Indiana University East is accepting art entries for the 39th annual Whitewater Valley Art Competition (WVAC). The submission process will be electronic at callforentry.org.

Originating in 1978, the WVAC was founded by Tom Thomas, late associate professor fine of fine arts. Thomas taught fine arts at IU East for over 30 years. The WVAC has a history of open judging, allowing the public to be on site when the exhibit entries are excluded or included for the exhibit. In this spirit, digital images of entered works will be projected in an auditorium on the campus of IU East and will be juried by a three-judge panel electronically.

Artwork will be judged electronically by jurors from 10 a.m. to noon, and 1-3 p.m. on Friday, September 29, in Vivian Auditorium, located in Whitewater Hall. Intervals in the judging will be scheduled for the public to interact with the panel with regard to rationale related to selection or rejection of works. Between 50–55 works will be accepted to the WVAC exhibit. The deadline for accepted entries to be received at IU East is Friday, October 13.

Each artist may submit up to three entries. Entries must be submitted by 5 p.m. on Friday, September 22. Fees are $20 for one entry, $25 for two entries, and $30 for three entries.

Entries for the competition may include drawings, paintings, mixed media, photography, printmaking, computer graphics, relief sculpture and sculpture. Works are not judged by category. The top ten entries will receive monetary awards. IU East will award $5,000 in merit awards, including $1,000 for Best of Show.

Hand delivered entries will not be accepted. Artists needing assistance with photographing work for submission may do so by bringing the work to the Tom Thomas Gallery, located in Whitewater Hall, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., September 20-22. Entries will be photographed and emailed to the artist that day. The artist will then need to complete the electronic submission process online at callforentry.org.

Accepted entries will be on exhibit in the Tom Thomas Gallery and Meijer Artway from October 20-December 8.

Following the conclusion of the exhibit, artists may pick up their artwork from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., December 11-15.

Previous entries have included works from high schools and universities, art organizations and centers and independent artists. The competition is open to all artists, age 17 and older, who live within a 300-mile radius of Richmond, Ind.

To submit entries, go online to callforentry.org. For more information on entry details, visit iue.edu/gallery/competition.