Nature Center seeks artists donations. We are soliciting the donation of small pieces from local artists that are inspired by our local flora and fauna, especially species featured at the Nature Center. All proceeds will go to the Friends of the Nature Center and support all the projects we do there. If you know an artist who would be willing to donate, please pass along this information! This is a family event so we are looking for lower priced items. Sandy Tarantino at 828-423-7212 or teachersandy@yahoo.com

Deadline Oct 15: 2011-12 The Raleigh Chamber Music Guild and the NC Museum of Art invite proposals for the 2011-12 acclaimed chamber music concert series, Sights and Sounds on Sunday, featuring NC-based ensembles in programs reflecting exhibitions or the permanent collection at the Museum. We encourage proposals of all instrumental and vocal combinations from groups across the state.  In general, this means classical music, but consideration will also be given to other genres that can be classified as “chamber music.” Questions?  Please contact Nancy Lambert, Exec Dir at 919-821-2030 or go to www.rcmg.org.

Deadline, Sept 25/25: Gateways to the South 2010-Celebrate our Heritage through Art! Judged Art Competition and Exhibit. Artwork must relate to Southern history and culture, ie: landscapes, historical sites, people, events, still life and scenes of our past. $15 members/$20 non. Reception Sun, Oct 3, 1-4pm; show closes Nov 12. For more info, call 704-739-5585  or go to www.southernartssociety.org.

FineArtAmerica is very pleased to announce that we’ve been selected to provide artwork for ABC’s television series, Desperate Housewives, as part of a pilot program that’s going to revolutionize the way that artwork is licensed for use on television. For more info about how to participate, go to www.fineartamerica.com

Registration Deadline Sept 17: The NC Arts Council would like to invite you to become a part of Poetry Out Loud, a national poetry recitation competition for high school students, sponsored by the National Endowment for the Arts, the Poetry Foundation and the NC Arts Council.
This year, all across NC, high school students will memorize poetry to recite in front of friends, family, teachers and total strangers, and we’d like you to be part of it. Students can choose from an amazing selection of poetry that can be found at www.ncarts.org/poetryoutloud. This program is open to all high schools: public, private and home schools.

Deadline Sept 3: The Junior League of Raleigh (JLR) and Visual Art Exchange (VAE) present Down Home: Portraits of the Old North State, a juried art exhibition Oct 21-24. This exhibit is a special feature of the JLR’s A Shopping SPREE!, an annual four-day shopping fundraiser that attracts approximately 12,000 shoppers annually from around the country. Artists may enter 2 pieces exploring this year’s theme of Down Home: Portraits of the Old North State. This exhibit is open to all 2D artwork, excluding photography, by living Carolina artists. For full info/entry form, visit www.carolinacolor.wordpress.com/

American Art Marketing is inviting artists to apply to our contemporary
fine arts fair in NYC at the Jacob Javits Center for November 19-21.  Open to all contemporary artists creating original work, including but not limited to painting, photography, sculpture and mixed media.  We have display options starting at $585 for a 5′ X 10′wall space and all inclusive booth packages starting at $1880 for a 4′ X 10′ booth. For more information and to apply please visit www.contemporaryartfairnyc.com

Deadline Sept 1: Biltmore Lake is now accepting applications for the 4th Annual Biltmore Lake Art and Craft Festival. Accepted are ceramics, jewelry, metal, stone, wood, fabric, fiber, photography, painting, and paper.  Sat, Oct 9 from 10-4pm. No rain date.  Booth fee is $50. For app, visit  biltmorelakeartandcraftfestival.com. Questions?  Valerie 828-665-9342 or George 828-667-4840

Deadline Aug 20: Knoxville’s Arts District Banner Competition. Winning design will be printed on 26 banners to be hung from street poles in the Arts District. Banners will hang indefinitely.  Enter up to 3 designs, no entry fee.  For more info, visit
www.knoxalliance.com/textfile/artsdistrictbannerapplic.pdf.

Deadline Aug 2: The Bascom’s American Craft Today Juried Works 2010
Oct 2-Dec 18. Open to all craft artists. Works must be original, reflect excellence and unique vision of maker, be skillfully executed, completed within the past two years, and not previously exhibited at The Bascom. Entry $25. Initial judging will be from digital images. Please submit the completed entry form, digital images on a disk and entry fee to The Bascom, P.O. Box 766, Highlands, North Carolina 28741, by August 2, 2010. All applications must be delivered or postmarked by this date.