About the Competition
The Allegany Arts Council is pleased to announce a Call for Entry for its 24th Annual Wills Creek Exhibition of Fine Art, which will take place in its Saville Gallery located in Cumberland, Maryland. This juried exhibition celebrates talented and innovative artists whose work is contemporary, thoughtful, and uniquely portrays the world where we live. One-third of the selected works will be three-dimensional. The competition more than $4000 in prizes. Artists of all mediums and genres are encouraged to apply.

About the Juror
Michael Lease is an artist, educator, and curator based in Richmond, Virginia. Michael makes work with a focus on collaborative durational photographic and music projects that address a shared vocabulary of objects, places, and experiences. As an educator, Michael specializes in coursework that allows students to reveal, document, and exhibit complex and important stories about their varied communities. Michael earned a BFA from Frostburg State University, and an MFA from Virginia Commonwealth University. Currently, he is the director of facilities and experience design at the Institute for Contemporary Art at VCU.

Application Requirements

How to Apply
All applicants must enter through www.callforentry.org. No entries will be accepted directly through the host organization. The entry fee is $30.00 for the first entry, and $10.00 for each additional entry, up to six (6) entries per artist.  No more than two (2) works from any artist will be accepted.

Specifications for Accepted Work
Entries must be original works of art that have been completed within the last three (3) years, and have not been previously exhibited in the Saville Gallery. All works must be for sale, and no entry previously sold may be borrowed for entry in the competition. Entries which are marked as "not for sale" will be disqualified and no refunds will be provided.  

Works may be two or three-dimensional, and may not exceed 48” in width/84” in height for two-dimensional works, or more than 48” in width/84" in height for three-dimensional works. All two-dimensional works must be framed and wired for hanging – works without wiring will not be accepted or will be wired at the artist’s expense. No substitution, exchange, modification, or withdrawal of works is permitted after they are accepted.

Sales/Commissions
The Saville Gallery offers its services to promote and market the exhibition, and installs both a physical gallery exhibition as well as a digital gallery. In exchange, the gallery retains a 35% commission on all sales.

Shipping/Insurance/Return
Artists are responsible for all costs related to shipping and are strongly encouraged to obtain shipping insurance on works with significant value. The gallery is not responsible for any claims which arise from damage incurred in transit, either prior to or after the exhibition period. While onsite, works are insured for 65% of their stated value.

PLEASE NOTE: Due to ongoing issues with the USPS, artists are encouraged to use a professional carrier AND to carefully and thoroughly wrap and protect artworks using pre-made boxes, foam and other shock absorption materials. The gallery has recently seen an increase in damage during shipping, so please be mindful of the materials used when shipping works and ensure they can be easily reassembled for return transit. 

Artists should also include a RETURN, prepaid shipping label with the arriving artwork. Cash will not be accepted for return postage – artists who do not provide a prepaid label will be charged a $10.00 handling fee which must be paid before works are returned.

Awards
Best of Show           $1500
First Place               $1000
Second Place          $750
Third Place              $500
Honorable Mention  $250
People's Choice       $100

Important Dates
Entry Deadline:         July 1, 2023, 11:59PM MST Time
Notifications:             July 18, 2023
Delivery of Artwork:   August 15-18, 2023 (or by special arrangement with gallery)
Exhibition:                  August 26-September 23, 2023
Public Opening:         August 26, 2023  6-8 PM | Awards: 7 PM

Questions and Support
Questions related to login credentials or entry technical assistance should be directed to the CAFE Help Team via the online ticketing system. The host agency cannot assist with uploading of images or viewing entries prior to submission.

Questions regarding the competition, events, or shipping may be directed to the Allegany Arts Council via e-mail at art@alleganyarts.org or by phone at 301.777.2787.

Eligibility Criteria

See above