The Starkville Area Arts Council will host a student art contest and exhibition in conjunction with the Cotton District Arts Festival that will be held on April 21st. This contest, sponsored by GSDP, is for students in fourth through twelfth grade. All work must be turned in to the school art teacher or the VIVA Art teacher by March 26th. East and West Oktibbeha schools-Please send all work to the County Superintendent’s office. Students will be judged in the following grade divisions: 4th and 5th, 6th through 8th, 9th through 11th grade, and 12th grade.
A reception is scheduled for Monday, April 16th from 5:30-7:00 p.m. for the participants and winners at the Visual Arts Center, 808 University Drive. We will exhibit the winner’s work 4th grade through 8thgrade and as space permits. Winners and participants grades 9th-12th will also be exhibited. We will be recognizing winning artists and giving awards at this time as well, so family members and friends are highly encouraged to attend! The opportunity for the photography category is again open this year! Students should follow the same requirements as for other artwork. Students are allowed to enter in both visual arts and photography. First, second, and third place winners and honorable mentions in all grade divisions will be exhibited at the Visual Arts Center, April 21st during the Cotton District Arts Festival. A “Best of Show” award will be presented to one senior student. Artwork will be returned to the students after the festival, except for the selling pieces in grades 9-12. For students who cannot attend the reception, awards will be sent to the school.
1st, 2nd, and 3rd Place in 4th-11th grades will receive gift bags with art supplies and/or a gift certificate to an art supply store. 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place in 12th grade will receive cash awards. Ribbons will be awarded to all winning entries, including honorable mention. The artwork submitted will be judged based on creativity, originality, quality of composition and design, skill in the use of media, and the overall visual effect of the project.
We are excited about our student competition and hope that you will encourage your students to submit their artwork to this competition! If you have questions, please contact Meredith Shapley at 722-1511 or meredith.shapley@gmail.com <mailto:meredith.shapley@gmail.com> . This opportunity for our Starkville student artists to shine in conjunction with our festival is so exciting! We look forward to exposing the city to its own young artists.
The Starkville Area Arts Council is proud to bring this festival to Starkville and appreciates the support of the City of Starkville, the Greater Starkville Development Partnership, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the Mississippi Arts Commission. All registration forms and applications are available on the Starkville Area Arts Council website at www.starkvillearts.org <http://www.starkvillearts.org> . Sponsorships and volunteer opportunities are still available. Contact the SAAC office at 662.324.3080. For even more weekend activities, check out MSU’s Super Bulldog Weekend at www.hailstate.com/gameday!
Thanks to our stupendous 2012 line up of sponsors: Gate Sponsors-Starkville Main Street Association, Mississippi State University, Strangebrew/Coldstone Creamery; Village Sponsors-
GSDP Artisan’s Village, Rotary Club of Starkville Writer’s Village, Starkville Kiwanis Club
International Village; Stages- CVB Main Stage, MetroCast Communication Local Stage, TVA
Rockin’ Stage; Events- OCH Regional Medical Center Old Cotton Mill 5K Run, GSDP
Juried and Student Art, Spruill Property Management, LLC Pet Parade. McReynold’s
Orthodontic’s Songwriter’s Competition, OCH Regional Medical Center Old Cotton Mill 5K
Run; Prizes and Awards- Starkville Kiwanis Club Writer’s Village, Clean Crete Poster
Competition; Hilton Garden Inn Golf Carts; In Kind Sponsor- Broadcast Media, City of Starkville, Crecink Law Firm, PLLC, Eat With Us Group, East Mississippi Lumber Company, Starkville Dispatch, and Riverchase Inn- Columbus, MS.
