BEST OF POLK 2025 PROSPECTUS
Purpose of Exhibit: The Best of Polk Exhibit was created to showcase the highest level of visual artistry in Polk County. The exhibit, which will open at the Polk Arts & Culture Hall of Fame Gala, is a juried show featuring a $2500 prize for Best in Show. In all, $5,000 in prizes are being offered for local artists. After the initial opening at the Hall of Fame Gala, the exhibit will move to the Polk History Center in Bartow until December.
IMPORTANT DATES
Call for Art released; application period opens June 1, 2025
Application deadline (submitted Online) August 30, 2025
Acceptance/Non-acceptance notices sent via email September 15, 2025
Accepted artwork delivered by artist October 13, 2025
Exhibit opening at Hall of Fame Gala October 14, 2025
Public exhibit opening at Polk History Center Date TBA soon
Opening Reception at Polk History Center with awards announcement Date TBA soon
Artwork Pickup at Polk History Center Date TBA soon
ELIGIBILITY
Any adult over the age of 18, living part-time (6 months or more) or full-time in Polk County, Florida, is eligible to enter. It is the responsibility of every artist entering the exhibit to read, understand, and adhere to the guidelines presented in this Prospectus.
ORIGINALITY: Only original work is eligible. “Original” means the entries are your composition in concept and design, created by your own hands from your sketches, reference photos, or other source materials created by you. Works created in a live or online class or workshop with the help or direction of an instructor are not eligible. Works based on another artist’s work are not eligible.
CREATION DATE: All entries must have been created after January 1, 2024.
2D and 3D artwork is acceptable.
· 2D work must be framed OR canvas edges finished to eliminate white edges. Must be properly wired for hanging. Maximum size is 36” wide x 48” long, including frame.
· 3D work must be wired for hanging or display on a 12” x 12” pedestal.
· Maximum weight of any artwork is 20 lbs.
UNACCEPTABLE WORKS: crafts, jewelry, copies of published work, pieces requiring electricity, pieces produced by artificial intelligence, or any work deemed potentially offensive to the community. Polk Arts & Cultural Alliance and Bartow Art Guild reserve the right to refuse work deemed to be in violation of any exhibit rules.
ENTRY PROCESS & FEES
ENTRY PROCESS: All entries are submitted and paid for using the online process provided. Use THIS LINK to access the application portal and upload digital images of your artwork. Once you have submitted your application form and images, you cannot make any further changes to your application.
ENTRY FEES: Each artist may submit up to three pieces for consideration by the jury. For up to two pieces, the entry fee is $40.00. A third piece may be entered for an additional $10.00. The exhibit jury will select no more than one work per artist; however, entry does not guarantee that any works will be selected. All entry fees are non-refundable.
IMAGES: Use JPEG or JPG files only. The dimension should be 1,200 pixels or greater on the longest side. Keep size under 5MB. The name of the uploaded image file must match the title of the piece.
ART INTAKE
Art Intake will happen on October 13, 2025 at the Bartow Civic Center 2250 S. Floral Ave., Bartow, FL 33830. Intake times and instructions will be provided upon jury acceptance into the show. The artist must sign a Loan Agreement prior to work being accepted and hung.
All works will be examined and photographed to ensure:
o Artwork matches digital entry
o Undamaged condition
o Proper framing and wiring for hanging/pedestal display
o Artwork is tagged for proper identification (tag sent with acceptance email)
o Proper padding, marked with the artist’s name
§ 2D: We recommend a padded sleeve of insulated bubble wrap
§ 3D: We recommend a heavy box, plastic bin, or art crate with sufficient padding to protect your work.
Liability & Insurance: Artist will assume all risks of damage to or loss of his/her own art from whatever cause. Artist shall be solely and exclusively responsible to insure properly and adequately their work and property.
SALES & COMMISSION
The sale of artwork is encouraged. Work will be offered for sale at the price originally stated by the artist on the entry form. There will be a 30% commission on all works sold. Sold works will be released for pickup by purchasers on the closing date of the show. The artist will receive payment for any sold works within 2 weeks of the show's close.
JURYING AND JUDGING OF ARTWORK
A select number of local artists whose works have not been entered into the show will serve as the jury team for this show. This team will select the works to be exhibited, and their decision will be final.
We are pleased to announce Richard Colvin, Executive Director of Leesburg Center for the Arts, will serve as our show judge. Richard is an artist, art teacher, museum professional, and musician. His art is in private collections around the country, as well as Mount Dora Center for the Arts, Leesburg Center for the Arts, Cornell Fine Arts Museum, Florida Atlantic University, and Maitland Art Center. Richard will determine all awards, and his decision will be final.
AWARDS
Ten awards will be presented at the Opening Reception, date & time to be announced soon.
· Best of Show: $2500
· Second Place: $1,000
· Third Place: $500
· Award of Excellence (3): $200
· Merit Award (4): $100
Winning artists will be paid by check upon completion of a W-9 form.
ART PICK-UP
All artwork is to be picked up at Polk County History Center upon the show's close, the date will be announced soon. Work left 14 days after the exhibit's close becomes the property of Bartow Art Guild.