Starkville Area Arts Council offers a number of programs and submission opportunities, from the annual Cotton District Arts Festival to period calls for submissions posted throughout the year. All applications are now taken online - no more postage, no more CDs or DVDs, and no more printing and lost materials!
Submission requirements vary for each program. So, be sure to read all instructions (and make sure you are submitting to the right program)!
Join our newsletter list, or check here from time to time, to see what calls may be open.
PLEASE NOTE: Submittable is best viewed on a desktop or through the Submittable App.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT: SAAC is an equal opportunity organization. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion (creed), gender, gender expression, age, national origin (ancestry), disability, marital status, sexual orientation, or military status, in any of its activities or operations. These activities include, but are not limited to, hiring and firing of staff, selection of volunteers and vendors, operation of programs, and provision of services. We are committed to providing an inclusive and welcoming environment for the public, all members of our staff, volunteers, vendors, and artist communities.
We expect all SAAC & CDAF board members, volunteers, participants, vendors, and grantees to follow the same community-engagement policy.
Thank you for your interest in Public Art in Starkville, MS!
If you have a proposal for a public art project in Starkville this is the place! All submissions must include:
- Proposed project overview
- Proposed budget
- Proposed timeline
- Photos of the proposed project and examples of other works.
Submissions to this form are reviewed as they come in. Please be aware that our funding is very limited for public art projects.
For questions, please email Juliette at arts@starkvillearts.org.
CALLING ALL YOUNG ARTISTS! All Pre-K – 12th grade students enrolled in the Starkville Oktibbeha School District are invited to submit art to the Buzzy's Art Contest. Important Guidelines for Submissions: All submissions are made online by uploading a digital photo or file of an original work of art. PLEASE DO NOT EMAIL SUBMISSIONS. Any email submissions will not be considered.
Students are welcome to submit artwork in all four categories, but only ONE entry per category:
- 2D – Drawing (pencil, crayon, pen, color pencil), Painting (on paper, canvas, wood), Collage, Digital Drawing (not a digital photography but an original drawing made using computer technology such as Adobe Illustrator), or Mixed Media (a work made using a combination of materials).
- Sculpture/3D – Clay (ex. figures, pots), Paper Maché, Fiber (quilts/textile), Metal, Wood (no Legos or assemblages of toys)
- Photography – Digital or Print
- Creative Writing – Short Story, Poetry
Still not sure which category to enter? We can help! Please email your question and a photo of the artwork to starkvillepto.buzzys@gmail.com.
Guidelines for 2D, Sculpture, and Photography:
- All art must be recent, created between January 2024 and January 2025.
- Artwork does not have to be framed but must be stable (not torn, crumpled, or falling apart). *If framed, please do not frame with glass so you may take a good photograph)
- Do not place any names, signatures, titles, or identifying labels on the front of your work or in the submitted photo of your work.
- Each entry requires a separate submission.
- Artwork image must be a Jpeg (jpg) file.
- Name the file the title of the artwork. For example AmazingPaintingofBird.jpeg
- Image must be in focus and cropped to show only the artwork (for example do not show someone holding the work).
- Artwork MUST be original to the student (no copyrighted characters are used). It's ok to be inspired by the world around you, BUT you should not directly copy someone else's idea. Please DO NOT submit works with characters from popular TV shows, cartoons, comics, movies, video games, sports logos, and websites including guided YouTube tutorials. If you created your artwork in a class for school, please tell us what class and the teacher who instructed you. Failure to credit sources will impact the juror's review and the ability for submitted artwork to appear in the final online gallery exhibit. For more on originality, refer to the sample judging rubric.
- Visit starkvillesd.com/news to download and review the judging rubrics for each category.
Guidelines for Creative Writing:
- Each entry requires a separate submission.
- Submissions may be handwritten or typed.
- Submissions should be no longer than 5 pages.
- Do not place any names, signatures, or identifying labels on the front of your work or in the submitted file of your work.
- Submission files may be jpeg, doc, or pdf.
- Name the file the title of the writing. For example TheStoryofMyLife.pdf
- If submitting a photograph of the writing, the image must be in focus so the juror can read the submission.
- Writing MUST be original to the student (no copyrighted characters are used). It's ok to be inspired by the world around you, BUT you should not directly copy someone else's idea. Please DO NOT submit works with characters from popular TV shows, cartoons, comics, movies, video games, sports logos, and websites including guided YouTube tutorials. If you created your writing in a class for school, please tell us what class and the teacher who instructed you. Failure to credit sources will impact the juror's review and the ability for submitted artwork to appear in the final online gallery exhibit. For more on originality, refer to the sample judging rubric.
