Who is eligible to participate?

Students in grades 9-12 who reside in the Michigan counties of: Allegan, Barry, Berrien, Branch, Calhoun, Cass, Kalamazoo, St. Joseph, or Van Buren counties are eligible to participate.

How many entries can I submit?

Each student artist may submit up to TWO unique works. 

Is there a fee to participate?

Yes, $3 per artwork submitted must be received by the KIA by Saturday, April 11. Payment will be accepted through CaFE; Students who qualify for free or reduced lunch may request a fee waiver code from JessicaS@kiarts.org.

When is the deadline to submit?

Tuesday, February 28, 2022 by midnight EST is the deadline to submit. All entries must be submitted online. Late submissions will not be accepted. We strongly recommend you create your account early to familiarize yourself with the process before the deadline.

How will I be notified if my work was accepted?

Account holders submitting work(s) will be notified via e-mail on Thursday, March 17 and Monday, March 20, 2023.

Where do I deliver my work?

Artwork must be hand delivered to the Kalamazoo Institute of Arts located at 314 S. Park St., Kalamazoo, MI, 49007. There is free parking available in lots on both South and Lovell Streets. 

Please review delivery dates carefully. Late work will not be accepted unless prior arrangements have been made.

Hand deliver accepted artworks to the KIA lobby during the following days/times: April 4 - April 14.

Monday - Thursday: 8 am - 6:30 pm. Friday - Saturday: 11 am - 5 pm. Sunday: 12 pm - 4 pm.

Delivery accepted at other times by appointment only.

Work must remain on view for the duration of the exhibition and may not be removed before Sunday, May 21, 2023.

Does my work need to be framed?

Yes! All 2-D work should be framed and have sturdy wire for hanging. Frames should use Plexiglas, rather than glass, and no snap frames are allowed.

If your work is an unusual size or medium and cannot be framed, please contact us if you are unsure if you should enter it into the exhibition. We have made exceptions regarding framing if the piece requires it.

Contact us in advance if you have questions about acceptable framing or cannot afford to frame your work. We have limited frames for 2-D work matted to the following sizes: 16" x 20", 20" x 24", 24" x 30", or 30" x 40". Congressional Art Competition works must be framed and not exceed a framed size of 26" x 26" x 4" deep. 

How do I prepare 3-D work?

3-D work must be sturdy and able to be handled and moved safely. The KIA will not accept artworks for exhibition that are delivered broken, nor will we repair broken works of art.

What happens if my artwork gets damaged?

All work is submitted at the owner's risk. Although every precaution will be taken, the Kalamazoo Institute of Arts is not responsible for insurance during transit or while artwork is on its premises. The KIA reserves the right to refuse any entry and to withdraw any work for the exhibition at its discretion.

I'm a bit confused. Who do I contact if I have questions?

For questions about the High School Area Show at the Kalamazoo Institute of Arts, please contact:

Jessica Sundstrom

E: jessicas@kiarts.org

P: (269) 349-7775 ext.3161

W: www.kiarts.org

Who is eligible for a scholarship or award?

Any artist whose work is accepted for exhibition is eligible for an award! Representatives from each art school select their respective scholarship winners. Scholarship awards will be announced on Friday, April 21, 2023 at 6 pm during the in-person award ceremony. In 2022, scholarships and prizes were awarded from the following institutions:

• KIA Juror’s Honorable Mention
• KIA Director’s awards
• KIA Kirk Newman Art School
• The Doris Miller Scholarship
• Central Michigan University
• Cleveland Institute of Art
• Columbus College of Art and Design
• Grand Valley State University
• Indiana University South Bend
• Kendall College of Art and Design of Ferris State University
• Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design
• Olivet College
• Stamps School of Art and Design, University of Michigan
• Wayne State University
• Western Michigan University, Gwen Frostic School of Art
• 6th District Congressional Art Competition

Application Requirements

Each student artist may submit up to TWO unique works. Artwork is eligible for inclusion in the High School Area Show when it is original art in any medium. Originality is an important consideration in jurying and direct copies of existing works of art are not accepted.

If you are submitting a 3-D work, consider submitting one collage style image if you wish multiple angles of your work to be viewed, rather than using both entries on the same work.

Since the jurying is done virtually, please make sure to submit a high quality photo.

Eligibility Criteria

Students in grades 9-12 who reside in the Michigan counties of: Allegan, Barry, Berrien, Branch, Calhoun, Cass, Kalamazoo, St. Joseph, or Van Buren counties are eligible to participate.

What is eligible work?

Artwork is eligible for inclusion in the High School Area Show when it is original art in any medium. Originality is an important consideration in jurying and direct copies of existing works of art are not accepted. Works of art must not exceed 6 feet in any direction.