Artists interested in a chance at getting a share of more than $16,000 in cash and prizes in the 2014 MI Great Artist competition have an extra week to submit their entries.
Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson announced today via press release that the deadline has been extended to Oct. 10 at 5 p.m. for the online art competition. Entries, which can include 3-D art, should be submitted to MIGreatArtist.com.
“There’s a bottleneck at the application point and I want to make sure everyone who wants to will have sufficient time to complete the process,” Patterson said. “Besides, we have to give them time for the paint to dry.”
Artists who are 18 years and older who also live, work or go to school in the Economic Growth Alliance region are eligible. The EGA is comprised of Oakland, Genesee, Lapeer, Livingston, Macomb, Shiawassee, and St. Clair counties. Artists may submit up to five original works of art online at MIGreatArtist.com for a public vote to determine the top 20 artists. A panel of renowned judges will choose the five finalists and winner. Complete contest rules are on the website.
Patterson and Park West Gallery founder and CEO Albert Scaglione launched the contest in 2012 as a quality of life initiative to identify and support up-and-coming artists in the region. Patterson said the cash prizes would grow to a total of $3,000, with additional prizes bringing the total to more than $16,000 in cash and prizes for the winners.
The MI Great Artist winner will receive a $1,500 cash prize; five submitted artworks framed by Park West Gallery; a group exhibition at Park West Gallery Dec. 1 – Jan. 4, 2015. with an award ceremony and reception; a scholarship to attend three Business Basics workshops at the Oakland County One Stop Shop Business Center; a one-hour consultation with an Oakland County business development representative; their artwork featured on a poster to promote one of Oakland County’s signature quality of life events, printed by Park West Gallery; a solo exhibition at Park West Gallery in Southfield; and a two-month solo exhibition at the Oakland County Galleria in the Executive Office Building in Waterford.
Four runners-up will each receive a $375 cash prize; framing by Park West Gallery of five artworks included in their submissions; a group exhibition at Park West Gallery Dec. 1 – Jan. 4, 2015 with award ceremony and reception; a scholarship to attend one Business Basics workshop at the Oakland County One Stop Shop Business Center; a one-hour consultation with an Oakland County business development representative; and a two-month solo exhibition in the Oakland County Galleria.
Artists may submit their work online until Oct. 10 at 5 p.m. EDT. Public voting will take place at MIGreatArtist.com from Oct. 17-30. The top 20 artists will be posted on the website Oct. 31. Judges will review the top 20 beginning Nov. 4. They will announce the top five on Nov. 14. There will be an exhibition of the five semi-finalists at Park West Gallery in Southfield from Dec. 1 – Jan. 4, 2015. Patterson and Scaglione will announce the winner at an evening gallery reception Dec. 3.
The judges are Scaglione; Elliott W. Broom, vice president of museum operations at the Detroit Institute of Arts; Dominic Pangborn, founder of Pangborn Design Collection and former professor at the College of Creative Studies; Don Tocco, an artist whose work includes award winning photography, paintings sold to high end art collectors, portrait sculptures of famous global leaders; and Kristie Everett Zamora, arts and culture for Oakland County’s Department of Economic Development & Community Affairs.
MI Great Artist partners include Oakland County, Park West Gallery, Economic Growth Alliance, AdvantageOakland.com and Oakland County Prosper® magazine.
About Sarah Hovis