ABOUT THE PROCESS:

Artists are invited to submit artwork for the Lilac Festival Poster Contest and a Peoples’ Choice Award. Artists may submit one piece of artwork for a $20 entry fee. The entry fee is used to support this competition and the Lilac Festival.

The Top 20 pieces will be shared on social media and our website prior to the Lilac Festival with the winning poster announced on the first day of the festival, June 9^th.

ABOUT THE FESTIVAL:

The Mackinac Island Lilac Festival is celebrating 75 years this year! The first Lilac Festival poster was produced in 1994. Mackinac Island was named the #1 Island in the continental US by Travel + Leisure Magazine and people travel from all over the world to experience lilac season on Mackinac Island.

JUROR AND SELECTION PROCESS

The inaugural Juror, Philip Rice, will judge submitted pieces and select the Top 20. The Mackinac Island Poster Committee, comprised of Island business and art gallery owners, will select a winner from the Top 20.

Judging will be based on a combination of:

• Theme: Mackinac in Bloom
• Lilacs
• Mackinac Island
• Marketability & Sellability

PEOPLES’ CHOICE AWARD

The remaining 19 finalists will have their work displayed during the Lilac Festival (June 9-18,2023) where a voting system will be used and the public will choose their favorite piece. The winner will be announced after the Lilac Festival.

ARTIST RECEPTION & POSTER UNVEILING

We welcome you to an artist reception and the poster unveiling event on Friday, June 9^th. Each poster participant will receive 2 complimentary round-trip ferry tickets good for the events on June 9^th. The Top 20 finalists will display their artwork at the Artist Reception where the pieces will remain through the festival for a chance to win the Peoples’ Choice Award.

CASH AWARDS

$750: 2023 Mackinac Island Poster Winner

$250: Peoples’ Choice Award

IMPORTANT DATES

April 5, 2023: Submission Deadline

April 19, 2023: Top 20 announced

May 10, 2023: Invitation for the artist reception and poster unveiling

June 9, 2023: Artist reception and poster unveiling

June 9-18, 2023: Peoples’ Choice Voting

June 19, 2023: Peoples’ Choice Winner announced

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS:

• Artists 18 and older are welcome to participate.
• All mediums are accepted, keeping in mind that the winning piece must be photographed and will be printed as a poster.
• The artist must submit two versions of their artwork, one without a signature and one with a signature.
• One entry per artist will be accepted. Artists may submit past artwork if the piece has not placed in a previous art contest.
• ­Artwork must be vertical and will be printed as a 16 x 20 vertical image. The original piece can be any size (ex: 8 x 10) but will be printed as a 16 x 20 vertical image so much be able to transfer to those dimensions.
• Files must be submitted in JPEG, JPG, or PDF (preferred) format at 300 dpi or higher. Poster will be printed in CMYK colors.
• The winning artist retains ownership of the original artwork and can sell it at their discretion, but irrevocably assigns to Mackinac Island Tourism Bureau, by signing this contract, exclusive copyright, trademark, licensing, marketing, distribution, reproduction, and registration rights to the artwork for any, and all purposes and uses.
• By submitting to this contest, all artists are agreeing to have their artwork posted online.
• The artwork must depict this year’s theme: Mackinac in Bloom, lilacs, Mackinac Island, and be marketable. No text please.
• All artists must complete the submission form, and include an artist bio and artist statement for their piece, both to be under 200 words.
• If your piece is a Top 20 finalist, you must be able to get your artwork to Mackinac Island before June 5^th to be displayed during the Lilac Festival. Participants will work with Philip Rice from the Mackinac Arts Council. Finalists are responsible for all shipping fees.

DOWNLOAD THE POSTER COMPETITION SUBMISSION FORM

Click here to download the poster submission form and to see more details about the competition.

ABOUT THE JUROR

Philip Rice, DMA, serves as Program Director for Mackinac Arts Council, the designated Mackinac Island non-profit arts agency.

In its 20th year, the Arts Council serves and works in partnership with national, state, and community groups to meet the arts and cultural needs of the Mackinac Island community through a diversity of initiatives, services and cultural programming. Under Dr. Rice’s direction since 2016, Mackinac Arts Council programs have included numerous exhibits in a wide range of media including 2D, 3D, video, experimental, and installation formats, partnering with ArtPrize, The Bonifas Art Center, Sensoria Artist Collective, and others. The Mackinac Arts Council gallery in the Center for the Arts at Mission Point Resort holds a complete set of historic Lilac Festival posters in its permanent collection.

ENTRY CHECKLIST

• Photo of original artwork unsigned
• Photo of original artwork with signature
  • ­Artwork must be vertical and will be printed as a 16 x 20 vertical image. No other sizes will be accepted.
  • Files must be submitted in JPEG, JPG, or PDF (preferred) format at 300 dpi or higher. Poster will be printed in CMYK colors.
• Completed submission form
• Artist bio (200 words or less)
• Artist statement of artwork (200 words or less)
• $20 entry fee. Call to use credit card or make checks payable to MITB at PO Box 451, Mackinac Island, MI 49757

CONTACT

Please direct all submissions & questions to:

Steph Castelein

steph@mackinacisland.org

906-847-3783

WHERE DO I PICK UP MY COMPLIMENTARY FERRY TICKETS?

2 complimentary round-trip ferry tickets are provided for all poster participants. Tickets can be picked up from the ticket booth at the respective ticket office on the mainland.  Tickets will be arranged after your artwork is received and sent to steph@mackinacisland.com