Click here for downloadable entry form

It is with great pleasure that Circus Circus Reno, in the spirit of Artown, welcomes the Future Artists Competition back for the fifth year. The competitions of the past four years proved to be quite successful and Circus Circus is looking forward to even more incredible entries by the very talented young artists living in Northern Nevada.

In addition to sponsoring the Artown Family Series, Circus Circus Reno will present the Future Artists Competition as a part of the 13th annual Artown festival, July 1-31, 2008, with major funding provided by the City of Reno. The month-long arts festival features more than 350 events, produced by over 100 partnering organizations and individuals in more than 90 locations citywide. Future Artists Competition sponsors include Reno News & Review, KTHX 100.1 FM, and Digiprint.

Designed to showcase local youth talent, the competition takes submissions from students within a fifty-mile radius of Reno from kindergarten to 12th grade. Submissions must reflect a tasteful theme and can be dropped off at Circus Circus beginning March 15 through June 15, 2008. Submissions can range in size, and a variety of mediums are acceptable, including oil, acrylic and watercolor paintings, mixed media collage, photography, and pen, crayon, charcoal, and pencil drawings.

A panel of distinguished and accomplished artists and educators will judge the winners in each of the four age categories – kindergarten through third, fourth through sixth, middle and high school - with cash awards totaling $4,500 given away to both the artist and their school’s art program for the top three places in each category.

Judging for the competition is based on criteria that would apply at the professional level – originality, integrity in relationship to the subject, technique, use of color, composition, use of materials, and enthusiasm in approach. All of the pieces submitted are judged by the same criteria in each category so as to ensure fairness, and the best over-all pieces are selected for an award. Awards for the First, Second, and Third Place from each category, as well as the Grand Prize, will be handed out at Wingfield Park by the Truckee River on July 28th as a part of the month long Artown Family Series. The winning submissions will be prominently displayed throughout the month of July on the Mezzanine level of Circus Circus Reno as an event of Artown.

All artwork must include a submission form with the student’s full name, grade, phone, address, and name of their school. The form can be obtained in the lobby of Circus Circus and also at circusreno.com beginning March 15th. Artwork submitted without complete information will not be eligible. Submissions must not be matted or framed and can be mailed to Circus Circus c/o Marketing, 500 N. Sierra Street, Reno, NV 89503. There will also be a drop box in the Circus Circus Lobby labeled "Future Artists Competition."

For more information please contact the Circus Reno Marketing Department at (775) 328-9486 or (775) 328-9291 or at CCRMKTG@circusreno.com.