Student Art Contest 2020
Rules & Regulations

Download a PDF version of the updated Student Art Contest 2020 Rules & Regulations packet by clicking HERE.
Important Update
4/14/20:
In light of the ongoing COVID-19 situation and the extended closures of school campuses, the museum has made the difficult decision to cancel the 2020 Student Art Contest. The current situation will make it very difficult to hold a fair contest for all schools and districts in this academic year. 

We look forward to holding the contest next year in the spring of 2021. For questions or concerns, please contact Community Engagement Director Emily Guerra at emily@pearlmfa.org or 832-610-2838.

PURPOSE STATEMENT
The purpose of the annual Pearl Fincher Museum of Fine Arts Student Art Contest and Juried Exhibition 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.

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.

THEME
The contest does not have a specific theme for submitted artwork. All entries, however, should adhere to subject matter appropriate for a family-friendly display. Artwork that includes profanity, obscene language or symbols, depiction of drug abuse, criminal violence, or nudity will be disqualified. The museum and its contest representatives have sole discretion in determining the appropriateness & eligibility of entries.

ELIGIBILITY
Public school contestants must be enrolled in grades 1-12 in one of the following participating school districts: Aldine ISD, Conroe ISD, Cy-Fair ISD, Klein ISD, Magnolia ISD, Spring ISD, or Tomball ISD. Public school students must enter through their school districts. Private School & Home School students must reside in one of the above districts, and enter through the school in which they are enrolled.

All entries must be created under the direct supervision of an art teacher at the student’s school. Artwork created under the supervision of private tutors outside of the student’s school program is not permitted for entry.

ORIGINALITY
  • All work must be entirely created by the student. The entry must be conceptualized, developed, and
    completed by the student. Each student may only submit one art piece for consideration.
  • Only one student may work on a single entry. No group project submissions will be accepted.
  • Artwork previously entered into the Pearl Fincher Museum of Fine Arts’ Student Art Contest may not be
    re-entered. All 2020 contest entries must be completed in the 2019-2020 academic year.
  • Visual resources or references should be attached to the back of the artwork. These include, but are not
    limited to, original photographs, student-directed photographs, preliminary sketches, and rough drafts.
    Unless created through direct observation, all works of art should have a visual resource attached to
    the back.
  • Original student photographs or student-directed photographs may be used by students in the development of the entry. Photographs not originated by the student may not be used as source material for artwork
    submissions. Copying a photograph exactly in any media is prohibited.
  • Images traced with the use of a projector or other mechanical means are prohibited.


GUIDELINES FOR ARTWORK
  • Artwork must be two-dimensional and completely dried or fixed.
  • Maximum entry size: artwork may not exceed 36” (height) x 24” (width), including matting.
  • Works on paper should be matted (using black or white mat) or mounted to protect the artwork. Works on
    stretched canvas frames or canvas board do not need to be matted.
  • Paintings on canvas frames must be wired and ready to hang. Any piece that is particularly heavy or fragile
    must also be ready to hang.
  • Artwork may not be framed.
  • Artwork must NOT be signed on the front of the piece.
  • Each student may submit one piece of artwork, in any of the following media:
    Drawing - Colored or graphite pencil, ink, pastel, crayon, chalk, marker, or charcoal. Pastels and charcoal must be protected with a fixative spray.
    Painting - Acrylic, watercolor, oil, tempera, and other plastic paints.
    Printmaking - Block print, monoprint, collagraph, serigraph, lithograph, + other forms.
    Mixed Media - Entries in which two or more 2-D media are combined in a single two dimensional entry; includes collage.* Materials may extend up to one inch from the surface. (*Collage - No more than 20% of collage material may be from newspapers, magazines, books, or other material pre-printed with text or designs (such as scrapbook paper). 
  • Photography - Includes original traditional or digital photographs taken by the student, in color or black and white. 
  • Digital Art
    Includes compositions rendered on a computer from a blank workspace, as well as compositions that
    begin with the student’s original photograph, drawing, or illustration that is scanned in and completed
    with digital processes. Entries should adhere to size, matting, & originality guidelines as specified above.

  • Media NOT allowed at this time: Animation, video art; ceramics, sculpture, jewelry, and other 3D work.

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 is not a required entry fee for the 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.

Contest Forms
All entrants must accurately complete the contest entry form and artist statement, and submit the information electronically

Student Art Contest Entry 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 form. 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. The Artist Statement may assist jurors in learning more about the artwork, which could affect judging outcome (see below).

The contest forms will be made available on the museum website (www.pearlmfa.org) on February 10, 2020. All entrants must accurately complete and submit the contest forms electronically by March 24, 2020. The completed forms will then need to be printed and submitted with the artwork. For each entry, please submit:
  • 2 copies of the completed Entry Form – signed by student, parent/guardian, teacher, and principal
             - One copy of the Entry Form should be affixed to the back of the artwork.
             - The second copy should be submitted to the museum’s contest representative at the time of artwork submission.
  • 1 copy of the completed Artist Statement
            - This should be attached to hang from the lower right corner of the artwork, facing forward.

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: The museum and its contest representatives reserve the right to exclude any artwork from consideration in the contest. Any artwork disqualified for not meeting entry requirements – which include adherence to appropriate subject matter guidelines – will not complete the adjudication process. The decisions of the museum & contest representatives are final as relating to all contest matters.

JUDGING PROCEDURE
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
Each home school teacher and private school may submit up to 20 entries. 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 based on the criteria listed under Judging Criteria. The final selections 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 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.

Division I: Grades 9-12
1st Place: $1000
2nd Place: $500
3rd Place: $300
Honorable Mention: $100 art gift bag

Division 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 bag

Division 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 bag

Jurors’ Selection
Artwork that is not selected as a place winner may be selected as a Jurors’ Selection, and also included in the Student Art Contest Juried Exhibition on view April 8 - May 6, 2020. Every year, the Student Art Contest receives exceptional artwork from area students and the inclusion of Jurors’ Selection pieces allows us to recognize as many of these students as possible. The number of selections is limited due to space constraints, but will include artwork from all three divisions.

Participant Certificates
Students whose artwork was selected by their school and/or school district for contest entry, but not selected by Student Art Contest jurors as a place winner or Jurors’ Selection, will receive a Participant Certificate.

2020 Student Art Contest Winners & Juried Exhibition
All place winners and Jurors’ Selections from the 2020 contest will be on exhibition at the Pearl Fincher Museum of Fine Arts from April 8 - May 6, 2020. Artwork will be returned to the schools by Student Art Contest representatives on Thursday, May 7, 2020.


CONTACT
Student Art Contest 2020 Co-chairs:
Patti Hatcher
hatpat4401@gmail.com

Amy Sullivan
artcontest@pearlmfa.org

Museum Staff Liaison:
Emily Guerra
Community Engagement Director 
281-376-6322
emily@pearlmfa.org

Student Art Contest 2020 Previous Contest Winners