The purpose of the Annual Pearl Fincher Museum of Fine Arts Student Art Contest is to recognize the artistic achievements of our area students and to increase community involvement in the museum. The Student Art Contest is open to students in grades 1-12 in public (districts listed below), private, and home schools in the Greater Cypress Creek Area.
All winning entrants will receive awards appropriate to their grade level. Winning art may be used in print materials and displayed at the discretion of the museum. However, winning art will be returned to the student following the culmination of contest events.
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Theme
The contest does not require theme for submitted artwork. -
Eligibiilty
Public school contestants must be enrolled in grades 1-12 in the following participating school districts: Aldine ISD, Conroe ISD, Cy-Fair ISD, Klein ISD, Magnolia ISD, Spring ISD, and Tomball ISD. Public school students must enter through their school districts. Private School and Home School contestants must be resident of one of the above districts. -
Originality
All work must be created by the student. The entry must be conceptualized, developed, and completed by the student. If a parent or teacher has any doubt about the originality of the piece, it should not be submitted. -
Guidelines for Artwork
- Submit only one piece of artwork per student in any medium, except photography.
- Artwork must be two-dimensional, except for collage entries, which may not extend more than 1/2 inch from the surface. Collage material must be 80% paper prepared by the artist; no more than 20% from newspapers, magazines, found objects, etc. may be used.
- Maximum entry size is 18 inches by 24 inches, not including matting.
- Original photographs or student-directed photographs may be used by the students in the development of the entry, provided the original photograph is attached to the entry. Copying the photograph exactly in any media is prohibited. Images traced with the use of a projector are prohibited.
- Entries that have been electronically produced or altered in any way are not eligible.
- Artwork must be completely dry or fixed.
- Works on paper should be matted to protect the artwork. Works on stretched canvas or canvas board do not need to be matted.
- Please, no framed artwork.
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Preparing Artwork for Entry
Divisions
The artwork submitted to the Student Art Contest is grouped and judged in the following divisions: Division I: Grades 9-12, Division II: Grades 6-8, and Division III: Grades 1-5.
Entry Fee
There are no entry fees for the 2013 Student Art Contest. Contest expenses, such as the awards, printing of the contest brochure, and jurors’ fees, are funded by museum supporters and community members.
Forms
All entrants must accurately complete the Student Art Contest Application and Identification Form and the Artist Statement. All entrants must complete two copies of the Student Art Contest Application and Identification Form. Affix one copy to the back of the artwork. Submit the second copy to the contest representative. The Artist Statement should be attached to the front of the artwork.
Student Art Contest Application and Identification Form
This form provides the contest committee with vital contact information and certification signatures from the student, a parent or guardian and art teacher, which confirm that the student has abided by the rules and regulations of the contest. The form also releases the Pearl Fincher Museum of Fine Arts from responsibility in cases of loss, theft, or damage to the artwork, and gives permission for displaying and reproducing the artwork.
Artist Statement
The student is required to submit a short statement on the Artist Statement. It should be approximately 50 words, describing the entry, including the media used. Elementary grade level teachers/parents may assist in writing and/or transcribing the description. Though the Artist Statement does not receive a numerical score, the Artist Statement may assist jurors in learning more about the artwork, which could affect the score in the Judging Criteria (see below). -
Judging Criteria
The entries will be judged according to the following criteria. Each criterion is weighted equally.Technique
The student chooses and utilizes media and tools competently to enhance the appearance of the work.Personal Expression
The evidence of imagination, creativity and individuality. The result is distinctive and the concept presented in a unique way that is imaginative and inventive.
Organization
The use of elements and the principles of art, effectively selecting those which enhance the overall appearance of the work.
Integration
The work combines technique, expression and organization through artistic and critical judgment to achieve an effective interpretation or result.Note: Jurors have the right to exclude any work from consideration in the contest. The decision of the jurors is final as relating to all contest matters.
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Judging
Public School Pre-Adjudication
Each public school district may submit up to 25 entries. The district is responsible for adjudicating their students’ work first in order to arrive at the maximum of 25 entries. The district may determine the number of entries per division as long as the total number of submissions is 25 or less.
Private and Home School Students
Private and Home School artwork submissions will be pre-adjudicated by the Pearl. Up to 25 finalists from the Private and Home School ‘District’ will go on to be judged in the final adjudication.Final Adjudication
The jurors will judge the public, private, and home school student finalists. Each work will receive a numeric score (1-10) for each criterion listed in Judging Criteria. The numeric score will determine the advancement to the final selections, which will be made solely on the consensus of the panel of jurors.Selections for the Juried Exhibition
The jurors will select a total of twelve pieces of artwork, representing 1st, 2nd, and 3rd places, and an Honorable Mention for each division. The jurors will also select additional artwork to be included in the Student Art Contest Juried Exhibition. The Juried Exhibition will take place at the Pearl Fincher Museum of Fine Arts following the final adjudication. Please note that there are no prizes associated with Juried Exhibition Selections. -
Recognition
Place Winners
Students whose artwork receives 1st, 2nd, 3rd place, or Honorable Mention for each division will receive the following awards:Division I: Grades 9-12
1st Place $1000
2nd Place $500
3rd Place $300
Honorable Mention $100 art gift bagDivision II: Grades 6-8
1st Place $150 and $125 art gift bag
2nd Place $100 and $125 art gift bag
3rd Place $50 and $125 art gift bag
Honorable Mention $50 art gift bagDivision III: Grades 1-5
1st Place $100 art gift bag
2nd Place $75 art gift bag
3rd Place $50 art gift bag
Honorable Mention $25 art gift bagJurors’ Selection
Artwork that is not selected as a place winner may be included in the Student Art Contest Juried Exhibition. Every year, the Student Art Contest receives exceptional artwork from area students and the Juried Exhibition has been created to recognize as many of these students as possible. The number of selections for the Juried Exhibition is limited due to space constraints.
Finalist Certificates
All finalists of 2011 Student Art Contest (those whose work is judged in the final adjudication) will receive a Finalist Certificate. -
Contact
Art Contest Co-Chair
Laura Barousse
281-880-7728
artcontest@pearlmfa.orgArt Contest Co-Chair
Sylvia de Hek
281-257-2780
artcontest@pearlmfa.orgEducation Director
Rosemary Hickman
281-376-6322
rosemary@pearlmfa.org