Oberlin Center for the Arts
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Postcards

Big heartfelt messages in small packages.

Oberlin Center for the Arts is collecting digital works from a community of artists and delivering them, virtually, to older adults throughout our community - and specifically, those most vulnerable who reside in medical and care facilities. We need your creativity now more than ever! And it's really quite simple...

Step 1: Create

Make a short video that includes your artistic performance, including a message to a recipient. If you've got something pre-recorded - great! On to step two!

Step 2: Submit

Fill out the Postcard submission form below.

Step 3: Deliver

Oberlin Center for the Arts receives, reviews, and delivers your Postcard to our showcase.

 If you have any questions or need additional information, please see the information below.


Postcards Submission Form


Additional Information about Postcards

What arts forms are you looking for?

Oberlin Center for the Arts is seeking contributions in music, dance, film, visual art, animation, comedy, short stories, spoken word, poetry and any other form of performance that would brighten someone’s day. 

Do I need to be a professional artist?

Absolutely not! Postcards are meant to be informal, homemade works and opportunities for anyone to create - from children to older adults.

What do you mean by “short” videos?

Ideally, Postcards are short-form works of art, around 5 minutes or less. 

What should I say in my Postcard?

We suggest that you share a personal message as if you are speaking to an older adult who is faced with isolation either from living independently or being in residence in a facility required to lock down due to health guidance. If you have a title for your work or information you would like to share about it, be sure to include this in your Postcard too. 

How do I make a good video?

A great Postcard could be made simply by using your mobile phone or digital camera, with just a few simple tips; 

  • Select a good location to perform: find a quiet space with good lighting

  • Plan your performance: write a few guiding notes and rehearse

  • Make a sample: try recording to make sure your equipment works and your performance is captured well

What file formats do you accept?

If you are uploading a file, we prefer .mp4 format.

Can I send a Postcard to a specific person?

Due to a high volume of submissions, Oberlin Center for the Arts requests that the contributing artist maintain responsibility for delivering their Postcard to any individual. 

What happens after I submit my Postcard?

All Postcards will be reviewed by Oberlin Center for the Arts and once approved will be posted on our website for delivery. Oberlin Center for the Arts will be including Postcards in interACTS episodes which will be distributed to partnering institutions.  

Are there any restrictions on what I can submit?

Original works are welcome and public domain works are preferred. Oberlin Center for the Arts will not publish any content that the organization has determined to discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, orientation, identity, disability or  age. 

How do I avoid copyright infringement or trademark violations?

  • Only perform works composed before 1924

  • Obtain a license to perform works composed after 1924

  • Don’t submit art that copies an existing work, unless the existing work was created before 1924  Don’t submit art or footage that has images of real people unless you have their permission in writing

  • Omit logos, characters, anything that is brand-specific from your video 

Tell me more about my release of information. 

By uploading your video to Oberlin Center for the Arts’ interActs project, you give OCA an unrestricted license and permission to copy, use, alter and distribute the video, in part or in whole, in any way that OCA sees fit.  All of OCA’s activities further its mission and purpose, which are; 

Mission: Connecting the arts and community

Charitable Purposes: Oberlin Center for the Arts is a not-for-profit corporation established under the laws of the state of Ohio. The purpose for which the Corporation is formed is to cultivate lifelong creativity and advocate for broad community engagement in quality arts programming and activities and to support this mission by undertaking some or all of the following:

  • Creating a secure and sustainable connection between community arts organizations, Oberlin College, and the wider community, including the city of Oberlin, Lorain County, and beyond.

  • Fostering artistic, educational, and performance–based opportunities in mission–relatedd program areas that include, but are not limited to the following: dance, film, music, theatre, and visual art.

  • Delivering innovative programming that fosters rich, artistic experiences that offer people of all ages and backgrounds diverse opportunities to explore and grow.

  • Serving as the nexus for arts educators to convene, share ideas, and access professional development opportunities and accreditation.

By providing a release, you are telling Oberlin Center for the Arts that you have the right and power to grant Oberlin Center for the Arts all of these rights in the video, including all individual parts of the video, like sound, images, performances, spoken words, videography, choreography and any other parts that could possibly be owned by others.  If you are using any music, images or other content created by others, please send Oberlin Center for the Arts the details of your license/permission to do so.  If Oberlin Center for the Arts has any questions about your video, someone will contact you.  If Oberlin Center for the Arts can’t be sure that it has rights to all of the intellectual property included in the video, then we won’t be able to publish your video.

I still have more questions. Who can I contact?

Please contact us here.