The Greater Denton Arts Council proudly presents the 33rd annual Materials: Hard + Soft International Contemporary Craft Competition and Exhibition. Recognized as one of the premier craft exhibitions in the country, Materials: Hard + Soft began in 1987 and was originally initiated by area artist Georgia Leach Gough. The exhibition celebrates the evolving field of contemporary craft and the remarkable creativity and innovation of artists who push the boundaries of their chosen media. Since 2017, the exhibition has expanded to include works by international artists.

2020 ENTRY GUIDELINES

HOW TO ENTER
Our entry deadline for the 2020 exhibition is September 29, 2019. Please review the upcoming schedule below for more information on the next steps in the competition.  A downloadable 2020 Prospectus is available for entry guidelines and procedures questions. Entries can be submitted online or through the mail.

AWARDS
The Greater Denton Arts Council will provide Juror Awards in the amounts of $1,000, $750, $500 and $250. Winners will be determined by the juror and will be announced at the opening reception of the exhibition on February 7, 2020.

ELIGIBLE MEDIA
Works produced in any of the craft media: clay, fiber, glass, metal, paper, wood, or any combination of craft media, are acceptable. Entries must be the complete work of the submitting artist. Works can be a collaboration piece, all collaborators must be listed in the space provided on the entry form. Local, national, and international artists are encouraged to apply. Kits or commercially designed works will not be accepted. All work must have been completed within the past two years (2017-2019) and not previously exhibited at the Patterson-Appleton Arts Center.

NUMBER OF ENTRIES + ENTRY FEE
Each artist is limited to three (3) entries. There is a $40 (USD) non-refundable fee, for up to three (3) entries. Payments must be submitted online at the time of application.

SIZE LIMITATIONS
All work must be ready for installation. Submissions are restricted to a weight limit of no more than 75 pounds. GDAC reserves the right to exclude any entry that presents complex installation or assembly problems.

SALES
A 30% commission will be retained from all work sold during the exhibition. Works which are not for sale must be clearly marked as such (NFS).

PUBLICITY
The exhibition will be publicized regionally, nationally and internationally. GDAC reserves the right to use photographs or digital images of any accepted work for the purpose of publicity.

DELIVERY + RETU RN OF WORK
Artists are responsible for pre-paying all shipping charges to and from the exhibition site upon selection by the juror. Accepted works must be hand-delivered or shipped according to the instructions provided in the Artist Contract. Entries will be insured by GDAC while in its custody. Insurance value for pieces NFS should reflect fair market value. No work may be withdrawn before the close of the exhibition. Sending an entry to this exhibition shall imply an agreement on the part of the sender to all conditions above.

DEADLINES AND EXHIBITION DATES

September 29, 2019 | Deadline for acceptance of online entry materials (by 11:59 PM)

November 15, 2019| Notification forms sent to all artists

December 6, 2019 | Artist contracts are due

January 5 – 11, 2020 | Shipped and hand-delivered artwork due at the Arts Center

February 7, 2020 | Opening Reception 6:00 – 8:00 PM. Award Ceremony 7:00 PM.

February 7 – May 9, 2020 | Exhibition on view at the Patterson-Appleton Arts Center

May 11 – 23, 2020 | De-installation and return of artwork

For additional questions about the competition and exhibition, contact [email protected]

Find out more HERE plus view the previous years exhibitions.