(Chelsea Update would like to thank Bridget Favre for the information in this story.)
The Sounds and Sights Festival will hold its fifth Chelsea Chalk Art Contest during its line of activities on Saturday, July 29.
Participants of all abilities and ages are encouraged to help transform the concrete below the iconic Chelsea Clocktower, located at 310 North Main St., into vibrant colors and works of art from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m.
Chelsea Area Festivals and Events will award more than $1,000 across 11 new contest categories.
“Each year, we have had a phenomenal response to the chalk contest, and it continues to evolve thanks to the input of both contestants and spectators. This year, we changed the prize structure to allow for a greater distribution of prizes and to encourage a wider variety of chalk art designs,” said Chalk Art Coordinator, Denise Cugliari.
Spectators will have the opportunity to vote for their favorite piece of chalk art in each of the following categories:
- Best Music Inspired Piece
- Best Art Reproduction
- Best Original Piece
- Best Use of Color
- Best Cartoon or Comic Piece
- Best Nature Inspired Piece
- Best 3D Piece
Winners, determined by spectator votes, of these categories will be awarded a $100 prize. For the top people’s choice award, Best In Show, the winner will receive $250.
An Artists’ Choice Award of $100 will be selected by registered artists competing in the contest.
Also added is an auction this year to help raise funds for Sounds and Sights on Thursday Nights, where the committee will offer a free learn to draw series throughout the summer.
“Artists who choose to participate in the auction will draw on a portable art board, rather than the pavement, and are eligible for a $100 Auction Award for the piece that is auctioned off at the highest price,” said Cugliari.
The auction pieces will be on display July 31 through Aug. 5 at USArtQuest located at 18650 W. Old US-12. The silent auction bidding will end Aug. 5 at 5 p.m.
Artists wishing to compete must fill out a registration form at www.chelseafestivals.com/chalk-art. There is a $20 registration fee which includes one 5’x5’ pavement space or one 3’x5’ Art Board and a box of chalk. Each space can be worked on by one to four artists. All registered artists can win in multiple categories.
Children can register for a free 2.5’x2.5’ space, and are eligible for a first place $50 prize and a $25 second place prize which will be determined by spectator’s votes.
Pre-Registration is required by July 15 to be eligible for prizes. There will be a very limited number of open spaces available the day of the contest for children. Spaces forfeited by no-shows will be available at 10 a.m. the morning of the contest and will be eligible for prizes.
All paid, registered spaces are non-refundable but are transferable.
The Chelsea Chalk Art Contest event is sponsored by Healthy Smiles Dental of Chelsea and is also made possible by donations of over one hundred Sounds and Sights sponsors.
For more information, please contact the chalk art coordinator Denise Cugliari at [email protected] or call 734-276-4206.
