Paint Dover! 2024 Plein Air Painting Event, Competition, Sales, Exhibition – Dover, DE

Registration is open!

This plein air painting event, now in its sixth year, is part of a commitment to providing high quality arts programming in downtown Dover, , engaging artists from around the region, and inviting the entire community into the process and outcome see their beloved downtown through the eyes of talented artists while painting and at the exhibition. Community members are also invited to consider painting by learning at a demonstration by a professional artist on October 12 at the accredited Biggs Museum of American Art.

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SCHEDULE

• Painting and Competition: Tuesday-Thursday, October 8-10. Painters may register Tuesday through Thursday and can choose to paint 1, 2 or all 3 days!

• Opening Exhibition: Thursday, Oct. 10, 4:30 p.m., at the accredited Biggs Museum of American Art.

• Demo: Saturday, Oct. 12. from 11 a.m. – to 2 p.m. at the Biggs Museum of American Art. The demo is free, but pre-registration is encouraged.
• Weekend Exhibition at the Biggs Museum of American Art: Oct. 11-13 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Free admission for registered artists!

• Extended Exhibition: October 18 – November 7. Downtown stores display artwork created during the event.

• Virtual Exhibition beginning October 21. Voting will take place through November 8 to award the People’s Choice Best Painting Award! Click here to view last year’s virtual exhibition.

For information about last year’s event and to view the Virtual Exhibition, Click Here.

See also www.DowntownDoverPartnership.com for more information about downtown.

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REGISTRATION

• Pre-registration at via Eventbrite site – Until September 15th: $30
• Pre-registration after September 15th (including on-site registration) via Eventbrite: $40
• College student reduced rate for painting as a competition artist: $10
• High school students are FREE of charge but must register online.

DEMO REGISTRATION

Artists, community members, and students are invited and encouraged to re-register through Eventbrite for the demo at no additional charge.

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NOTE

• A downtown exhibition of paintings in shops and virtually through the end of October will boost opportunities for additional sales. Main Street Dover/Downtown Dover Partnership (the sponsoring organization) does not take commission on sales, thus artists keep full purchase price for sales. Artists are asked to take this into consideration when pricing their work, so that community members may be able to participate in purchasing art more at a modest pricing structure.
• Pre-registration is requested for Paint Dover! to ensure we have sufficient materials for artists. Those who choose to register and pay in person may do so during on-site registration at the start of the event (101 W. Loockerman Street, Dover 19904, Suite 2B) from 8:30 a.m. to 10:00 Tuesday – Thursday (or by appointment), but are asked to contact Diane at 302-678-2940 (leave a message, if necessary) with their intent to paint in the event and will then pay at registration on-site during the event and no later than Thursday, Oct. 10 between 8:30 -10 a.m.
• Refunds will be provided through September 15th, minus the non-refundable Eventbrite fee.
• Banner image is One Summer Night by Hyo Lee from Paint Dover! 2023. “THIS is Dover!” Award

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AWARDS:

• NEW! Curator’s Choice Award, selected by Laura Fravel, Curator at the Biggs Museum of American Art. Views near the museum are encouraged, but not required
• Best in Show, selected by the Biggs Museum of American Art.
• Second Place, selected by artist judge.
• Best Small Works, selected by artist judge. (200 sq.in. or approximate maximum size of 12 x 16, framed.)
• Up to (3) Honorable Mentions.
• City of Dover Mayor Christiansen’s Choice.

SPECIAL PLACE AWARDS:

• “DSU Hornet Spirit!”, selected by Delaware State University representative.
• “Iconic Loockerman” (Street) for the image that best depicts Loockerman Street’s commercial activity.
• “Dover Heritage” for the image that best illustrates Dover’s rich history as the capital of the First State.
• “THIS is Dover!” award for the image that “best depicts that authenticity and diversity of downtown Dover.”
• “Stately Homes” award for the image that best depicts the historic/Victorian-style residential architecture in historic Dover.

PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARDS

• People’s Choice Award with voting taking place during the Opening Reception and throughout the Virtual Exhibition through November 10.

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COMPETITION AND EXHIBITION ENTRY GUIDELINES

Artwork entered for exhibition must be framed and wired for hanging.

Artwork identification tags will be provided upon on-site registration. An ID tag must be completed and attached to each painting, to include artist name, title of artwork, medium and price, as well as noted if it is NOT for competition and if it a “small work”.

All work for competition and exhibition must have been painted on site, during the three-day Paint Dover! 2024 event – not at home,in studio, or otherwise. Each artist that wish to be considered for competition for a “Small Works” award, must circle the “Small Works” at the bottom of the painting’s ID label. If painting is not for sale, it must be labeled “NFS“ in the price line.

Artwork completed during the Paint Dover! event may be sold prior to hanging in the exhibition, but ALL work completed during the event must be displayed until 7 p.m. the evening of the opening exhibition.

Artists will be required to sign a waiver stating the following: Artist/Exhibitor agrees to release and to hold harmless Paint Dover! representatives (including Main Street Dover/Downtown Dover Partnership staff, volunteers, and merchants) from any and all liabilities and damages to artwork and/or persons, or loss of artwork, as a result of any part of Artist’s/Exhibitor’s participation in any part of the Paint Dover! event, including in downtown venues.

By registering, artist agrees that images of artists/artwork from the event may be used for Main Street Dover/Downtown Dover Partnership marketing purposes with no compensation to the artist. Every effort will be made to credit artists and paintings whose images are used for marketing purposes.

Additional details will follow. Those registered will receive updates via email.

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SPECIAL ARTS RATE FOR HOTEL ACCOMODATIONS

MIcrotel, Dover (3.5 miles from the event location)

In partnership with the Microtel Inn & Suites by Wyndham Dover, those participating in Paint Dover! 2023 will receive special pricing on their overnight stay in Dover. Queen, Double Beds and One-Bed Queen Suites are available for $79 (+ tax)/night. Rooms have been recently renovated and include mini-refrigerator and microwave, and breakfast is included daily. If you need assistance in booking, contact the hotel at (302) 674-3800 and ask for Sagar Patel, liaison for Paint Dover! accommodations.

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QUESTIONS?

Diane@DowntownDoverPartnership.com

Call 302-678-2940

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Paint Dover! is produced by Main Street Dover, a subsidiary of the Downtown Dover Partnership. This program is supported, in part, by a grant from the Delaware Division of the Arts, a state agency, in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts. The Division promotes Delaware arts events on DelawareScene.com.

Updated 8-18-2024