Who Can Enter?

• All Florida Resident ages 18 and older
• Open to a artists of varying talent levels creating artworks in a diversity of mediums. (oil, acrylic, gauche, water media, pastels and pen & inks)
• The event is limited to 20 participants

Event Incentives

• FREE Fair entry
• Artists designated parking
• Freshly created artworks will be exhibited throughout the Jan.24 - Feb. 2 Fair dates with the option to sell.

Event Timeline: Friday, January 24, 2025

Registration deadline by January 15th

• 12 noon - Artists arrive, check-in and have of the back of canvas stamped before the artist going to create. (Building 2, “Artist Alley”)
• 1-5pm - Artists create at preferred locations throughout Fair Vendors, Carnival and Yesteryear Village.
• 5:30pm - Artists deliver freshly created artworks framed, artworks tags completed and deliver to Building 2, “Artist Alley” space to ready to hang (Expo staff with hang artworks)
• 5:30 -7pm - Artists enjoy Fair
• 7:30pm - Exhibition reception, wine & lite bites
• 8:00pm - Artwork awards announced
• January 24 - February 2, 2025 - All artwork displayed until the end of the Fair.
• February 3^rd - 5^th between 9:00am - 4:30pm - Artwork pick up (Building 2, “Artist Alley”)

Painting Awards:

“Essence of the Fair” Plein air paintings and sketches that capture and reflect the dynamic energy of the Fairgrounds especially the lively scenes, colors and action of the Vendors, Carnival and Yesteryear Village.

AWARDS

• 1st Place $300
• 2^st Place $200
• 3^rd Place $100

Entry Rules:

General Rules

1. Participation is limited to the first 20 artists who register.

2. All paintings must be created on the South Florida Fairgrounds, Friday, January 24, 2025, between1:00pm - 5:00 pm.

3. Check-in and stamping of the back of canvas must occur before the artist is allowed to paint.

• Check-in instructions will be sent (via email) along with parking information prior to January 24th. (Building 2, “Artist Alley”)
• At Check-in, artists will receive a Fair admission ticket.
• If you want to come to the Fair prior to the Plein Air event to scout locations, a ticket can be provided upon request.
• A fair volunteer will assist IF you need help to set up. Fair volunteers will be available throughout the day if needed: for example, the volunteer can sit in your area if you need to get something to eat or drink.
• Event continues rain or shine.

4. Types of media may include oils, acrylics, water media, pastels, and graphite.

5. Types of surfaces may include paper, wrapped canvas and canvas boards.

6. No photographs or iPad can be used to create the paintings. They can be used to reference the lighting of the scene.

Submission & Sale of Paintings:

7. Contestants may submit a maximum of two signed artworks.

8. Artists must drop off the framed or gallery wrapped canvases by 5:00 pm. (At Building 2, “Artist Alley”)

• Check-in Stamp must be visible on the back of each painting in order to be accepted.
• Paintings much be appropriately framed, mounted, and securely wired for hanging. Artwork with clip mounts, missing wires, string, scotch tape or saw tooth hangers WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED.
• All submitted exhibit art must be for sale and remain in the exhibit until the end of the Fair.
• In keeping with the South Florida Fair family orientations, items of offensive controversial or objectionable nature or subject matter will not be accepted.

9. Maximum Painting submissions size:

• Unframed Painting: Can be any size as long as it does not exceed 320 square inches (equivalent to a 16x20 inch canvas)
• Framed Painting: Can be any size if it does not exceed 480 square inches (includes outside dimensions of frame – (equivalent to a 20x24)

10. Selling, donating and pickup paintings:

• Pricing: Artists can set the price of their painting but cannot change the price after the painting has been submitted for judging.
• Voluntary Donation for the Scholarship and Educational Fund: If your painting does not sell at the Fair, you may wish to donate it to our Scholarship & Educational Fund. The fund provides educational scholarships for local High School Students. Your painting can be used in the silent auction at annual fundraising event.
• Commission: The South Florida Fair will retain a 20 percent commission on all paintings sold during the Fair. Artists will receive payment within a month of the fair ending. If a painting is purchased during the Fair, it cannot be removed by the purchaser until after the Fair.

Pick-Up Artwork: Sold and unsold paintings can be picked up February 3^rd - 5^th between 9:00am. - 4:30pm (At Building 2, “Artist Alley”). Special arrangements can be made with Lorie Stinson if you are unable to pick up your items on these dates or times.

All entries not claimed by March 1 of the same year will be recycled, disposed of, or donated through our program department.