By submitting an application for this opportunity, the artist agrees to all terms and agreements. The ​Crooked Tree Arts Center in Traverse City, Michigan, seeks artists for the national plein air painting festival, Paint Grand Traverse: a plein air affair, now in its fourth year. Paint Grand Traverse is a plein air (outdoor) painting festival and competition featuring 30-40 artists from across the country. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and changing public health situation, we have a "Plan A" (six days long, with outdoor/indoor gatherings, housing provided in host homes) and a "Plan B" (four days long, socially distanced, housing NOT provided). We will announce a plan on June 1, based on pandemic conditions and with guidance from state and local health departments. ELIGIBILITY This opportunity is open to all U.S. residents, 18 years and older. All painting media are eligible. PRIZES AND AWARDS ​Plan A features a $2,500 cash award for best in show. Plan B features a $1,000 cash award for best in show. All other prizes TBA. ABOUT CROOKED TREE ARTS CENTER The Grand Traverse region is located in northwest lower Michigan and is known the world over for its gorgeous scenery, hundreds of miles of Lake Michigan coast, and historic small towns and villages. The largest of these, Traverse City, is nestled on the southern shore of West Grand Traverse Bay, and is home to Crooked Tree Arts Center - Traverse City. Paint Grand Traverse is presented by Crooked Tree Arts Center. Founded in 1971, CTAC is a community-based arts center serving Northern Michigan from campuses in Traverse City and Petoskey, Michigan. We offer events and classes in visual arts, dance, music, culinary arts, and more. To learn more about Crooked Tree Arts Center, visit us online at www.crookedtree.org. APPLICANT CALENDAR Submit 5-7 entries online January 20 - February 26, 2021 Entries will be scored by a panel of jurors, February 27 - March 4. Notification of acceptance will be sent by March 10. Accepted artists must submit a signed letter of agreement, bio, and promotional images by March 31. SUBMISSION MATERIALS Submit 5-7 images of recent plein air artwork, including artwork title, dimensions, medium, and date. Digital images should be cropped to show the painting only - no frame, no background. Artist Bio and C.V. Artist Statement Link to online portfolio (URL) (optional) JURORS A team of five jurors, comprised of practicing artists, collectors, and curators, will review all submissions. Top scoring entries will be accepted. APPLICATION PROCESS Submit requested application materials via CaFÉ. Entries must be submitted online via CaFÉ and file formats must meet CaFÉ specifications. Jury will be done online. Notification will be delivered via email by March 10, 2021. Accepted artists must submit a signed letter of agreement by March 31, 2021. Submissions must be original works of art created by the artist submitting the work. A non-refundable fee of $40.00 per artist is required for entry (CTAC members $25.00). If you are a current member of Crooked Tree Arts Center, please use the coupon code: MEMBER21 to receive the member discount. CTAC Artist Guild Members can submit their work free of charge. If you do not have your Guild Membership code, please contact pgt@crookedtree.org. If you have questions about your membership status, or are interested in becoming a member, please call CTAC at (231) 347-4337. ADDITIONAL TERMS (for accepted and participating artists) Over the course of the event, artists will paint in various locations throughout the area, participate in special events and sales as detailed below, and be eligible for juried awards. Artist guidelines during the event include: 1. Artists are encouraged to interact with the public through dialogue and social media. Artists are also urged to provide their painting schedules and locations to event staff and to paint in visible and public areas as often as possible. 2. CTAC is permitted to photograph the artists and their works during Paint Grand Traverse. Use of the images captured by CTAC and/or provided by the artist shall be for promotional and/or educational purposes. Artists will be contacted and further use arrangements shall be made if additional needs arise. 3. CTAC shall retain a 40% commission of each work sold during and from the festival. Artists will set their prices (minimum retail prices are $400 for the "Plan A" event and $250 for the "Plan B" event), inclusive of the 40% commission. Checks for works sold from PGT will be mailed by September 30, 2021. A description of the items sold will be included with the check. 4. Artists will have the opportunity to sell works in progress off the easel while out in the field. CTAC staff/volunteers will handle all transactions. 5. Artwork must remain on display through September 11, 2021. Artists are responsible for picking up or making shipping arrangements (at their own expense) for unsold work. Any pieces remaining at CTAC after Saturday, September 20, 2021, shall be considered abandoned and will become property of CTAC. To this end: i. The artist retains a royalty-free, non-exclusive use license under the copyright of the art. ii. CTAC owns the artwork and the rights to reproduce it. Under those rights, the artist has a license to make use of the artwork for his or her purposes. iii. Abandoned artwork will become property of CTAC and may be used or disposed of as CTAC sees fit. CTAC has no financial obligation to the artist regardless of the manner of disposition. 6. Under the Plan A format, housing, if needed, will be provided free of charge in host homes, for the evening of August 8 through the morning of August 15. If the artist requires other arrangements (e.g. a hotel), it will be the artist’s responsibility to arrange and pay. Under Plan B, housing will not be provided. Artists are responsible for arranging and paying for their own housing. A list of local hotels, campgrounds, etc. will be offered. 7. Artists shall provide 1) 3-5 high-resolution digital images that are representative of their plein air work, 2) a head shot or candid shot of themselves and 3) a 1-3 paragraph biography. May also include a list of recent plein air events/awards and/or publications. The artist grants permission to CTAC to use these materials for promotional purposes. Artists will provide these items no later than March 31, 2021. 8. Artists are encouraged to link and tag Paint Grand Traverse on their social media pages. 9. Completed works will be insured by CTAC while on CTAC premises. General Artwork Requirements: 1. All work must be created solely by the artist and done completely from life, and all paintings must begin on a blank surface (a toned background is permitted). 2. All artwork submitted for competition must be for sale. Selling of artwork outside of Paint Grand Traverse events is discouraged and contrary to the spirit of the event. 3. CTAC will manage all sales transactions. You will receive title cards to fill out with title, media, artist name, site location, and price. 4. Artist sets the sales price. a. Prices are inclusive of CTAC’s 40% commission. b. Prices for paintings are not negotiable once they are made available for sale. c. Checks will be mailed to artists on or before September 30, 2021. 5. CTAC and Paint Grand Traverse staff reserve the right to disqualify any work deemed objectionable or that does not adhere to the rules and guidelines of the competition. Please direct inquiries to: Megan Kelto, CTAC - Traverse City Site Director 231.937.2377 pgt@crookedtree.org