Visual Art

ArtsWest 41 Seeks Submissions from Wisconsin Artists

Barbara Arnold, photos by Andrea Paulseth |

L.E. Phillips Memorial Public Library
L.E. Phillips Memorial Public Library

Calling all Sconnie artists! It’s time to enter Wisconsin ArtsWest 41, the annual juried art show held at the L.E. Phillips Memorial Public Library in Eau Claire. The show is open to all working artists and students age 18 and older who live in Wisconsin. The works of art must have been completed since January 1, 2018. All media are acceptable. The submission deadline is Jan. 28, 2020, and there are no entry fees.

To submit work, artists must create a Submittable.com account. One large or two small pieces of art may be submitted per artist. Interested artists may pick up a brochure at the library, or go to www.ecpubliclibrary.info/art for the online entry form.

Artists’ prizes will be awarded for Best of Show, $300; First Prize, $200; Second Prize, $150; and Third Prize, $100. The Friends of the L.E. Phillips Memorial Public Library fund the prizes.

All work submitted will be subject to juror review and selection. Artists will be emailed Feb. 20-28 via the Submittable software to let them know whether or not their work was accepted for the show. Accepted artwork must be delivered to the library during regular library hours March 18-22.

The juror for ArtsWest 41 is Leah Kolb, curator of exhibitions at the Madison Museum of Contemporary Arts (MMoCA). At MMoCA, she has organized more than 25 exhibitions, primarily focused on contemporary artists.

This year’s show will be on display at the library between March 29 and May 22. The first ArtsWest show opened in September 1979. With ArtsWest 2 in April 1981, the show became a spring event and has been held annually since.

For more info, stop at the Information & Reference desk at the library, call (715) 839-5004, or email the library at librarian@eauclaire.lib.wi.us.