APH InSights 2013
Twentieth-second Annual Juried Art Competition and Exhibition for Artists Who Are Visually Impaired or Blind
Deadlines for Entry: March 25, 2013, for Preschool through High School and April 1, 2013, for Adults
Enter APH InSights 2013!
The American Printing House for the Blind (APH) invites visually impaired and blind artists of all ages to submit artwork to APH InSights 2013! This art competition and exhibition is exclusively for blind artists and draws entries from across the U.S. and around the world. Please review the rules below to find out how you or your students can participate.
Application also available in PDF
Application Forms
Special Reminders for 2013 Competition
- The deadline for entries for grades preschool through high school is March 25, 2013.
- Adult artists are not required to send original artwork for judging, but may send slides or digital images, along with their entry form, instead. Adults entering certain types of work MUST send slides or digital images on a CD instead of the actual work. Please read the portions of the form marked "To Enter" and "Shipping" for details about this procedure.
- The deadline for entries for adult artists is April 1, 2013.
- APH will insure the artwork while it is in our possession and when we return ship it, but the artist is responsible for shipping insurance of the incoming work. If you do not declare a value for your work, it may not be insured at all. When you ship your work, inquire about the shipper's policy regarding insurance of artwork. Many of the major carriers have limits of $100.00 or less on the amount for which they will insure artwork.
2013 Art Competition/Exhibition
The American Printing House for the Blind (APH) announces APH InSights 2013, an art competition and exhibition for visually impaired or blind artists of all ages. The exhibition will be shown in Louisville, Kentucky and also worldwide on APH's website. Works in the exhibition will be selected from entries submitted for jurying. Award winners will be selected from the juried exhibition.
Eligibility For Entering Artwork
Any person who meets the following definition of blindness may enter artwork: corrected visual acuity of 20/200 or less in the better eye, or a visual field limited to 20 degrees or less. This includes those who function at the definition of blindness (FDB), listed above, due to brain injury or dysfunction.
Deadline For Entries
Preschool through High School: Entries must reach us by March 25, 2013.
Adult Artists: Entries must reach us by April 1, 2013.
Criteria And Judging
Works will be selected on the basis of originality of concept, expressive use of media, and artistic excellence. Artists may not receive help in the execution of the artwork. The artwork must be created by the artist, with minimal assistance from anyone else. The work of students in preschool through 12th grade will be judged in grade placement categories; the work of adult artists will be judged in categories according to medium. The judge(s) will be a professional in the art gallery/art museum field, an art educator, and/or a practicing artist.
Awards
All entrants to APH InSights will receive a letter of appreciation and a certificate. Award winners will receive a cash award and a ribbon. They will be invited to come to Louisville to receive their awards at the fall meeting of APH Ex Officio Trustees. Last year, eighteen award-winners attended the award presentation. (While APH cannot pay the full travel cost of those attending, a stipend to assist with travel is available.)
Media And Subjects Accepted
Artworks in any visual art medium may be submitted. The work may be two-dimensional (including, but not limited to, painting, drawing, printmaking, photography,mixed media, and collage) or three-dimensional (sculptures created from wood, stone, paper, clay, or a mixture of materials). Crafts such as weaving, woodwork, and pottery are also welcome. All work must be original and handmade, not constructed from a kit. Only one artwork may be entered in this competition.
To Enter
All participants may enter only one piece of artwork.
- Preschool through High School entrants must send original artwork along with two copies of the entry form.
- Most adult entrants may choose to send a slide or a digital image on a CD of the artwork OR to send the actual artwork. However, those artists whose artwork is valued at more than $500.00 MUST send slides/digital images instead of the actual artwork. If their work is accepted for the exhibition, they will be notified to send the artwork.
Artists may send up to four images of the artwork they intend to enter. If the work is a painting, a front view of the picture will usually be adequate to let the judges understand the work. If it is a three-dimensional piece, slides showing several views of the piece may be appropriate. Send 35 mm slides that fit a standard projector or send digital images on a CD.
Label the image to show which side is the top. Indicate the dimensions of the artwork on the entry form. Call us for tips on how to prepare images of your work.
Once a work juried from slides or digital images has been accepted into the show and sent to APH, it may still be omitted from the exhibition if it differs substantially from the way it was shown in the image.
Framing, etc.
Matting, framing, etc., are not required. APH will prepare for display those pieces chosen for the exhibition.
Art Sales
Visitors to the exhibition may wish to purchase an artwork. Please be sure to indicate whether your art is for sale. A 10% handling charge will be added to the selling price of each artwork.
Notification/Return Of Artwork
A letter of acceptance, award, or non-acceptance for the exhibition will be mailed to each entrant by August 1, 2013. Work not selected for the exhibition will be returned by November 1, 2013. Some artwork may be kept until February, 2014, in order to consider it for calendar, cards, or other use.
APH Card Art/Calendar Art
APH staff may choose to select submitted works to be reproduced as note cards or as calendar images. If selected, works will be reproduced in full color with information about the artist in print and braille. The artists will receive a gift of 50 cards or 5 calendars featuring their artwork.
"Special Touch" Art Products
APH has created special cards and a calendar that reproduce artwork from past APH InSights competitions. To purchase items, call us at 1-800-223-1839. U.S. customers can also shop at http://shop.aph.org
Answers to Questions:
Phone: 502-899-2357 or Toll Free: 800-223-1839, ext. 357
Fax: 502-899-2363 or E-mail: rwilliams@aph.org
Shipping
Ship original artwork, or digital images to APH to the address listed. Incoming entries must be shipped at the expense of the artist. APH will pay for return shipping. Contact APH before sending works that are very large, heavy, or require special installation. Please send two copies of the entry form with your artwork, slide, or digital image on CD.
Insurance
Insurance of entries during incoming shipping is the responsibility of the artist. APH will insure the artwork while it is in our possession. APH will purchase insurance from the shipping company when returning items. Work will be insured for the same amount as that indicated for "price" on the entry form, unless other arrangements have been made. APH will not insure artworks, either while in its possession or during return shipping, if the value placed on the artwork is inappropriate. Contact APH before sending artworks that are valued at more than $500.00.
Ship Entries to:
APH InSights (MUST BE INCLUDED ON THE LABEL)
American Printing House for the Blind, Inc.
1839 Frankfort Ave.
Louisville, Kentucky 40206-3152
Visit APH InSights On The Web
Tour our virtual art gallery on our accessible website.
Release
Entry to APH InSights implies permission for APH to reproduce artwork, to retain artwork for up to one year for display purposes, and to publicize the artist by releasing any information provided on the entry form. Entry also implies permission to photograph the artist for publicity purposes during the fall awards ceremony in Louisville.