Shared Light Rules

Timeline

  • The Shared Light series will run from August 8 to October 1, 2025.
  • Nominations, discussions, and public sharing will all take place during this period.
  • Recognized works will be announced shortly after the close of the series.

Who Can Participate

Anyone is welcome — whether you’re an artist, admirer, neighbor, or community member. You can nominate artwork, join a salon conversation, or both.

What You Can Nominate

  • You may nominate up to three works of art.
  • Art can be visual, musical, written, or performed—but must be viewable online.
  • Each piece should reflect something that helped you feel less alone, more connected, or more seen.
  • You do not need to be the artist to nominate.
  • Artists are encouraged to submit their own work.

How to Nominate Artwork

  • Create a free account at WithCommunity
  • Fill out the nomination form for each piece.
  • Share a few sentences about why the piece moved you.
  • Once submitted, you’ll receive an email with:
    • A link to your nomination’s public entry page
    • Prompts and suggestions for how to start discussion around the artwork
  • You are encouraged (but not required) to share your nomination on social media using #SharedLight and #CommunityHealsUs.

How to Join a Salon Discussion

  • Anyone may request to join a small-group Zoom salon.
  • To participate, you must complete all three forms:
    • Participant Interest Form
    • Meeting Preferences Form
    • Contact Info Form
  • Our community organizing team curates each salon group, matching participants based on shared interests, availability, and conversational fit.
  • Once a group is curated, we notify participants by email and coordinate timing using a schedule voting tool.
  • Salons are welcoming spaces for open dialogue—not performances or debates.
  • Conversations explore nominated art and the themes of loneliness, connection, and belonging.

Art Recognition & Selection

  • Every accepted nomination will receive a dedicated public web page on the Community Heals Us website.
  • These pages will include:
    • The nominated artwork (embedded or linked)
    • The nominator’s reflection
    • (If applicable) A reflection from the artist
  • A number of works will be selected for recognition and awarded prizes.
  • Selections will be made by a Selection Team using a specialized approach to engagement tracking.
  • Consideration will be based on:
    • Emotional resonance
    • Quality of reflections and conversations
    • Thoughtful public engagement, including salon participation and social sharing
  • Cash and in-kind prizes will be awarded to selected artists and nominators.

Nominator Recognition & Consent

We believe in celebrating the contributions of nominators — but only if that’s something you’re comfortable with.

  • Public recognition is entirely optional.
  • If you give consent, we may share your name, your nomination statement, and the nominated work on:
    • The WithCommunity website
    • The Community Heals Us website
    • Other affiliated platforms or social media channels

You’ll be able to indicate your preferences when submitting your nomination.

 

Content Guidelines

  • Nominations must follow community standards.
  • No hateful, explicit, or violent content.
  • We reserve the right to decline or remove entries that do not align with the values of Shared Light.

Terms & Eligibility

  • Eligibility: Anyone is welcome to participate. If a selected participant is under 18, a parent or guardian must accept the prize on their behalf.
  • No purchase or payment is required to participate or be eligible for recognition or awards.
  • Award delivery is subject to availability. Cash and in-kind awards may be substituted at the organizers’ discretion.
  • Selection is not based on chance. All recognitions are determined through a curated review of engagement, reflection quality, and conversation impact.
  • Accepted nominations must comply with community guidelines and be appropriate for public display.
  • What helps us feel like we belong — and how can we carry that feeling forward?