Open Applications
Mona Lisa Rediscovered
Location: Gateway Regional Arts Center, 101 East Main Street, Mt. Sterling, Kentucky 40353
Deadline for Applications: July 1, 2024 at 11:59pm
On Display August - October 2024
Share your artwork to display your creative take on the iconic Mona Lisa! in addition, All submitted pieces will be reviewed and considered for display in our joint exhibition "Da Vinci: The Folk Artist"
For questions about the application process, email Lead Curator Sinclaire Marie at outreach@grackentucky.org
Want to join our Artist Directory?
Submission Deadline: There is no deadline, we are accepting artists on a rolling basis.
Location: Artist must be located in and willing to reach the entire Gateway Region, which includes Montgomery Co, Bath Co, Menifee Co, Morgan Co, & Rowan Co.
The Gateway Regional Arts Center is calling for artists to join our Artist Directory. The directory is a free resource for artists in the Gateway region. The directory is a great way increase visibility for your work and to connect with potential clients, collaborators, and art buyers.
Hiring Teaching Artists - Q3 Deadline June 1, 11:59PM
The Gateway Regional Arts Center (GRAC) in Mt. Sterling, Kentucky, is hiring instructors for The Eastern Kentucky Academy for the Visual, Performing, and Literary Arts!
This will allow selected artists and facilitators to provide courses or workshops without upfront costs to the presenting artist(s) or facilitator(s). GRAC seeks artists who plan to deliver engaging, unique, and creative programming for the region. These activities should be entry-level-friendly for non-practicing artists.
GRAC Courses will be divided by quarters:
1st Quarter: February 1st - March 31st
2nd Quarter: April 1st - June 30th
3rd Quarter: July 1st - September 30th
4th Quarter: October 1st - December 14th
GRAC workshops may be scheduled outside the quarters, while courses must begin and end within the proposed quarter.
Application Deadlines:
1st Quarter: January 6, 11:59 PM
2nd Quarter: March 2, 11:59 PM
3rd Quarter: June 1, 11:59 PM
4th Quarter: September 7, 11:59 PM
The Uncommon GRACkle
Literary Zine Publication
Submission Deadline: Currently open for submissions
Our Grackle editor is working hard to recover some lost files. If you submitted writing, images, art, or other content to The Uncommon Grackle this year, please let us know by emailing the editor. Click on button below to learn how to submit or resubmit content.
Normally, we are open for submissions each January and February for our Spring publication, and again each June and July for our fall publication.
“We want works that mean something, either to you or others, that transport us places, that reveal old or new ideas in deep ways, that entertain and speculate, that challenge and diversify our minds and the minds of readers. If it’s simple, great. If it’s complex, great. If it’s weird, great. Our GRACkle is voracious, and guttural, and wants to feed on harsh truths of all kinds
This literary zine is edited and was created by Allen Blair, poet, writer, late-night cat wrangler, and past president of the Gateway Regional Arts Center board.
Submit Your Mural Request - Rolling Application
Submission Deadline: No deadline, rolling submission.
Are you a building owner wanting to join the mural craze sweeping our region? Wait no more! Due to the recent uptick in murals, we have received dozens of requests from owners of buildings and businesses wanting to add a mural to their walls. Through our new mural program, we hope to connect local businesses & building owners to mural artists from the area.
Interested building owners should submit the form linked here to be added to our list to contact for potential projects. Murals increase tourism, increase foot traffic, enhance business sales, and beautify otherwise empty/dull areas. We appreciate your interest in continuing to make Mount Sterling the Rural Mural Capital of Kentucky!
Past Applications
Court Day - Poster Design Contest
Submission Deadline: September 1st, 2023
Winning design will be printed as t-shirts and posters which will be available for sale at the Welcome Booth at Court Day! Winning designer will also receive a cash prize of $200!
Requirements:
Design must include the following:
October Court Day Festival
Mt. Sterling, KY or Mount Sterling, KY
October 13-16, 2023
Kentucky’s Oldest Festival (since 1794)
Shopping
Food
Music
Fun
Size: 11x17 vertical poster. Please submit the highest quality PDF, PNG, or SVG.
All applicants must live in a 45 mile radius of Mt. Sterling city limits.
