We have many updates for 2022. A complete program reformat has been finalized. Some dates, times, and events may change as the season progresses.
Updates as of: 4/27/2022
- Student Category Separated Into New Competition
- New Categories.
- Automotive
- Murals
- Higher Prizes.
- Removal of Community Choice Award.
- New acceptance rules/conditions.
- Behavior policy instituted.
- New submission types specified.
- Clarification on submission types.
- Clarification on entry timeliness & standards.
- New program staff.
1. Changes to the Student Category
1.1 Separation of Competition. With the change in the dates, and sequence of the competition, the student category has been turned into a separate competition to run concurrently with the school season.
1.2 Subdivision by Education Level. The education levels will have their own categories to enter with photography & handcrafted.
Subsequent details will be disseminated prior to the competition start date.
2. New Categories
2.1 Automotive. The automotive category was created to celebrate the rich heritage of the auto industry in the City of Pontiac. Forms of art eligible for entry: Photography, Painting, Sculpture (& Modeling), 3D Art, Illustration, Graphic Design, & NFT. Entries must contain or be specifically related to the automobile.
2.2 Murals. Pontiac has an extensive network of Murals and Canvas Pontiac wanted to recognize these beautiful placemaking forms of in-place canvases. Eligible murals must be legally commissioned, within public view (not in a building), and be currently in place. There is a $3,000 prize or a mural commissioning for the winner of this category. There is no 2nd or 3rd place.
3. Increased prize funds
1st place increased from $2,000 to $3,000 for Photography, Handcrafted (including automotive.)
2nd place 1ncreased from $1,000 to $2,000 for Photography, Handcrafted (including automotive.)
3rd place increased from $500 to $1,000 for Photography, Handcrafted (including automotive.)
4. Removal of Community Choice
The Community Choice category has been eliminated for the 2022 season.
5. New Acceptance Rules/Conditions
In an effort to enhance the canvas experience and elevate the competition. Specific Updates Here
6. Behavior policy instituted
We’ve developed a standing behavior policy for all entrants. See Specific Updates Here
7. New Submission Types Specified
Digital Art, including Illustration, Graphic Design, and NFT (Non-Fungible Tokens) are eligible to be entered into the contest.
8. Clarification of Submission Types
8.1 Photography. Photography submissions include still-life art that is created using a camera. This includes SLR (Film), DSLR (Digital), Mirrorless (Digital), and Cell Phone (Digital). There are no specifications for editing or altering – it’s art.
8.2 Handcrafted. Handcrafted submissions include Painting, Illustration, Mixed-Media (mixed materials, collages & Assemblage), Digital Arts: Illustration, Graphic Design, Sculpture & 3D Art, and NFTs.
9. Clarification on Timeliness & General Qualification
9.1 Timeliness. There is no date limit on when the art was produced.
9.2 Qualification. To be eligible, the work being submitted must not have won any major awards or is extensively exhibited, ever. The entrant, themselves, must-own intellectual rights – there are no galleries, businesses, or entities permitted to enter the content.
10. New Program Staff
For 2022 we have new staff. Main Street Pontiac’s (MSP) Vice President, Steven Childs, is the Program Director. MSP Treasurer, Daniela Walters is the Program Financial Officer. MSP Board Member, Sean Kammer is the Program Strategist, and Emily Cunningham is Jury Manager & Student Art Program Coordinator.
Further updates will be made here.