The Tri-County Arts Council is announcing a call for artists for the Southern Tier Biennial (STB), a professionally juried exhibition of works by artists 18 years of age or older, who reside in one of the following New York State counties: Allegany, Broome, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Chemung, Steuben, Schuyler, Tioga or Tompkins. The deadline for entries is May 31. This year’s jurors, artist and Director of Galleries under the Visual Arts program in Chautauqua Institution, Judy Barie and Evelyn Penman, the Assistant Director at the Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts at St. Bonaventure University will review submitted work in June, and artists will be notified of acceptance by July 5. A two-part artists’ reception will take place on Sept. 21. Artists can read application guidelines and submit entries online at www.southerntierbiennial.com.

STB exhibitions celebrate the vitality and diversity of contemporary art in the Southern Tier region. The event was founded in 2003 in order to make a measurable and positive difference for rural artists. The STB provides artists the opportunity to take part in the process of a professional art competition and be rewarded for those efforts. Past jurors have typically reviewed about 300 submissions and accepted anywhere from 25 to 40 pieces. Accepted works are determined solely at the discretion of the two jurors, who review the anonymous submissions — only seeing the image of the artwork, its title and dimensions. The Biennial’s scope, vision and number of accepted pieces is completely dependent on the jurors’ interpretation of what “contemporary” art is and how they choose to curate the entire exhibition.

Artists accepted into the show will be included in a color catalog for the exhibition, and will receive a $125 stipend to help cover costs associated with travel, shipping, and production. In addition, four cash awards totaling $2,500 will be presented: $1,000 to the Best of Show winner and $500 for three Honorable Mention winners. The Best of Show winner receives a solo show in the Fall of 2020 with a color catalog, up to $1,000 for professional development, and up to $1,000 for show expenses.

The Southern Tier Biennial is produced by the Tri-County Arts Council, in collaboration with Jamestown Community College, and the Cattaraugus Region Community Foundation, made possible by an endowment from the estate of F. Donald Kenney.

For more information, contact Ardyth Van Scoy-Rupp by calling 372-7455 or by emailing stb@myartscouncil.net. Find general information at www.southerntierbiennial.com and www.myartscouncil.net.