The Rock Island Art Guild Fine Arts exhibition has been organized by the guild since 1970 and hosted by the Figge Art Museum since 2016. Both the Figge and the Rock Island Art Guild are pleased to announce the call for entries for this exhibition, which will occupy the Figge’s 3rd floor gallery this spring. Artists living within 200 miles of the Figge working in any medium, including sound, performance, video, painting, sculpture, mixed media, and works on paper are encouraged to apply. Artists may submit up to three works for consideration per $35 entry fee. In addition to $1000 first place award and $500 second place award, there will be the $300 Digital Art, Performance, Sound, and Video Award, the $750 Sally MacMillan Watercolor Award, a $250 second place award for watercolor, the $300 Founder’s Award, the $500 Zeivel Harris Sculpture Award, the $100 People’s Choice Award, the $100 Children’s Choice Award, and the $100 Honorable Mention Award. The exhibition works and awards will be selected by this year’s juror Mia Laufer, Associate Curator at the Des Moines Art Center, Des Moines, Iowa. Selections for the exhibition will be made based on entrants’ digital applications, while selection of the award winners will be made by the juror in person. If you have any questions about applying, please contact Assistant Registrar Elyse Nurenberg at enurenberg@figgeartmuseum.org.  This exhibition is made possible through the generous sponsorship of the Rock Island Art Guild. 

IMPORTANT DATES

• December 15, 2023: Call for Entries closes
• January 10, 2024: Artist notified about exhibition selection
• February 8, 9,10, 2024: Artists drop off work at the Figge Art Museum between 10am-4pm
• February 17, 2024: Exhibition opens to the public
• March 7, 2024: Opening Reception
• April 11 and May 9, 2024: Artist Presentations/Performances (visit the Figge website for more information)
• June 16, 2024: Last day of the exhibition
• June 20, 21, 22, 2024: Artists pick up their works from the Figge Art Museum between 10am and 4pm

Application Requirements

SPECIFICATIONS

All two-dimensional works must be ready to be installed. Glass is acceptable for glazing works under 14 inches in any direction; if larger, plexiglass is strongly recommended. Frames and mats must be clean and in good condition. D rings are required. Hanging works may not exceed 6 x 8 foot framed dimensions. Three-dimensional work should not exceed 10 foot x 12 foot x 10 foot, be freestanding, and must be movable by 2 people. All works must have an identification label on the reverse or underside of the work. Works requiring site specific installation or assembly must come with clear instructions and/or diagrams. Installation by the artist may be requested.

Eligibility Criteria

ELIGIBILITY

The exhibition is open to artists residing within a 200 mile radius of the Figge Art Museum (225 West 2nd Street, Davenport, Iowa, Please click on this map link to see the radius for entrants). Entries are limited to 3 original works of art (per $35 entry fee) and the entries must have been created within the last 5 years. Giclée reproductions will not be considered for inclusion in the exhibition. Works with multiple components will be considered as one entry. Works previously exhibited in the Rock Island Art Guild Fine Arts Exhibition will not be accepted. Works which are currently in a private or museum collection will not be accepted. If during the course of the exhibition works are purchased by a private or museum collection, they must remain on view at the Figge until the exhibition closing on June 16, 2024.