In conjunction with the 2nd annual Mount Dora Viva La Frida Festival, Mount Dora Center for the Arts invites artists of all genres and ages to submit images of original 2D and 3D art for a chance to win cash awards and to exhibit in a 4-week gallery exhibition in Mount Dora, Florida. Artwork representing an image of Frida Kahlo is not required to be considered. We encourage artists to showcase their personal stories and cultural heritage while expressing the colorful uniqueness and moral complexities that Frida Kahlo represented.

Important Dates:

• Entry deadline is Aug 16, 2024
• Notifications regarding application status will be no later than Aug 23, 2024
• Accepted artwork must be delivered before Saturday Sept 7, 2024 at 2pm to be included in the Gallery exhibition and Award ceremony.
• Awards Ceremony and Artist Reception, Friday, Sept 13, 2024 (5-7 pm)
• Optional Viva la Frida Festival Meet the Artists Reception, Saturday, Sept 28, 2024 (1-4 pm)
• The Exhibition runs Sept 13 – Oct 11, 2024
• All (unsold) artwork must be picked up on Oct 14 & 15, 2024 between 10 am and 4 pm
   

Awards:
1st Place- $500, 2nd Place - $200, 3rd Place- $100, and honorable mention ribbons.  A People's Choice Award will be given to the artist who receives the most votes from gallery visitors during the exhibit. 

Exhibition Rules & Guidelines

• Hanging work must be properly prepared for the exhibition with wire securely attached.  Freestanding sculptures must be able to stand solid on their own. Pedestals will be provided.
• All artwork in the exhibit must be available for sale during the exhibition.
• MDCA retains a 40% commission on any artwork sold.
• The artist agrees to permit images of accepted artwork in MDCA promotional materials.
• Each accepted work must arrive with an ID label in the proper format and securely attached to the back of the frame or attached to sculptures along with the MDCA signed exhibit agreement. The agreement, ID label format, and other pertinent information will be transmitted with the winning notifications.
• Artwork accepted for exhibition and competition must be delivered to MDCA before Sept 6, 2024 at 4pm to be included in the Gallery exhibition and Award ceremony. Location will be TBD in Mount Dora, Florida.   A pre-printed, paid shipping label for return shipment must be included with your work, along with reusable packaging if you cannot deliver your artwork in person and would like MDCA to ship your artwork back at the completion of the exhibition.

Exhibition Promotion
:
The Mount Dora Viva La Frida Festival will be promoted extensively though a partnership with Lake County, FL Tourism. The 2024 advertising campaign includes radio, billboards, print, social media, and email campaigns to boost exhibit exposure and increase gallery traffic during the exhibition period. 

Email gallery@mdca.org with any questions you may have.

Application Requirements

The $25 entry fee covers up to 8 artwork submissions.  Collaborations must be submitted as a separate entry from individual submissions. All entries will be submitted electronically for jurying through Cafe (callforentry.org). Your entry is not complete until payment is received.

Entry photos should be of good quality and an accurate representation of color and tonality.  Do not include the frame or extraneous backgrounds in the photos. 
Invited artists might be asked for high-resolution artwork photos if needed.

Eligibility Criteria

 This opportunity is open to all visual artists working in any art medium to include but not limited to painting, drawing, landscapes, printmaking, illustration, photography, digital arts, sculpture, glass art, fiber art, textile art, collage, abstract, and mixed media. All submissions must be the original work of the applicant. Collaborations must be submitted as a separate entry from individual submissions. Artwork that has previously been shown in the MDCA Gallery is not eligible. Artists need not be in Florida to participate.

It is the sole right of MDCA to determine the appropriateness of submissions in context to its gallery's audience. Violent and/or offensive content may be eliminated from the judging process.

AI generated artwork is prohibited from eligibility.