The 2018 North Charleston Arts Fest is just a few weeks way, taking place May 2-6. The event offers some excellent exhibition opportunities for fine artists and photographers ages 16 and up, including the annual Judged Fine Art and Judged Photography Competitions & Exhibitions. Entries for these judged competitions may compete for ribbons and cash prizes and will be on display throughout the festival in Exhibit Hall A at the Charleston Area Convention Center Complex, located at 5001 Coliseum Drive in North Charleston. Complete details and entry instructions for all exhibition opportunities are available for download at NorthCharlestonArtsFest.com/apply. There is no pre-jury process or application to complete.
Exhibition
Fine artists age 18 and up are invited to enter original work into the annual North Charleston Arts Fest Judged Fine Art Competition & Exhibition and compete for cash prizes totaling up to $6,350. Media categories have expanded this year to include printmaking. Additionally, drawing and pastel have been split into separate categories. Judged Art entries will be accepted in seven media categories total: acrylic, oil, drawing, pastel, watercolor, printmaking, and 2-D mixed media. Awards will be at the sole discretion of the judge, Zinnia Willits, Director of Collections and Operations at the Gibbes Museum of Art in Charleston, SC. She received her M.A. in Public History from the University of South Carolina and has worked at the Gibbes since 2003, where she manages the museum’s permanent collection and oversees museum operations as well as logistics for its active exhibition and loan programs. Prior to working at the Gibbes, Ms. Willits served as Registrar for the Augusta Museum of History and Assistant Registrar for the Michael C. Carlos Museum at Emory University. Ms. Willits is Immediate Past President of the South Carolina Federation of Museums, Vice President of the Southeastern Museums Conference, an appointed member of the 2018 National Program Committee of the American Alliance of Museums, and a Peer Reviewer for the Museum Assessment Program (in the area of Collections Stewardship.) Ms. Willits has been fortunate to work closely with local, regional, and nationally-known artists as well as with private & public collections over the course of her career at the Gibbes. Her experiences related to movement and installation of artwork are often directly connected to the nuances of a particular “process” an artist has employed giving her a unique perspective on the various qualities of all mediums of artwork.
Fine art entries will be accepted at the Charleston Area Convention Center on Monday and Tuesday, April 30 and May 1, from noon to 7:00pm. Artists may enter any combination of categories with a maximum of four entries total. A non-refundable fee of $10 per entry is due at drop-off.
Judged Photography Competition & Exhibition
Professional and amateur photographers age 16 and up are invited to enter original prints into the annual North Charleston Arts Fest Judged Photography Competition & Exhibition and compete for cash prizes totaling up to $1,450. Submissions will be accepted in the Professional/Advanced division or Amateur division under the categories of Color and Monochrome. This year, awards will be at the sole discretion of the judge, David “Sully” Sullivan. A native of Charleston, SC, Sullivan has lived and worked in New York and California, and currently resides in Charleston, where he maintains a studio when not on location. He regularly shoots on film and his work runs the gamut of fashion, portrait, lifestyle, travel, editorial, and product photography. Recent clients include Volvo, Oscar de la Renta, and The Wall Street Journal.
Photography entries will be accepted at the Charleston Area Convention Center on Monday and Tuesday, April 30 and May 1, from noon to 7:00pm. Photographers may enter any combination of categories with a maximum of four entries total. A non-refundable fee of $5 per entry is due at drop-off.
The Judged Fine Art and Photography Exhibitions are free and open to the public throughout the North Charleston Arts Fest. Viewing times are Wednesday, May 3, 6:00-8:30pm, Thursday and Friday, May 4 3 and 4, 10:00am–5:00pm, and Saturday and Sunday, May 5 and 6, 11:00am-5:00pm. Award winners will be acknowledged at a free public reception on Wednesday, May 3, 6:00-8:30pm, at the Charleston Area Convention Center. Musical entertainment will be provided by Dwayne Johnson & Soulfood Jazz and refreshments will be served. The public is welcome to attend.
The North Charleston Arts Fest, set for May 2-6, has matured into one of the most comprehensive arts festivals in the state of South Carolina with a schedule that offers something for everyone, including concerts, theatre presentations, children’s programs, film screenings, workshops and demonstrations, exhibitions, public art installations, and much more. The Arts Fest Expo, considered the festival’s flagship event, takes place May 5 & 6 at the Charleston Area Convention Center and offers free admission and parking to a diverse array of performances on four stages. Other Expo activities include judged art and photography shows, the SC Palmetto Hands Juried Fine Craft Exhibit, live art demonstrations, hands-on children’s activities, art & craft vendors, roving entertainers, and more.
For more information about the North Charleston Arts Fest, to download the prospectus for the Judged Fine Art and Judged Photography Competitions & Exhibitions, or for details on vending opportunities, visit NorthCharlestonArtsFest.com. For more information about other exhibition opportunities offered by the City of North Charleston Cultural Arts Department, visit the Arts & Culture section of the City’s website, or call 843-740-5854.