FINE ARTS

New in 2009! Any accepted work that the exhibitor chooses to list as FOR SALE will be sold through the State Fair at a 20% commission. All accepted entries will remain on exhibit throughout the fair.

The Fine Arts department of the Minnesota State Fair presents an annual art exhibition that is the result of a juried competition. Participation is open to all living residents of Minnesota, and each may submit one work for consideration. Only those works selected by the jurors are displayed in the Fine Arts Center during the State Fair. In 2008, a total of 2,400 pieces were submitted, and 385 works were accepted.

Registration for the Minnesota State Fair Fine Arts Competition is required and will be available April 1. Eligible artists must register their work. Registration must be completed on-line no later than 4:30 p.m., Monday, July 20, 2009. Registration absolutely closes July 20, 4:30 p.m.

IMPORTANT: ENTRIES WILL NOT BE RECEIVED IF NOT REGISTERED.

GENERAL INFORMATION AND RULES FOR ENTRY: The Fine Arts Rules and Regulations will be available for download April 1. Or, if you prefer to receive a copy by mail, contact the Competition Office at (651) 288-4417 and request to be place on the Fine Arts mailing list. Exhibitors who have entered with in the past two years are already included on that list.

NEW for 2009! Any work accepted in the Fine Arts Competition listed FOR SALE by the exhibitor will be sold through the Minnesota State Fair at a 20% commission. All accepted entries will remain on exhibit during the run of the State Fair even if sold.

New in 2009! Additional prizes ranging from $100 to $200 will be awarded and are sponsored by the following: American Swedish Institute, Anchor Bank (Arden Hills), Andersen Center, Arden Hills/Shoreview Rotary International Club, College of Visual Arts, Hopkins Center for the Arts, Lake Elmo Regional Art Center, Minnesota Citizens for the Arts, Minnesota State Fair Foundation, Northern Clay Center, Patricia Kennedy Crump Memorial, Patti Paulson, Robert Crump Memorial, Textile Center, and Walker Art Center.

NOTE: Students in grades K-12 who are looking to enter artwork and photographs should do so in our Education Department competitions. Although the Fine Arts competition is open to any Minnesota artist, regardless of age, it is a highly competitive contest and we strongly recommend students enter the Education Department Competition, where their work will be judged solely against their peers.

Salon 300 - Attention Minnesota Artists: The Hopkins Center for the Arts will host the 6th annual exhibition of artwork submitted to, but not selected for the Minnesota State Fair Fine Arts Exhibition, providing Minnesota artists with increased opportunity for exhibiting their work.

Rules and specifications for the Salon 300 exhibition will be available by clicking the following link:

• Salon 300 Rules

DOWNLOADABLES: Fine Arts rules and regulation can be viewed and printed using "Adobe Acrobat Reader version 4 or higher. If you do not have Acrobat Reader or have an older version you may download "Acrobat Reader 5" by clicking on the "Acrobat Reader" icon.

• Fine Arts Rules and Regulations

Please be sure to PRINT AND READ the above rules before beginning on-line registration as it includes pertinent information for you to attach to your entry.

INITIAL MAILING: Sent via bulk mail in mid April.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Until the rules are posted, please consider the dates and times below to be tentative.

REGISTRATION is required for all Fine Arts divisions and will be available beginning April 1. Entries will not be received if not previously registered. Registration must be completed on-line or postmarked by 4:30 p.m. Monday, July 20. On-line registration absolutely closes July 20, 4:30 p.m.

DELIVERY OF ENTRIES: Received at the Fine Arts Center, corner of Randall and Cosgrove (on the State Fairgrounds) Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, August 7 - 9, 10:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.

NOTIFICATION OF ACCEPTANCE and RETURN OF ENTRIES: Decisions of the jurors will be e-mailed to each artist August 12 & 13. Unaccepted work must be picked up from the Fine Arts Center Friday, Saturday or Sunday, August. 14 - 16, 10:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. Accepted work must ust be picked up from the Fine Arts Center Tuesday or Wednesday, September. 8 & 9, 10:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.

PREVIEW NIGHT: Tuesday, August. 25, 7:30 - 9:30 p.m. at the Fine Arts Center, for participating and nonparticipating artists and their friends.

For further information, please e-mail us or call us directly at (651) 288-4417.