Paint the Smalltown
Submission Deadline: August 12, 2023, 8:00am.
The Gateway Regional Arts Center invites painters of all skill levels to share their vision of Mount Sterling, Kentucky for the 2023 Paint the Small Town, during the Small Town America Festival. The community is called on to celebrate the beauty and wonder of our beautiful town. This is a live painting open call during the hours of 8am to 3pm. Artists will be live painting a scene of their choosing of downtown Mt. Sterling. To encourage, celebrate, and promote the historical downtown, all entries will be restricted to the following parameters: South of Johnson Avenue, west of Machpelah Cemetery, north of the top of the Viaduct, and east of the Bypass.
An optional Materials Kit Add-Odd may be purchased during registration. This kit included assorted acrylic paints, 1 blank canvas, and the use of GRAC's brushes, easels, and palettes. All brushes, easels, and palettes must be returned at the end of the event.
SCHEDULE OF THE FESTIVAL:
8:00am: Registrations and Check-In begin at Gateway Regional Arts Center (101 East Main St, Mt Sterling, KY 40353).
3:00pm: All paintings must be completed and dropped off at the Gateway Regional Arts Center.
5:00pm: A closing festival gallery reception will be held at the Montgomery County Public Library where all art created during the day will be on display and made available for purchase by the community. Awards will also be given at gallery reception.
Juneteenth - Dubois Community Center
Submission Deadline: June 14th, 2023
Location: Dubois Community Center, 100 Hamilton Ave, Mt. Sterling, KY 40353
This Juneteenth the Dubois Community Center will showcase artwork featuring African American life! Dubois is inviting you to submit your Juneteenth artwork! To apply, please fill out the information below, upload images of your work, and then drop off your artwork at the Dubois Community Center.
We accept all mediums of art, and it's free to apply! Please also note whether the artwork is for sale or not.
Artist in Residence - Summer 2023
Residency Dates: June 1 - August 1, 2023
Location: Gateway Regional Arts Center, 101 East Main Street, Mt. Sterling, Kentucky 40353
Deadline for Submissions: April 1, 2023
Submission Fee: $30
The accepted artist will be commissioned with designing and producing murals in the vibrant downtown district of Mount Sterling, Kentucky. The recipient will receive a $3,000 honorarium stipend, a $1,000 materials budget, free local housing, and 24/7 studio access. Applications are reviewed by GRAC staff members who will consider the artists' portfolios, relevant work experience, career goals, and dedication to cultivating creativity in our community. The Gateway Regional Arts Center (GRAC) is the leading arts institution in its area of Kentucky between Lexington and Ashland. GRAC boasts a beautiful 12,000-square-foot regional cultural center, housed in the former United Methodist Church building (built in 1883 and renovated in 2009), in the historic downtown district of Mt. Sterling.
Bluegrass, Brushstrokes & Beyond: The Kentucky Statewide Student Art Show
Location: Gateway Regional Arts Center, 101 East Main Street, Mt. Sterling, Kentucky 40353
Deadline for Applications: April 1st, 2023
Call for Artists: Good Golly Miss Dolly! March 2023 Gallery Exhibit
Exhibition Dates: March 3-April 4, 2023
Location: The Gilley Frye Gallery at the Gateway Regional Arts Center, 101 East Main Street, Mt. Sterling, Kentucky 40353
Deadline for Submissions: February 5, 2023
Submission Fee: $30 for up to 3 images per artist
Court Day Festival Poster Grant - $200 - Application Deadline: September 7, 2022
Want to design this year's official poster for October Court Day Festival in Mt. Sterling, KY? Here's your chance! The winning designer will receive $200, and the poster will be used for the OFFICIAL t-shirt of Court Day 2022! Designs are due September 7 and should follow the guidelines below. Must include:
"October Court Day Festival"
"Mount Sterling, Kentucky"
"October 14-17, 2022"
"Kentucky's Oldest Festival"
"Since 1794"
"Shopping, Food, Music, and Fun"
**All applicants should live within a 45-mile radius of Mt. Sterling, Kentucky.**
Thanks to Mt. Sterling-Montgomery County Tourism and the City of Mt. Sterling, Kentucky for providing this creative opportunity!
