ART CONTEST RULES: Capture Our Town Through Art
The Blackstone 250th Semiquincentennial Celebration Committee invites all artists to “Capture Our Town Through Art”. Four locations throughout Blackstone have been chosen for this contest.
The “Capture Our Town Through Art” Contest is an opportunity for local artists to create an original artwork depicting one of the four locations in Blackstone listed in the guidelines.
PLEASE NOTE: Each artist understands that participating in this contest involves inherent risks, including but not limited to personal injury, illness, accidents, loss, or damage to personal property. Each artist assumes all such risks and agrees to release, waive, and hold harmless the Town of Blackstone, event organizers, property owners, and affiliates from any and all claims, liabilities, damages, or causes of action arising out of or related to participation in this contest, including injury, illness, death, or property loss, to the fullest extent permitted by law.
If you would like to be notified directly of updates on the contest, send your email address to Blackstone250th@townofblackstone.org.
Three Categories: AI or digital altered submissions in any category will NOT be allowed:
- Painting (acrylic, watercolor, oil, gouache)
- Drawing (pencil, ink, charcoal, pastel, colored pencil)
- Photography
Age Groups: Youth (12 to 18) and Adult (19+)
Timeline:
- Launch Date: February 1, 2026
- Drop Off Dates/Deadline at the Blackstone Public Library: June 26 and 27
- Judging Period: July 1 through July 17
- Winners Announced: July 25 at the 250th Semiquincentennial Event
- Art Contest Exhibition at the Blackstone Public Library: July 1 through July 17
Locations (Please be respectful of these spaces):
- BLACKSTONE GORGE
- CHRIST COMMUNITY CHURCH
- DANIELS FARMSTEAD
- QUAKER MEETING HOUSE
Submissions:
- Artwork must be created by the participant between February 1 and June 27 and be original. No AI or digitally altered submissions will be allowed
- Each participant may submit one piece per location
- Each submission must include artist’s name, age, category, and contact information
- Acceptable sizes for submissions:
- Painting and drawing categories between 8×11 to 16×20 framed
- Photography category between 8×10 and 11×14 framed
- All submissions must be mounted or framed for hanging
- Submissions can be picked up at the Blackstone Public Library on July 31 or August 1 during normal business hours. Any submissions not picked up become the property of the Town of Blackstone.
Judging
- Judging will be based on: Creativity, technical skill, composition and originality, and overall impact
- Decisions of the judges are final
Prizes
| Prize Level | Painting & Drawing | Photography |
|---|---|---|
| First Place | $100 | $50 |
| Second Place | $50 | $40 |
| Third Place | $25 | $30 |
| People’s Choice | $100 | $50 |
Ownership: The artwork submission shall remain the property of the entrant, but entry into this contest constitutes entrant’s irrevocable and perpetual permission and consent, without further compensation or attribution, to use, reproduce, print, publish, transmit, distribute, or display such submission for any purpose, including but not limited to editorial, advertising and publicity purposes by the Town of Blackstone, in any and all media now in existence or hereinafter created, throughout the world, for the duration of the submission.
Conduct of Artist
- Must respect public and private spaces while working on-site.
- Must not obstruct pedestrians or vehicle traffic.
- Must clean up your workspace. (carry in, carry out)