Contemporary at blue star (the contemporary) will commission photographer susan meiselas to lead a magnum live lab at the contemporary to document stories about the transition from active duty to…

The Institute of Museum and Library Services awarded Contemporary Art For San Antonio (operating as Blue Star Contemporary) $181,441 on September 1, 2026, under the Museums for America program (CFDA 45.301) to commission photographer Susan Meiselas to lead a Magnum Live Lab documenting the transition from active duty to civilian life. The Lab will produce a new body of work exhibited in full public view at The Contemporary in San Antonio, with audience participation in the creative process of making, editing, printing, and curating. The multi-week process will be filmed and screened alongside the exhibition, which runs through June 2027. The completed work, including the documentary, will be archived at both Magnum Photos and The Contemporary's archive held at the University of Texas at San Antonio Special Collections. Performance occurs in San Antonio, Texas, with an ultimate completion date of October 31, 2027.

Contemporary at blue star (the contemporary) will commission photographer susan meiselas to lead a magnum live lab at the contemporary to document stories about the transition from active duty to civilian life. Through the magnum live lab, a new body of work will be produced and eventually exhibited, with the process of making, editing, printing, and curating performed in full public view, and inviting the audience to join in the creative process as the work unfolds. The multi-week process will be filmed and the resulting documentary screened with the exhibition, which will be on view through june 2027. The work, including the documentary, will join meiselas's extensive archive at magnum photos and the contemporary's archive held at the university of texas at SAN antonio special collections. This project will benefit a broad audience and military veterans, providing points of connection to build empathy and strengthen our community bonds.