About the Competition

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On-line Entries Accepted: December 8, 2022 to February 1, 2023

Deadline for Entries: February 1, 11:59pm
Notification of Acceptance: February 24
Drop-Off of Accepted Work: March 15, 16, 17, 10am-6pm and March 18, 12-5pm
Exhibit Dates: March 25 – May 6, 2023
Pick-up of Accepted Work: May 9, 10, 11, 12, 10am-6pm

Prizes
Five equal cash awards totaling $3,000 are presented.

Eligibility
The West Michigan Art Competition is open to all visual art media by artists 18 yrs. and older who reside in one of the eligible West Michigan counties. Eligible lower West Michigan counties include: Allegan, Barry, Berrien, Branch, Cass, Calhoun, Clare, Clinton, Eaton, Gratiot, Ionia, Isabella, Kalamazoo, Kent, Lake, Mason, Mecosta, Muskegon, Montcalm, Newaygo, Oceana, Osceola, Ottawa, Saint Joseph, and Van Buren.

Artwork Requirements
Only original works completed in the last three years and not previously exhibited at LowellArts are eligible. Commercial reproductions, including giclée prints, will not be accepted. Traditional print media, photography, and digital art should be from a limited edition. 2-Dimensional entries may be no larger than 62 inches in any one direction, including the width of the frame. 3-Dimensional entries must fit through a standard door frame and be no larger than 62 inches in any one direction. Only artwork easily handled by two people will be accepted.

Entry Procedure
All entries must be submitted digitally through the www.callforentry.org (CaFÉ) website. There is no cost to register on CaFÉ, but it is required. Video entries may not be submitted. Deadline for entry is February 1, 2023 at 11:59pm MT.

Digital Images
Digital image files must conform to the requirements as listed on the CaFÉ site. All entries require that the title, media, and dimensions be listed. Incomplete entries will not be juried. Accepted works that differ dramatically from the submitted images may be refused at the discretion of LowellArts staff. LowellArts will offer technical assistance on applying through CaFÉ to artists as needed, by appointment. Contact 616-897-8545.

Notification of Acceptance
Artists will be notified on February 24 via email if their piece was accepted for the exhibition. Awards will be announced after April 3. Artists with accepted entries will be provided an identification label at the time of drop-off to affix to the back of their piece.

Delivery
All accepted entries must be hand-delivered or shipped to: LowellArts, 223 W Main St, Lowell, MI 49331. The LowellArts Gallery is located in historic downtown Lowell at the corner of Broadway and Main Street. For hand-delivery, accepted artwork must arrive at LowellArts on March 15, 16, 17, 10am-6pm and March 18, 12-5pm. Shipped works must be prepaid and arrive by Friday, March 17. For shipped work, please include a prepaid return shipping label with the entry. All packing and shipping costs are the responsibility of the artist.

Entry Conditions
Artwork must be ready for presentation upon delivery. All hanging works should be framed and fitted with secure hanging wire. Fabric wrapped canvases are allowed and do not require additional framing. Frames with exposed glass edges are not acceptable. Saw tooth hangers are not permitted. Entries must be dry, completely assembled, framed, matted, or mounted. Multiple panel pieces (diptychs, triptychs, etc.) cannot exceed 62 inches in any one direction once installed. 3-dimensional entries that hang must have adequate hanging hardware or hanging system. Work requiring special handling or installation will be accepted only at the discretion of LowellArts. Unsuitably prepared, hazardous, unstable, or extremely fragile works will be declined. If you are unsure about your work conforming to these conditions, please contact LowellArts at info@lowellartsmi.org before entering.

Entry Fee
Artists may submit one piece only. The fee for entry is $35. LowellArts Members and Students over 18 with a college ID receive a discounted entry fee of $25. Members and students should call 616-897-8545 to receive their discount code before entering. Memberships need to be active through May of 2023 to receive the discount. Refunds cannot be provided after entry. Entry fees help fund prizes for the competition, as well as programs and services provided by LowellArts.

Art Sales
Accepted artwork must remain on display for the duration of the exhibit. LowellArts requires a 30% commission on all artwork sold during the exhibition. If the work is not for sale, please indicate “0 (zero)” for value on entry form. The artwork will be labeled as “NFS” – not for sale.

Pick-up
Accepted entries must remain in the exhibition through May 6, 2023. Artists may pick up accepted work in person May 9, 10, 11, 12, 10am-6pm. Artists must call ahead to authorize someone other than themselves to pick-up their work, otherwise artwork will not be released to anyone except the artist. Artwork not picked up at the designated times will be considered abandoned and become the property of LowellArts. Shipped artworks will be sent back in the packing materials they arrived in. Return of shipped artwork will begin May 12. Shipment costs are the responsibility of the artist.

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Rules and Terms to Apply

I understand that LowellArts will take every precaution to ensure protection of artwork. Owners of artwork will release and hold harmless LowellArts, its staff, and volunteers of any liability that may arise by damage, loss, or theft while artwork is on the LowellArts premises. LowellArts is not responsible for any damage to art objects incurred during regular handling of the work during installation and exhibition. Artists wishing to otherwise insure their work should contact their insurance agents directly. I understand that all artwork must arrive be ready to install and meet the entry conditions as described by LowellArts. If these conditions are not met, the artwork will not be included in the exhibition. Entry to the exhibition also constitutes the artists' consent to LowellArts to use images of their artwork for publicity purposes. I understand that all artwork not picked up at the designated times will be considered abandoned and become the property of LowellArts.