The City of McKinney and McKinney Performing Arts Center is currently seeking submissions to our 6^th Annual ‘Unique by Nature’ Juried Art Competition and Exhibition. This event was created to build a public and permanent art collection for the McKinney Performing Arts Center located in Historic Downtown McKinney.

Deadline: March 17,2017

Cash and purchase prizes totaling $10,500 will be distributed as follows:

• One large scale work will be awarded an $8,000 Purchase Prize and will become part of MPAC’s permanent and public art collection. Eligible pieces must be 36″ or more in one dimension. To be considered for the Purchase Prize, artists must submit an online application. There is a $25 application fee to submit 3 works. All fees will be applied to prize pool and scholarships.
• $2,500 in prize moneywill be divided among 5 works of art chosen by the judge including one Young Artist Award. Size restrictions apply. Artists interested in submitting work to be considered for the Cash Prize must deliver their submissions in person on Saturday, March 25. There is a $20 application fee to submit 2 works. All fees will be applied to prize pool and scholarships.

ONLINE FORM FOR PURCHASE PRIZE SUBMISSIONS

PROSPECTUS AND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Other Considerations:

• 2017 Purchase Prize submissions will be juried by a four-person panel. 10 semi-finalists will be selected in consideration for the Purchase Prize.
• Prize winners will be chosen by 2017 judge, Robert Jessup, Chair of the Department of Studio Art at UNT, College of Visual Arts & Design.
• ‘Unique by Nature’ is open to professional and emerging artists who are legal residents of the United States and at some point have been residents of Texas.
• Entrants must be at least 17 years of age by May 2017.
• Artists may price their work for sale during the exhibit. Sales will be handled by MPAC minus a 25% commission. All commissions collected by McKinney Performing Arts Center will be used to purchase additional art work or to fund future competitions.
• Staff and volunteers will use care in handling the work; however, we are not responsible for losses or damages. Artists may consider insuring their work based on its value.

2017 CALENDAR

Dec 30 – Online ‘Call for Artists’ Open – Purchase Prize entries only
Mar 17 – Online entry submission deadline at 7 p.m. – Purchase Prize entries only
Mar 23 – Notification of Finalists for Purchase Prize
Mar 25 – Delivery of work
Apr 1 – Awards Reception
Apr 1-22 – Exhibition
Apr 7-9 – Downtown McKinney’s Arts in Bloom – Spring Arts & Wine Festival
Apr 23 – Retrieve work