• This year, we're excited to bring the Youth Art Competition back to the Red Earth Festival, as it was in past years! Instead of a separate exhibit at the Red Earth Art Center, all youth artwork will be displayed at the Festival itself, giving attendees the chance to appreciate the full showcase of talent throughout the event. We look forward to celebrating the creativity of young artists with everyone at the Festival!

    Youth Art Competition Guidelines

    Deadline to apply is thursday, January 18th at 5pm

    Competition consists of three (3) age categories with 8 contests in each age group: 9 to 12 years - 13 to 15 years - 16 to 18 years. No entry fee.

    Each Contest will have awards in three places with 1st, 2nd and 3rd place ribbons and a cash award. One "Best of Show" award will be given. 

    Artists may enter only one (1) item per category. No limit on number of categories. Group projects not accepted - individual artist work, created by the artist. Entries must be display-ready (ex: wired for hanging, no glass). Maximum size hanging art is 24 x 36 inch.  

    Categories Include

    Basketry -Beadwork - Cultural items - Photography - Jewelry Painting/Drawing/Graphics
    Pottery - Sculpture 

     Note: All youth artists are required to show tribal affiliation in accordance with Public law 101-644 (104 Stat. 4662, Act of 11/29/90) with one of the following: Tribal Membership Card; Certificate of Degree of Indian Blood 

    "Meeting" by Amerie Fitzpatrick (Crow)
    Download Guidelines

    CATEGORY DESCRIPTIONS

    All items must be original items made by hand. No commercial kits or patterns allowed. To be considered a valid contest, each category must have a minimum of four (4) artists participating in that category. If not, at the judge’s discretion entries may be combined with another category.

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    Beadwork/Quillwork

    Traditional and contemporary items adorned with beadwork or quillwork include cradleboards, medallions, necklaces, leggings, bags, pipe bags, moccasins, belts, sashes, purses, etc. Items are hand-sewn/ hand-woven on fabrics such as trade cloth, velvets, and wools. Animals hide typically is the base of construction.

    Baskets

    A container used to hold or carry things, typically made from interwoven strips of cane. Weaving Methods: wickerwork, double-weave, flat-weave, plaited, coiled & twined. Commercial kits and patterns are prohibited.

    Cultural Items

    A category with a wide range of items includes pipes, bags, clothing, cradleboards, dolls, drums, knives, musical instruments, bows and quivers, arrows, furniture, games.

    Painting/Graphics/Drawing

    Original two-dimensional artwork. Entries must be display-ready (wired for hanging, no glass). Includes Oil painting medium typically on canvas; Watercolor painting using water-based medium usually on paper; Drawings, non-printed work executed by hand including dry media-crayon, pastels, chalk, silverpoint, and charcoal; Liquid media using pen and ink, brush, watercolor and pastels. Printmaking includes original prints hand-pulled, printed by hand by the artist or under the artist’s supervision (etchings, lithographs, woodcuts, monoprints/monotypes & serigraphs). Digital Art includes original artwork created using digital tools such as digital painting, graphic design, and digital illustration. AI-assisted artwork is not allowed in this category.

    Photography

    Original two-dimensional artwork. Entries must be display-ready (wired for hanging, no glass). A picture made using a camera, in which an image is focused onto film or other light-sensitive material and then made visible and permanent by chemical treatment or stored digitally.

    Jewelry

    Handmade, wearable items made of metal – silver, gold, brass, copper & nickel. Materials used other than metal must be natural materials. Items include belts, buckles, rings, bracelets, pins, pendants, bolos, necklaces, earrings, matched set, etc.

    Pottery

    A vessel made of earthenware or baked clay. Pottery can be broadly divided into earthenware, porcelain, and stoneware. Forms include jars, bowls, platters, vases and other traditional vessels. Items handmade and hand formed. Contemporary items are wheel-thrown, stoneware, kiln-fired. Finishes include un-slipped and unpainted, undecorated, incised, carved, burnished surfaces, matte & semi matte painted. Finishes include unslipped and unpainted, undecorated, incises, carved, burnished surfaces, matte and semi-matte and painted.

    Sculpture – Metal/Wood/Stone/Ceramic

    A three-dimensional form, especially by carving stone or wood or by casting metal or plaster: Carved, sculpted, or molded objects. Materials include bronze, welded steel, brass, wood, ceramic, clay, or stone. No 3D printing is allowed. Only original, handcrafted work will be accepted.