About the Exhibition
The 39th Annual Lowell Arts West Michigan Art Competition highlights outstanding artwork by Lower West Michigan artists who reside in a 25-county region. Artwork in any visual art media can be submitted by artists 18 yrs. and older. Cash awards totaling $3500 are presented. Artists may submit one piece for consideration by the juror.
$3500 in cash awards will be presented. Six awards of $500 each, and five honorable mention awards of $100 each.
About the Juror
This year's juror is Boisali Biswas. Biswas, raised in India, is an award- winning studio artist working in mixed-media fibers who currently resides in West Bloomfield, MI. Her formative BFA years were spent at Visva-Bharati University, founded by Rabindranath Tagore at Shantiniketan. The profound experience through the educational journey has stayed with her and continues to influence her work. She completed her MFA at Bowling Green State University. Living in this country for over 3 decades, and adapting to Western styles and inspirations in concert with her background has made her Art into a cauldron of multicultural assemblages that are unique and feast for the eyes.
Entry Deadline
January 15, 2025 at 11:59pm MT
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.
Important Dates
Deadline to Submit:
January 15, 11:59pm
Notification of Acceptance:
January 28
Artwork Drop-off
February 12, 13, 14, 10am-6pm
and February 15, 12-5pm
Artwork Pick-up
April 15 to 18, 10am-6pm and April 19, 12-5pm
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.
Application Information
Entry Fee
Artists may submit one piece only. The fee for entry is $40. Lowell Arts Members and Students over 18 with a college ID receive a discounted entry fee of $30. Members and students should call 616-897-8545 to receive their discount code before entering. Memberships need to be active through April of 2025 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 Lowell Arts.
Image Files
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 Lowell Arts staff. Lowell Arts will offer technical assistance on applying through CaFÉ to artists as needed, by appointment. Contact 616-897-8545 or gallery@lowellarts.org.
Artists may submit ONE PIECE in any medium for consideration by the juror. Artists are asked to submit at least 2 views of the same piece, up to 5 images of the same piece can be submitted.
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Image #1 should show the piece in its entirety. If applicable, do not include the picture frame in this image.
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Image #2 is required to show the scale of the piece alongside a common household object. If applicable, include the picture frame in this image. Place the object in the bottom left-hand side of the image. Suggested objects include a dollar bill, soda can, or ruler.
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Images #3, #4, #5 are optional – included to highlight details, textures, or an alternate angle of the piece.
Artwork Information
Artwork Requirements
Only original works completed in the last three years and not previously exhibited at Lowell Arts 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 Conditions
Upon Delivery:
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All artwork must be ready to display
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Entries must be dry and completely assembled
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Artists with accepted entries will be provided an identification label at the time of drop-off to affix to the back of their piece
Hanging Works:
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All artwork should be fitted with secure hanging wire
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Artwork should be properly framed or mounted
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Fabric-wrapped canvases are acceptable and do not require additional framing
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Frames with exposed glass edges are not acceptable
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Sawtooth hangers are not permitted
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3D hanging works must have adequate hanging hardware or a hanging system
Unsuitably prepared, hazardous, unstable, or extremely fragile works will be declined.
Accepted Entries
Delivery
All accepted entries must be hand-delivered or shipped to: Lowell Arts, 223 W Main St, Lowell, MI 49331. The Lowell Arts Gallery is located in historic downtown Lowell at the corner of Broadway and Main Street. For hand-delivery, accepted artwork must arrive at Lowell Arts on February 12, 13, 14, 10am-6pm and February 15, 12-5pm. Shipped works must be prepaid and arrive by Friday, February 14. For shipped work, please include a prepaid return shipping label with the entry. All packing and shipping costs are the responsibility of the artist.
Pick Up
Accepted entries must remain in the exhibition through April 12, 2025. Artists may pick up accepted work in person April 15 to 18, 10am-6pm and April 19, 12-5pm. 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 Lowell Arts. Shipped artworks will be sent back in the packing materials they arrived in. Return of shipped artwork will begin April 22. Shipment costs are the responsibility of the artist.
Art Sales
Accepted artwork must remain on display for the duration of the exhibit. Lowell Arts 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.
Rules and Terms to Apply
I understand that Lowell Arts will take every precaution to ensure protection of artwork. Owners of artwork will release and hold harmless Lowell Arts, its staff, and volunteers of any liability that may arise by damage, loss, or theft while artwork is on the Lowell Arts premises. Lowell Arts 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 Lowell Arts. 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 Lowell Arts 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 Lowell Arts.