HOW TO SUBMIT - DO NOT EMAIL SUBMISSIONS. All submissions must be made online through Submittable. If you have questions, please email stakvillepto.buzzyz@gmail.com or contact your school - we want all children to be able to submit. Due to the large amount of submissions, failure to follow any of the guidelines will cause elimination. To see examples of work from previous Buzzy's competition visit: caad.msstate.edu/exhibitions/2021/buzzys-art-contest
Tentative TIMELINE:
- DEADLINE to Submit online: January 19, 2025
- Artwork & Writing Judged: February 2025
- After judging is complete, families of students receiving award recognitions will be notified by Submittable through email (the account used in Submittable). Please make sure to check your junkmail box for notifications.
- Awards Ceremony: Early March 2025, 6:00pm, Greensboro Center. Stay tuned for emails with updated information. Award Winners will be invited to any events. If you have any questions, please contact starkvillepto.buzzys@gmail.com.
Open call for submissions for our next AiPP Group Show - The 2025 Spring Showcase! The submission deadline is February 2, 2025. This show will be a HYBRID show: works will be on display in the Starkville Area Arts Council gallery as well as online. The exhibit will run from March 4 to May 6, 2025.
This show is open-themed, but the theme of Spring: new life, new beginnings, reinvigoration, a shedding of the old, and a representation of starting over is encouraged.
Best in Show awards will be given at the opening reception at SAAC on Saturday, March 8, 2025 (5:30-7pm)
NOTE: Only submit ONE work per submission. Artists can submit up to 3 works by submitting additional forms. All mediums accepted. Visit the page for our AiPP initiative at https://www.starkvillearts.net/creativeeconomy.html for additional rules and details.
Thank you for submitting to the 2025 Cotton District Arts Festival Singer Songwriter Competition Showcase! The top 10 applicants will be selected to compete in a live performance date on March 1, 2025, at Starkville Community Theatre AT 4 PM.
- Songs must be original works written, composed, and performed by the submitter.
- Musicians may submit up to 3 songs per person.
- In the application form, please paste the URL link where the Songwriter Committee can view/listen to your song online.
- Once selected, Showcase participants will be contacted for further details regarding the Showcase.
- The Top 3 winners of the Showcase will be invited to perform at #CDAF2025 in shared time slot! (Plus, in the past, various winners from this competition have been hired to play at SAAC's annual fundraiser Forks & Corks).
DEADLINE: February 15, 2025 @ MIDNIGHT
This form is for NEW FOOD VENDORS. Vendors who attended previously should contact Taste of Starkville directly at TasteofStarkville@starkvillearts.org for the appropriate form.
For all rules, please visit www.cdafestival.com
This application is for the Juried Arts Exhibit, which is a competitive fine art show where pieces are listed for sale in a gallery setting. If you wish to participate in the ARTISAN'S VILLAGE to sell your work from a booth, you must also submit in that category.
Judging occurs in 2 phases: 1) acceptance to the show and 2) competition for prizes at the show. Starkville Area Arts Council and the Cotton District Arts Festival encourage submissions that reflect a diversity of talent, perspective, and medium. Show us what you've got!
DEADLINE: February 23, 2025
NOTE: The Juried Arts Extended Show runs from April 9–April 21, 2025 and will be located in the MSU Visual Arts Center in the Cotton District. A reception for will be held the night before the festival on Friday, April 18 at the VAC. Awards will be announced the morning of the festival on April 19.
RULES: All rules may be found on the CDAF website on the applications page.
Are you a potter, painter, photographer... or any other artist interested in exhibiting your works in a one-person show? SHARE YOUR WORK WITH US!
Send us your best work (images you provide must represent the work you wish to submit).
How it works:
- Submit your works online
- Our committee will review your submission and reach out to you when vacancies for Solo Exhibits need to be filled. Art in Public Places exhibits generally last 2 months per show and alternate between group and solo shows, so solo spots are VERY LIMITED annually.
- Response times to your submission will not be immediate and may be months after you have submitted.
- You do not need to withdraw your submission unless you no longer wish to exhibit with us or your work fundamentally changes.
- For all rules and regulations, please visit www.starkvillearts.net/creativeeconomy.
For additional questions, please contact us at arts@starkvillearts.org.
To view past Art in Public Places exhibits, please visit www.starkvillearts.net/aipp
Want to be considered as an act for our Music Stage(s)? Then fill out this form and we'll follow up with you! #CDAF2025 is scheduled for April 19, 2025 in the Cotton District!
Please be aware that our budget is limited and most accepted bands are from the local Golden Triangle area. For any questions, feel free to contact us at CDAFmusic@starkvillearts.org