Submit Your Design for a New Brooklyn Public Library Card Celebrating Black Culture

A new limited-edition library card will be launching in celebration of Juneteenth 2021 and artists are being encouraged to submit their designs this month.

The new Brooklyn Public Library card, the first in a planned ‘Celebrating Heritage’ series, will celebrate Black American culture and history. Artists must submit their proposed design along with an artist statement and entry form by January 31. While all artists age 13 and up are eligible, there will be a preference given to artists with a connection to Brooklyn. There’s no limit on the chosen medium but all artwork has to be submitted digitally and it has to work within the size confines of a regular library card and a key fob card.

A panel of BPL staff and community stakeholders will narrow the submissions down to a group of finalists and ultimately a winning design. The artist behind the selected design will receive a $2,000 stipend and the work of all the finalists may be put up as an exhibition.

The idea behind the project was first proposed as a way to raise awareness for the African American Heritage Center at Macon Library and the new card will be launched there this summer. Patrons will then be able to acquire a card at any Brooklyn branch that issues library cards.

Full details on how to submit an entry can be found online at the Brooklyn Public Library.

Related Stories

• Pioneering Journalist Ida B. Wells Honored With Pulitzer Prize Citation
• The Inspiring Story of Weeksville, One of America’s First Free Black Communities
• Black Folks in 19th Century Brooklyn

Sign up for amNY’s COVID-19 newsletter to stay up to date on the latest coronavirus news throughout New York City. Email tips@brownstoner.com with further comments, questions or tips. Follow Brownstoner on Twitter and Instagram, and like us on Facebook.