Lowell Arts is celebrating four decades of showcasing Michigan's finest visual artists with the 40th Annual West Michigan Art Competition. For the first time, the competition expands from 25 to 42 counties throughout West Michigan, offering more artists than ever the opportunity to compete for $3,600 in total cash awards. Artists have until January 5, 2026, to submit entries.
The competition is open to artists 18 years and older working in any visual art media. Cash awards include six prizes of $500 each and six honorable mention awards of $100 each. Artists may submit one piece for juried consideration.
About the Juror
The competition will be juried by Cathy VanVoorhis, professor at the University of Michigan's Penny W. Stamps School of Art & Design. VanVoorhis holds an MFA in Painting from the University of Michigan and an MA in Art History from Michigan State University. She has received an Individual Creative Artist Grant from the Michigan Council for the Arts. Her oil landscape paintings explore the healing power of nature through Michigan's waterways and coastlines, inspired by naturalist writers like Rachel Carson. Her work has been exhibited at prominent institutions including the Muskegon Museum of Art, Saginaw Art Museum, and Dennos Art Museum.
Eligibility
The competition is open to visual artists 18 years and older residing in one of 42 eligible West Michigan counties including: Allegan, Antrim, Barry, Benzie, Berrien, Branch, Calhoun, Cass, Charlevoix, Cheboygan, Clare, Clinton, Crawford, Eaton, Emmet, Grand Traverse, Gratiot, Hillsdale, Ingham, Ionia, Isabella, Jackson, Kalamazoo, Kalkaska, Kent, Lake, Leelanau, Manistee, Mason, Mecosta, Missaukee, Montcalm, Muskegon, Newaygo, Oceana, Osceola, Otsego, Ottawa, Roscommon, St. Joseph, Van Buren, and Wexford.
Artwork Requirements
Only original works completed in the last three years and not previously exhibited at Lowell Arts are eligible. Commercial reproductions, including giclée prints, will not be accepted. Traditional print media, photography, and digital art should be from a limited edition.
Two-dimensional entries may be no larger than 62 inches in any one direction, including the width of the frame. Three-dimensional entries must fit through a standard door frame and be no larger than 62 inches in any one direction. Only artwork easily handled by two people will be accepted.
How to Enter
All entries must be submitted digitally through www.callforentry.org (CaFÉ) by January 5, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. There is no cost to register on CaFÉ, but registration is required. The entry fee is $40. Lowell Arts members and students over 18 with a college ID receive a discounted entry fee of $30. Members and students should call 616-897-8545 to receive their discount code before entering. Memberships must be active through March 2026 to receive the discount. Entry fees help fund competition prizes as well as programs and services provided by Lowell Arts. Refunds cannot be provided after entry.
For complete details, visit:
https://www.lowellarts.org/
Direct link to online entry form: https://artist.callforentry.
