Artists from Oakland County and seven other southeast Michigan counties have a few extra days to enter the 2018 MI Great Artist online art competition and have a chance at the winner’s portion of more than $16,000 in cash and prizes.
Entries may be submitted to MIGreatArtist.com until noon Tuesday. A “People’s Choice” award is new to the competition this year, which gives $750 to the artist who receives the most votes during public voting, which begins Aug. 23. Three other finalists receive $375 in cash and other prizes.
Artists who are 18 years and older who live, work or go to school in the following counties are eligible: Oakland, Genesee, Lapeer, Livingston, Macomb, Shiawassee, St. Clair, and Wayne counties.
They may submit up to five original works of art online at MIGreatArtist.com for a public vote to determine the top 30 artists. The “People’s Choice” winner is automatically one of the finalists. A panel of renowned judges will choose four other finalists and ultimately the winner.
Complete rules about what art works and artists qualify for submission are on the website.
Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson and Park West Gallery founder and CEO Albert Scaglione launched the contest in 2012 as a quality of life initiative to support up-and-coming artists. Patterson said the cash awards have grown to a total of $3,375, with additional prizes bringing the total to more than $16,000 in cash and prizes. The MI Great Artist winner receives $1,500 and other prizes.
Public voting takes place at MIGreatArtist.com from Aug. 23 through Sept. 5. The top 30 artists will be posted on the website Sept. 7. Judges will review the top 30 and announce the finalists Sept. 18. There will be an exhibition of the five finalists at Park West in October. Patterson
and Scaglione will announce the winner at an evening gallery reception Oct. 23.
MI Great Artist partners include the participating counties, Park West Gallery and Oakland County Prosper® magazine.
