Meet our 2023 Judges
EMILY COUGHLAN
Emily Coughlan has over seven years of museum experience. She began as the curator of the Polasek Museum in 2019 after working at the Demuth Museum and Lancaster Museum of Art in Lancaster, PA as the Exhibitions and Collections Coordinator. Emily manages exhibitions, maintains the collections and archives, as well as organizes the museum's educational programming.
Emily holds a Bachelor of Arts with a Major in Art History and a Minor in History from Lebanon Valley College in Annville, PA and a Master of Arts with a Major in Museum Studies from the University of Leicester in the United Kingdom.
Emily Coughlan has over seven years of museum experience. She began as the curator of the Polasek Museum in 2019 after working at the Demuth Museum and Lancaster Museum of Art in Lancaster, PA as the Exhibitions and Collections Coordinator. Emily manages exhibitions, maintains the collections and archives, as well as organizes the museum's educational programming.
Emily holds a Bachelor of Arts with a Major in Art History and a Minor in History from Lebanon Valley College in Annville, PA and a Master of Arts with a Major in Museum Studies from the University of Leicester in the United Kingdom.
TIM JAEGER
Tim Jaeger is the director and chief curator of the award-winning Galleries + Exhibitions at the Ringling College of Art + Design in Sarasota, FL. While directing seven on-campus galleries, Jaeger has curated over 150 exhibitions including retrospectives and group exhibitions by Richard Mayhew, Faith Ringgold, Aminah Robinson, Chakaia Booker, and Spectrum: A Celebration of Artistic Diversity, Mike Zeck, Bill Meyer, and many more. In addition to directing the galleries program, Jaeger is also a long time faculty member teaching studio courses and the popular course Role of the Curator the Business of Art and Design.
Raised in Paducah, Kentucky, Tim Jaeger earned his Bachelor of Arts with a Major in Fine Arts and a Minor in Modern Art History from the Ringling College of Art and Design, where he was a Trustee Scholar. For over twenty years, he has maintained his studio in Sarasota while participating in numerous solo and group exhibitions across the United States. He has received several awards and grants including the Artist Residency and Fellowship Chateau L'Hesperit, Monaret, France, and the Arts Leadership Award, Sarasota County Arts Council. Additionally, Jaeger's paintings can be found in numerous public and private collections including Walt Disney World Resorts, Berkeley Chapel, JoAnn Fabric, Louisville Chamber of Commerce, and more.
Tim Jaeger is the director and chief curator of the award-winning Galleries + Exhibitions at the Ringling College of Art + Design in Sarasota, FL. While directing seven on-campus galleries, Jaeger has curated over 150 exhibitions including retrospectives and group exhibitions by Richard Mayhew, Faith Ringgold, Aminah Robinson, Chakaia Booker, and Spectrum: A Celebration of Artistic Diversity, Mike Zeck, Bill Meyer, and many more. In addition to directing the galleries program, Jaeger is also a long time faculty member teaching studio courses and the popular course Role of the Curator the Business of Art and Design.
Raised in Paducah, Kentucky, Tim Jaeger earned his Bachelor of Arts with a Major in Fine Arts and a Minor in Modern Art History from the Ringling College of Art and Design, where he was a Trustee Scholar. For over twenty years, he has maintained his studio in Sarasota while participating in numerous solo and group exhibitions across the United States. He has received several awards and grants including the Artist Residency and Fellowship Chateau L'Hesperit, Monaret, France, and the Arts Leadership Award, Sarasota County Arts Council. Additionally, Jaeger's paintings can be found in numerous public and private collections including Walt Disney World Resorts, Berkeley Chapel, JoAnn Fabric, Louisville Chamber of Commerce, and more.
Art Show Contest
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
Submit four digital files: three images of individual pieces of work and one image of your booth with work displayed. Images of art work and booth must be update and representative of what will be displayed. Images should not contain people or distinguishable signage.
Artists may apply for either the competitive or non-competitive category. One medium is allowed per booth. A separate application must be completed for each medium in which you would like to apply.
Co-artists may be accepted if work is produced through collaboration.
CATEGORIES/MEDIUMS
Ceramics – All original clay and porcelain work (other than jewelry) is accepted in this category. No machine-made or mass produced work is permitted. If multiple pieces of the same design are displayed each piece must be signed.
Digital Art – Any original work for which the image was executed by the artist using a computer. Work in this category must be in limited editions, signed and numbered on archival quality materials.
Drawing/Printmaking – Works created using dry media including chalk, charcoal, pastels, pencil, wax crayon, etc. or from the fluid medium of inks and washes applied by pen or brush; printed works for which the artist’s hand manipulated the plates, stones or screens and which have been properly signed and numbered as a limited edition.
Fiber – All work crafted from fibers including basketry, embroidery, weaving, leatherwork, tapestry and papermaking. This can be wearable or non-wearable. No machine tooling, machine-screened patterns or other forms of mass production are permitted. No factory produced wearable items, regardless of additional modification or enhancement by the artist, may be exhibited.
Glass – Glass works that are functional (other than jewelry) or decorative by design and are kiln formed or have been crafted by glass blowing, molding or casting. No forms of mass production are permitted.
Jewelry – All jewelry whether the work is produced from metal, glass, clay, fiber, paper, plastic or other materials must be entered in this category. No commercial casts, molds or production studio work is allowed.
Metal – Artwork created through the forging, twisting and fabricating of various metals. Includes all non-sculptural, non-jewelry works crafted from metals. No production studio work is allowed.
Mixed Media 2D – Artwork that incorporates more than one type of physical material to produce such as paint, pencil, photography, drawing, etc.
Mixed Media 3D – Artwork that incorporates more than one type of physical material to produce 3D objects.
