Church Museum Announces Art Competition

The Museum of Church History and Art is sponsoring its second international art competition and exhibition to encourage Latter-day Saint artists to depict scriptural themes in quality works of art.

“We encourage artists worldwide to submit works based on themes from the scriptures,” said Elder John K. Carmack of the First Quorum of the Seventy and Executive Director of the Church’s Historical Department.

“The scriptures contain inspired teachings, testimonies, and stories of great spiritual value to people everywhere,” Elder Carmack said. “We hope this competition will challenge our finest artists to apply their talents to the creation of memorable works of art.”

The international competition, which closes 30 November 1990, will be open to Latter-day Saint artists who create paintings, prints, drawings, photographs, textiles, ceramics, pottery, jewelry, quilts, lace, embroidery, or works in any other artistic medium. Each artist may submit one recent work.

The gift of an anonymous donor will allow the museum to recognize the entries judged as best with prizes and purchase awards. The museum will also purchase some works for its permanent collection to be used in future exhibits and Church publications.

From a donated fund of $43,000, up to $13,500 in cash prizes will be awarded, including up to five “Award of Distinction” prizes worth $1,500 each, and up to fifteen “Award of Merit” prizes worth $400 each. The balance of the donated money will be used for up to $30,000 in purchase awards.

To qualify, said museum director Glen M. Leonard, works must “reflect a theme, value, story, or image inspired by something in one of the four standard works of scripture in the LDS Church.” Slides of the works of art must be at the museum by 30 November 1990 for the initial screening, after which the jury will later review a smaller group of actual works.

Entry forms containing additional information on submission requirements are available through the Museum of Church History and Art, 45 N. West Temple Street, Salt Lake City, UT 84150, (801) 240-2299.

Prize winners and purchase awards will be announced at an artists’ reception and awards ceremony on 29 March 1991, Brother Leonard said. Works accepted for the exhibition will be on display through 2 September 1991.

The museum’s international competition and exhibition held three years ago attracted 1,031 entries from LDS artists in twenty-three of the United States and thirteen other countries. The subjects of the works dealt with LDS history, lifestyle, and beliefs. The 180 paintings, prints, drawings, and sculptures introduced museum visitors to the work of many new artists.

The 1991 competition is narrower in theme, Brother Leonard said, but it will allow artists who work in a wider variety of art forms to participate. “We expect to get acquainted with the work of many more Latter-day Saint artists through this Churchwide competition,” he said.