new, collective story that celebrates the diverse voices of Northwest Arkansas.
Using The Medium's outdoor spaces, our project will create an interactive space for visitors to leave pieces of their own cultural roots.
Send us your photos!
FAQs
What kind of photos should I send?Portrait-style photos with high contrast would work best.
Close-up faces that aren’t professional portraits work just as well.
We can also use group photos and images of ancestral importance - think landscape, crafts, artworks, or architecture that relate to your/their story - as elements for collage.
Do my photos have to be scanned?No!
As long as you can send a high-resolution copy that isn’t blurry, a photo from your phone would work just fine. That includes taking a photo of a photo, just try to minimize glare and shadows.
Don’t know how to see if a photo is high-res?
Feel free to reach out and we can help!
Who should I send?Anyone you consider an ancestor. That could be chosen family, blood relatives, or friends - think loved ones who have passed, grandparents, great-grandparents, pets, community members, teachers. etc.
Just make sure you have the rights to use the image and give us permission to use them.
Does my family have to be from Arkansas?No!
You are the connection, and that is the story.
What if I don't have images of my ancestors?Objects are also part of the story, but may not be featured in the same way as portraits. Items like quilts, cookware, clothing, artwork, etc also tell the story of our lineage. All portraits will be edited to include collage elements in the finished artwork, so these can be paired with your ancestors if you send them together.
What if I don't like my ancestors?You can send images of chosen family, friends, community members, teachers, and pets who have passed.
But also consider how people have shaped your own story and culture, so they are welcome in the project if you wish to share.
How will you use the images?The examples are pretty close to how they will be displayed.
We ask that you explicitly give us the rights to use your images in this project, but we do not retain any kind of copyright or ownership of those images.
If you have cultural or personal notes on how your ancestors can be shown respectfully, please include those in your submission.
When is the exhibit?The installation will begin in June/July 2026 and end in September 2026. Exact dates will be available closer to then. Since the installation will be outdoors, it will be visible 24 hours a day at The Medium in Springdale, AR.
Ready to send something?
Still have questions? Contact us
This project is supported by the Creative Exchange Fund (CXF) at The Medium, a program that provides artists, creatives, and cultural organizers with funding and free space to experiment and take bold risks. Learn more at themedium.art/cxf.