Small Works on Paper entries due July 22

LITTLE ROCK — The deadline for entering the Arkansas Arts Council’s 2023 Small Works on Paper juried exhibition is Friday, July 22, 2022.

Visit http://www.arkansasarts.org to submit work online.

Celebrating its 36th year, Small Works on Paper is a competitive visual arts exhibition showcasing artwork no larger than 18-by-24 inches by artists who are members of the Arkansas Artist Registry. The Arkansas Artist Registry is an online gallery featuring the artwork of Arkansas artists. Membership to the Arkansas Artist Registry is free and open to all Arkansas artists ages 18 and older.

“Small Works on Paper is a unique opportunity for Arkansas artists to disseminate their work to areas of the state that they normally wouldn’t be able to reach,” Stacy Hurst, secretary of Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism, said in a recent news release. “The arts is an essential tool to expose tourists and locals alike to the vast artistic talent found in Arkansas.”

“Sharing the work of Arkansas artists is one of our passions at the Arkansas Arts Council. We strive to encourage all creatives with opportunities like these to get involved in the statewide art community,” Patrick Ralston, director of Arkansas Arts Council, said in the release.

An out-of-state juror selects a maximum of 40 pieces of artwork to tour with the exhibition. Up to $2,000 will be available for juror-selected awards. Artwork selected as a purchase award will be purchased at the price listed by the artist at time of entry. The artwork will become part of the SWOP permanent collection, the release said.

Arkansas artists may enter up to three works of art on paper for a fee of $15 for the first entry, $20 for two entries or $25 for three entries. Works must have been completed within the last two years. Artists whose work is selected for the exhibition will be notified in September. The 2023 exhibition will open at the South Arkansas Arts Center in El Dorado.

The 2023 juror is Margaret Lejeune, associate professor of Photography in the Department of Art and Design at Bradley University in Peoria, Illinois. Lejeune holds an MFA degree in Photography/visual Studies from the Visual Studies Workshop, in Rochester, New York. Her work has been exhibited in both juried and invitational exhibitions. “She is a frequent invited lecturer, artist-in-residence and arts conference panelist. Lejeune serves on the board of directors for the Society for Photographic Education and is a member of the Environmental Photographers Collective,” the release said.

Call Cheri Leffew at 501-3249767 or email cheri.leffew@arkansas.gov for more information.