Announcing the Call for Artists for 14th Annual First Bloem Art Competition

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:
Lorma Freestone
616.396.4221
ttartwork@tuliptime.com

HOLLAND, Mich. – Tulip Time Festival, Inc. (www.tuliptime.com) announces the highly anticipated fourteenth First Bloem poster competition. Local artists will have another opportunity for their artwork to be selected as the official 2024 Tulip Time poster. The deadline for entry is October 10, 2023. 

For the 14th annual Tulip Time poster contest, artists are asked, as in every year, to incorporate the mission of Tulip Time into their work; to celebrate tulips, Holland’s Dutch heritage, and Holland today. This year artists are also asked to incorporate bicycles into their submitted works.

Kim Smith, owner of Perception Gallery, has been selected as the juror for the 2024 contest. Smith will select the top 20 pieces from all the entries based on their artistry, skill, and adherence to the requirements. From the 20 pieces selected by Smith, one winner will be selected as the official Tulip Time poster artwork and will be available for purchase following its’ unveiling in February 2024. All 20 of the finalists will be available for purchase after the unveiling of the winner in February 2024.

Recent winners of the competition include Kristin Doversberger (2023), Kate Moynihan (2022), Aron Lowe (2020), and Carolyn Stich (2019).  As part of the competition, the top 20 artists’ works will be on display during Tulip Time, 2024. Viewers can vote for their favorite works in the annual People’s Choice Award. 

Artists may submit up to three works for a single $35 entry fee. 

Kim Smith began his career in the fine art business in 1976 with Hefner's Art Gallery in Grand Rapids. In 1989, Smith became the owner and manager of the Perception Gallery of Grand Rapids. Perception Gallery offers works of art by listed 19th & 20th century American & European painters, printmakers & sculptors, period, period reproduction and conceptual framing services, conservation, and appraisals. Smith has specialized in procuring the works of West Michigan artist, Mathias Alten. Smith was instrumental in bringing the Mathias Alten exhibit to Tulip Time in 2023 and served as curator for that fine arts exhibit.

Information about the competition, instructions, and submission forms are available at https://tuliptime.com/first-bloem-2024.

Experience Tulip Time for the 95th anniversary of the Tulip Time Festival, May 4 – 12, 2024. Detailed program and event information will be announced in October 2023.

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