Alaska Emerging Artist Competition

This statewide competition encourages new and emerging artists in Alaska who have had not more than one major solo exhibit in a generally recognized gallery or regional art center. Not more than fifteen emerging artists will be selected for the curated exhibit. The competition is part of Soldotna, Alaska's Memorial Day Public Art Festival. In keeping with Memorial Day, physically separate additional exhibit space will be provided for individual works of quality patriotic themed art and for Alaska 4-H participants, whose work will be shown in a separate area and lightly curated.

Three cash prizes will be awarded: $1,000 for first place, $300 for second place, and $150 for third place. Awards will be determined by judging the overall bodies of work exhibited at the competition on Saturday, May 23, 2015 at Soldotna Creek Park. This will be an outdoor exhibit housed within protective enclosures on the level park above the Kenai River. Selected artists must deliver and hang work in 4x8 foot spaces between 8am and 10am on the day of exhibit. The exhibit will run from 10am to 9pm, with live music provided. All work must be taken down and removed at 9pm Saturday evening.

Eligibility is open to any Alaska resident of any age working in 2D art forms, including all painting media, photography, drawing, collage, and fabric. Submissions should include not less than 6 nor more than 10 proposed works, with not more than two body of work submissions allowed per artist. Jurying will be made by university art faculty and others based upon the overall body of work submitted. All works must be ready to hang. There is no application fee and no admission fee will be charged to viewers. This is a family-oriented event; any work deemed inappropriate or offensive will not be hung and will be removed immediately upon request. No alcohol or intoxicating substances are allowed.