CRT's 2020 National Arts Show Accepting Submissions thru Feb. 7

For nearly 30 years, the Community Renewal Team (CRT) has hosted an annual National Arts Program® (NAP), providing an opportunity for all local artists to showcase their art within the community. Youth, teens, amateurs, intermediate and professional artists from both Middlesex and Hartford Counties are invited to submit their work now for the 2020 art show, which will be on display at Capital Community College (950 Main Street in Hartford, CT) from February 13 – March 2, 2020.

All forms of visual arts are accepted for this show; from paintings and photographs to sculptures, crafts and textiles.

Entries submitted must be the original work of the applicant and completed within the last three years – up to two entries per artist. Participants must be current residents of Hartford or Middlesex County, or an employee or family member of an employee of CRT.

Artists can submit their work for free to this show. By removing the financial and commercial requirements of most exhibitions, this special show creates a sense of community and artistic fulfillment for all participants.

The deadline to register for the 2020 National Arts Program in Central Connecticut is Friday, February 7, 2020.

To register for the show, please visit the NAP registration page: https://www.nationalartsprogram.org/hartford/

Prizes will be awarded in each of the following categories:

• Amateur – an adult with little or no experience
• Intermediate – an adult with some experience, beginning art students, etc.
• Professional – an adult with serious art training or employed in an art-related job
• Youth (12 Years and younger)
• Teen (ages 13 - 18)
• Teens Looking Out for Teens (ages 13 – 18) – in this special category, individual teenagers or groups of teens can submit a piece of art that evokes a greater understanding of the social issues affecting teens.

The final category – “Teens Looking Out for Teens” is being offered again this year, following the initial success of this new category added to the program last year.

All entries in the 2020 National Arts Program must be delivered to either:

• Capital Community College (located at 950 Main Street, Hartford) on Feb. 5 or 6 between 3:00 pm - 6:00 pm, or February 7 by appointment only.
• Avon Old Farms School (located at 500 Old Farms Road, Avon) on either February 5 or 6 between 3:00 pm - 5:00 pm at the Estabrook Art Center.

A gallery display of all of the art submitted to the 2020 National Arts Program will be held at Capital Community College (950 Main Street in Hartford, CT), on the 1st and 11th floors from February 13 to March 2, 2020 during the following hours: Monday - Friday 7:00 am – 10:00 pm and Saturdays 8:00 am – 1:00 pm. During that time, visitors are encouraged to vote for their favorite works of art to help select the “People’s Choice” award winner.

The 29th Annual National Arts reception and presentation of awards will take place on February 22, 2020 at 11:00 am in Centinal Hall, located on the 11th floor of Capital Community College. (In the event of inclement weather, the reception will be rescheduled for Feb. 29, 2020.)

The National Arts Program provides materials and funding for this visual art exhibit including awards for winning work totaling $3,450.

All prizes are determined by a panel of judges with experience in the arts. Prizes will be awarded by classification:

• Adult (Amateur, Intermediate and Professional) – There will be three First Place Awards of $350; three Second Place Awards of $250; and three Third Place Awards of $150.
• Youth / Teen – There will be two First Place Awards of $150; two Second Place Awards of $100; and two Third Place Awards of $50.
• A Best of Show Award in the amount of $400.
• An Art Education Award for $200.
• Honorable Mention Ribbons will be awarded at the discretion of the judges.

Awards are limited to one cash award per artist per classification.

Be sure to ‘like’ CRT on Facebook to get the most up to date information about the 2020 National Arts Program. For more information about the rules of the exhibit or to volunteer, please contact CRT via email: info@crtct.org.

CRT's 2020 National Arts Program is supported in part by the Greater Hartford Arts Council's United Arts Campaign with major support from the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving.