The annual Explorations Arts Competition at Mountain Empire Community College is now accepting submissions for 2006-2007. Categories for the contest include short story, poetry, personal essay, drawing, painting, black and white photography, and color photography. First place winners will receive a $50 cash prize. Individuals who place second will win $30 and those who place third will win $20. Winners will also have the opportunity to be a part of MECC's award-winning arts magazine.
The deadline for submissions in the competition is Thursday, February 15. All entries must be turned in to the Wampler Library located on the top floor of Robb Hall. For more information or a copy of the complete guidelines for the competition, contact Rita Quillen at (276) 523-2400, extension 352 or rquillen@me.vccs.edu.
Guidelines for the competition state that only current or former MECC students may enter. All entries must be original and unpublished. Contestants may enter more than one category, and enter up to five poems, one short story, one personal essay, and up to three photos or drawings in each category.
In the written categories, contestants must submit two paper copies: one with the student's last name in one corner and one without a name. Written submissions must be typed in Microsoft Word and submitted on disk or compact disc (CD), as well.
For paintings and drawings, 8x10 is the ideal size, but judges will consider anything up to 18x24 inches. All visual submissions should be in a protective cover with the contestant's name and a title for the work on the back. Paintings may be oil, watercolor, or mixed media, and must be dry when submitted.
Drawings may be graphite, charcoal, chalk or dry pastel, or oil pastel. Collages combined with charcoal, graphite, or pastel will be accepted, as will mixed media using these acceptable mediums.
For all photographs, 8x10 is the ideal size, but judges will consider up to 11x17. For digital camera submissions, requirements are 300 DPI. All contestants must submit the photo on a disk or CD-ROM in either JPEG, TIF, or EPS, as well as a paper copy. Entrants in the drawing, painting, and photography categories are responsible for picking up their work after the contest.
Submissions must be accompanied by a submission form, which is available in the Wampler Library or the Arts and Sciences Division Office on campus. Interested individuals may also access a form online at www.mecc.edu. Only one form is required per contestant, and should be attached to submissions.
