Eligibility: All artists 18 years or older residing in the following Michigan counties: Allegan, Barry, Berrien, Branch, Calhoun, Cass, Eaton, Ionia, Kalamazoo, Kent, Muskegon, Ottawa, St. Joseph, and Van Buren.

Art Requirements: 

· Only original work of the artist’s own design, completed within the last 2 years should be entered.

· Digital media, 2-D, and 3-D works in any medium will be accepted.

· Work may not exceed six feet (72”) on any side.

· Work must be on view the entire duration of the exhibition.

· The KIA reserves the right to refuse any work that is inappropriate, framed inadequately, or misrepresented by entry image.

Award Eligibility: 

Mixed media/intermedia award: Combining traditional and/or non-traditional media, eligible works stretch conventions of art and composition.  
Printmaking award: The awarded print is required to illustrate a hand worked element as part of the process in its making (no exclusively digital prints are eligible).
Book art award: can include hand-made books, hand-made paper, and work involving letterpress.  
Calligraphy award: work must include calligraphy or hand-lettering – any medium. Typeset, digitally generated or photographed lettering are not eligible 
Glass award: Over 50% of the work must be comprised of glass, but work may include some sculptural component in metal or other media. 
Portage Community: Eligible work must respond to theme "A Natural Place to Move" and be available to hang in City Hall lobby following close of the WMAS. Artist must be a Portage resident able to install 8-10 additional works (subject/theme may vary) in Portage City Hall in Sept/Oct, 2021

Condition of Entries: All wall-hung works must be framed with proper hanging devices (wires and/or “D”-rings) attached. Please note “top” where necessary. No clip frames are permitted. The KIA reserves the right to refuse or withdraw any work from the exhibition at its discretion.

Liability: All work is submitted at the owner’s risk. Although every precaution will be taken, the KIA will not insure works during transit or while on its premises. By submitting work, the artist waives any claim against the KIA for any loss or damage.

Sale of Works: Works are not offered for sale through the KIA. Visitors inquiring about availability of artists' work will be directed to contact artists independently.

Delivery or Shipping of Accepted Entries: Works accepted into the WMAS must be received no later than 4 p.m., May 18, 2021. Entries may be hand-delivered to the KIA on the dates below or earlier by special arrangement. For directions and a map, please visit http://www.kiarts.org.

Alternatively, works may be shipped via UPS or FedEx and must be sent with return postage and return mailing labels.

Insurance of works in transit is the sole responsibility of the artist. The KIA will not accept works damaged in transit.

Entry Fee: A maximum 3 works may be submitted. The fee is $14 for the first and $8 each additional. Recognizing that many people, especially artists, have experienced hardship due to the ongoing pandemic, this year the KIA is reducing submission fees for the West Michigan Area Show from $20 to $14 for the first entry and from $15 to $8 for each additional (up to 3 total entries total). Waivers are available for artists requiring total support before March 15. Contact Katherine at katheriner@kiarts.org for more information. 

Images: Only one image per work may be submitted.  No additional views can be accepted.

Please note: Works requiring special installation must be pre-arranged: call 269.349.7775, ext. 3131, no later than May 18.

CALENDAR
Artist notification email............April 30
Delivery of accepted work...... Tentatively May 14 (9-4), May 15 (9-noon), May 17-18 (9-4)
Exhibition dates......................June 4 – Sept 5, 2021
Reception...............................Information on virtual reception TBA
Pick up of accepted art.........Sunday, Sept 5 at 4:55 pm & Monday, Sept 6 9:00 – 5:00

AWARDS
$1,000  Helen Sheridan Memorial Grand Prize
  $ 500  Second Place
  $ 400  Third Place
  $ 300  Fourth Place
  $ 200  Fifth Place
$1,000 Portage Community Art Award
  $ 750  Arts Council of Greater Kalamazoo's People's Choice Award 
  $ 350  The Martin Maddox Prize for Imaginative Realism
  $ 300  Garage Sale Art Fair Award for Excellence in Any Media
  $ 250  Signature Artists, LLC, Award  
  $ 250  KNAS Metals & Jewelry Dept. Award for Jewelry 
  $ 200  Michael Gunderson Memorial Award for Excellence in 3-d Clay, Supported by Garage Sale Art Fair, Bonnie Blandford, and Michael Kifer
  $ 200  Ninth Wave Studio Award for Ingenuity in Mixed Media or Intermedia
  $ 200  Southwest Michigan Printmakers Excellence in Printmaking Award
  $ 200  Eclectic Glass Guild of Southwest Michigan
  $ 150  West Michigan Potters Guild Award for Ceramics
  $ 100  Pen Dragon Calligraphy Guild Award
  The Ward H. and Cora E. Nay Director's Purchase Prize
 
Sponsored by Arts Council of Greater Kalamazoo., Chemical Bank and Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs. Additional support provided by David Isaacson in memory of his wife, Helen Sheridan. 

Application Requirements

Eligibility Criteria