Painting – Works created in oils, acrylics, watercolor, etc. are in this category.
Photography – Photographic prints made from the artist’s original image, which have been processed by that artist, or under the artist's direct supervision, are included in this category.
Sculpture – Three-dimensional original work done in any medium.
Wood – Original works in wood that are hand-tooled, machine-worked, turned or carved are accepted in the wood category.
WAITLIST
A waitlist will be developed based on the jury scores. Artists who do not wish to be included on the waitlist, may indicate so on their application.
IMPORTANT DATES
Application Deadline – May 20
Notification Sent – June 17
Booth Fee Due – July 22
Cancellation deadline – September 1
Set-Up - November 18
CASH AWARDS
Best of Show 2D - $2,000
Best of Show 3D - $2,000
5 Awards of Excellence - $1,000
12 Awards of Distinction - $500
Emerging Artist Award - $500
ARTIST AMENITIES
- Morning Refreshments
- Boxed Lunches
- Artist Hospitality Center
- Booth Sitting Services
JURY PROCESS
Jurying is done on a point system designed to give priority to local artists. One extra point is given for Florida artists and two for Alachua County artists. In 2021, 70 percent of Downtown Festival artists were from Florida and approximately 30 percent of these artists were from Alachua County. The jurying committee consists of qualified, local fine artists. They look for quality, originality, salability, and technical expertise.
PURCHASE AWARD PROGRAM
Local businesses and individuals are encouraged to pledge in advance to buy art at the festival.
PREVIOUS YEAR AWARD WINNERS
2022 recipients of the Cash Awards prizes (as listed above) will receive a coupon code to waive their application fee and are automatically invited to participate in the show. Please contact the Festival Coordinator carnesce@cityofgainesville.org if you did not receive your award winner coupon code. Applications must be received by May 20th to secure a booth spot.
Submit four digital files: three images of individual pieces of work and one image of your booth with work displayed. Images of art work and booth must be update and representative of what will be displayed. Images should not contain people or distinguishable signage.
Artists may apply for either the competitive or non-competitive category. One medium is allowed per booth. A separate application must be completed for each medium in which you would like to apply.
Co-artists may be accepted if work is produced through collaboration.
CATEGORIES/MEDIUMS
Ceramics – All original clay and porcelain work (other than jewelry) is accepted in this category. No machine-made or mass produced work is permitted. If multiple pieces of the same design are displayed each piece must be signed.
Digital Art – Any original work for which the image was executed by the artist using a computer. Work in this category must be in limited editions, signed and numbered on archival quality materials.
Drawing/Printmaking – Works created using dry media including chalk, charcoal, pastels, pencil, wax crayon, etc. or from the fluid medium of inks and washes applied by pen or brush; printed works for which the artist’s hand manipulated the plates, stones or screens and which have been properly signed and numbered as a limited edition.
Fiber – All work crafted from fibers including basketry, embroidery, weaving, leatherwork, tapestry and papermaking. This can be wearable or non-wearable. No machine tooling, machine-screened patterns or other forms of mass production are permitted. No factory produced wearable items, regardless of additional modification or enhancement by the artist, may be exhibited.
Glass – Glass works that are functional (other than jewelry) or decorative by design and are kiln formed or have been crafted by glass blowing, molding or casting. No forms of mass production are permitted.
Jewelry – All jewelry whether the work is produced from metal, glass, clay, fiber, paper, plastic or other materials must be entered in this category. No commercial casts, molds or production studio work is allowed.
Metal – Artwork created through the forging, twisting and fabricating of various metals. Includes all non-sculptural, non-jewelry works crafted from metals. No production studio work is allowed.
Mixed Media 2D – Artwork that incorporates more than one type of physical material to produce such as paint, pencil, photography, drawing, etc.
Mixed Media 3D – Artwork that incorporates more than one type of physical material to produce 3D objects.
Painting – Works created in oils, acrylics, watercolor, etc. are in this category.
Photography – Photographic prints made from the artist’s original image, which have been processed by that artist, or under the artist's direct supervision, are included in this category.
Sculpture – Three-dimensional original work done in any medium.
Wood – Original works in wood that are hand-tooled, machine-worked, turned or carved are accepted in the wood category.
WAITLIST
A waitlist will be developed based on the jury scores. Artists who do not wish to be included on the waitlist, may indicate so on their application.
IMPORTANT DATES
Application Deadline – May 20
Notification Sent – June 17
Booth Fee Due – July 22
Cancellation deadline – September 1
Set-Up - November 18
CASH AWARDS
Best of Show 2D - $2,000
Best of Show 3D - $2,000
5 Awards of Excellence - $1,000
12 Awards of Distinction - $500
Emerging Artist Award - $500
ARTIST AMENITIES
- Morning Refreshments
- Boxed Lunches
- Artist Hospitality Center
- Booth Sitting Services
JURY PROCESS
Jurying is done on a point system designed to give priority to local artists. One extra point is given for Florida artists and two for Alachua County artists. In 2021, 70 percent of Downtown Festival artists were from Florida and approximately 30 percent of these artists were from Alachua County. The jurying committee consists of qualified, local fine artists. They look for quality, originality, salability, and technical expertise.
PURCHASE AWARD PROGRAM
Local businesses and individuals are encouraged to pledge in advance to buy art at the festival.
PREVIOUS YEAR AWARD WINNERS
2022 recipients of the Cash Awards prizes (as listed above) will receive a coupon code to waive their application fee and are automatically invited to participate in the show. Please contact the Festival Coordinator carnesce@cityofgainesville.org if you did not receive your award winner coupon code. Applications must be received by May 20th to secure a booth spot.