The Paul Nigra Center for Creative Arts is excited to host its first ever Fulton-Montgomery Art Show, featuring only the works of artists who live or work in Fulton and Montgomery Counties. This show and sale is a recreation of the former Fulton County Art Show that the Congregational Church in Gloversville hosted for many years. Like that show, the Fulton-Montgomery Art Show will feature the work of a special guest artist alongside other submissions. This year’s guest is Barney Bellinger, a local artist who specializes in steel sculptures, oil paintings and sculptural furniture.

Individual and group artists are welcome to submit pieces in all media, and the Paul Nigra Center for Creative Arts is happy to include a special showcase of art created by students from the public schools of both counties as well. Students who are interested in submitting should approach their art teachers for submission forms. Artwork from students in grades 9-12 will be juried and eligible for several awards.

The Fulton-Montgomery Art Show will hang from May 6 to June 5. Throughout its run, the arts center will host a number of special events to encourage the public to visit and enjoy the artwork. Artists may submit work now until April 9 through www.OnlineJuriedShows.com. Please note that this is not a juried show, but this website is used for ease of submission and selection by the curators. Artists who wish to submit should visit the website and scroll down until they find the Fulton-Montgomery Art Show. Further submission guidelines are available there. Student artists who enter work through their art teachers do not need to submit through Online Juried Shows.

The Paul Nigra Center for Creative Arts will hold two receptions for the featured artists. The first, invitation-only reception will take place on Saturday, May 6, from 5-7 p.m. This reception is a private opening where artists and their guests will have the first look at the artwork and the first chance to purchase pieces before the public is invited in. A public opening and meet-the-artists reception, where the greater public is welcome to view the show, will take place on Thursday, May 11, from 6-8 p.m.

Through the generous donations of supporters, the Paul Nigra Center for Creative Arts is able to offer monetary awards to outstanding submissions. The grand prize winner will receive $100, while the second prize winner will receive $50 and the third prize winner will receive $35. All winners will also receive a membership to the arts center, which grants them access to special events and discounts on classes, workshops and future gallery submissions.

The fee for entry of up to three works is $15 for members of the Paul Nigra Center for Creative Arts or $25 for non-members. Artists may submit an additional two entries maximum for a fee of $7 each for members or $10 each for non-members. Notification of acceptance will be sent out by April 17 and the dates for drop-off or mailing of artwork are April 26-28 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and April 29 from 9 a.m. to noon.

The Paul Nigra Center for Creative Arts is located at 2736 State Highway 30 in Gloversville. For more information about this show or the Paul Nigra Center for Creative Arts, call (518) 661-9932 or visit www.pncreativeartscenter.org.

Saratoga Arts made this program possible with a Community Arts Grant funded by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew Cuomo and the New York State Legislature.