OLD FORT, NC – Friends of the Mountain Gateway Museum (FOTMGM) and the Arrowhead Artists and Artisans League (A3L) in Old Fort are again cosponsoring an art contest and inviting high school-age youths in McDowell County to participate for the chance to win cash prizes and award ribbons.

The theme for this year’s contest is “Emerging Artists of McDowell County.” The contest will be open only to McDowell County students in grades 9 thru 12, or the equivalent, including home schools, private schools, and McDowell Early College. Each artist will be allowed only one entry. All entries will be exhibited from Feb. 8 thru March 2, 2020, at the Arrowhead Gallery & Studios in Old Fort. No registration fee will be charged.

“I appreciate the support the FOTMGM and A3L have offered to the young artists of our county,” said Cristi Shaw, the visual arts teacher at McDowell High School. “The recognition and awards that my art students received from last year’s contest was very encouraging as they pursue their future as aspiring artists. I look forward to working with these two amazing organizations again in February.”

The FOTMGM will award $200 to the first-place winner; $100 to the second-place winner; and $50 for the third- place winner of the contest. There also will be a Peoples’ Choice Award for the piece of art receiving the most votes from visitors during the month-long exhibition. “Honorable Mention” ribbons may be awarded at the discretion of the judge. Artists also will be allowed to sell their entries, but they must set the price for their work. A3L will take 10 percent of all sales.

Artists are urged to be creative. However, all entries must be original, in good taste, and follow contest guidelines. Acceptance of work for the contest is at the discretion of co-curators Helen Sullivan and Liz Meyer.

Works in a wide variety of media, as well as 3-D works, will be accepted. Suggested media include, but are not limited to, oils, acrylics, encaustic, cold wax, mixed media, watercolors, pastels, pen-and-ink, colored pencils, scratchboard, photography, digital media, sculpture, wood, jewelry, clay, papier-mache’, and fabric.

All artwork and completed entry forms should be dropped off at the Arrowhead Gallery & Studios, 78-C South Catawba Ave., Old Fort, by 5:00 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2020. No late entries will be accepted unless prior arrangements have been made.

Mathilda Tanner, an award-winning 2-D artist and potter with more than 20 years of experience, will be the judge for the contest. Tanner is the primary pottery instructor at the Arrowhead Gallery & Studios in Old Fort and a senior pottery instructor at the Black Mountain Center for the Arts.

Winners will be announced Saturday, Feb. 8, during an awards reception from 2 to 3 p.m. at the Arrowhead Gallery & Studios in Old Fort. Prizes and ribbons will be presented then.

The contest entry form and prospectus (rules) can be found online at: www.mgmnc.org; www.arrowheadart.org/ (under Exhibits tab); and http://mhs.mcdowell.k12.nc.us/; and also at the following physical locations: Mountain Gateway Museum, 24 Water St., in Old Fort; Arrowhead Gallery & Studios in Old Fort; McDowell High School; McDowell Early College; Old Fort Town Hall; Marion City Hall; McDowell Arts Council Association (MACA) in Marion; McDowell County Public Library in Marion, and the Old Fort branch library at 65 E. Mitchell St.

For more information about the contest, please contact RoAnn Bishop at Mountain Gateway Museum at 828- 668-9259 or roann.bishop@ncdcr.gov , or either Helen Sullivan or Liz Meyer at A3L at 828-668-1100 or A3L@arrowheadart.org .

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Mountain Gateway Museum & Heritage Center is located at 24 Water Street in Old Fort, NC. Hours are Tuesday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday, 2 to 5 p.m. Admission is free. The museum is a regional branch of the NC Museum of History in Raleigh and part of the Division of State History Museums, NC Department of Natural and Cultural Resources. Susi H. Hamilton, Secretary.