We all just call it "Festival."  A fun, three-day annual Grand Rapids event held downtown.  The streets are full of people, food, music, dance, all forms of performance, and of course, ART!  After all, it is "Festival of the Arts."

Yesterday, the Festival folks began accepting art for the 2012 Regional Arts Exhibition.

There is a new location for this years exhibition.  The Grand Rapids Press building, at the corner of Michigan Street and Monroe Avenue, just across the street from Festival’s downtown district, is the site for this year’s show.  Much of the building was vacated when the Press moved to their new MLive location on Monroe, so the exhibition space will be much larger than in years past.

Organizers said that they will accept art Friday and Sunday. No art will be taken in on Saturday during the River Bank Run.

The Competition is open to artists from Allegan, Barry, Ionia, Kent, Montcalm, Muskegon, Newaygo and Ottawa counties, and there is no age limit.  Up to four pieces will be accepted.

All artists are competing for dozens of cash prizes, ranging from $100 to $500, including the People’s Choice Award, voted on during Festival of the Arts.

Size of entries has changed this year, too.  Artists will be able to submit much larger two- and three-dimensional works of art than in the past. Artists can submit work to hang on a wall up to 8-foot high by 10-foot wide, and free standing work by up to 4-foot by 6-foot on its base and up to 8-feet high.

Judges this year are Tim Fisher, juror for Paintings, Drawings, and Prints; Ron Pederson, juror for three-dimensional and multimedia pieces; and Lora Robertson, juror who will judge photography.

Artists can find more information online at Festival’s website.

The 2012 Regional Arts Exhibition will have its Opening Reception May 25 and open to the public on May 26. The exhibition will be open through June 10.

Festival itself is the first weekend in June, 1 - 3.

 

More From 100.5 FM The River