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Class Fee: $60.00Competitors must register on the Villages Folk School website at https://villagesfolkschool.com/classes.html?class=72
Contest rules:
Contest is open to anyone 18 years and older.
Artist can enter up to THREE Framed & Wired pieces for judging that were created between Wednesday at 7:00am and Friday at 4:00pm.
Contestants must pre-register online at VillagesFolkSchool.com by Friday July 10, 2026. The registration fee (class fee) covers three days of the event.
On-site check-in Wed, Thurs & Fri from 7:00-8:00am under the Van Buren County Fairgrounds grandstand. Canvases stamped and goody bags with maps handed out at sign-in. If you need to sign-in at another time, you must contact Mel at 641-919-7323 and set up a time in advance.
All pieces must be created between 7:00am Wednesday July 15th and 4:00pm Friday July 17th .
Wednesday & Thursday is open to painting any where in Van Buren County. Artists are invited to admire the brick and mortar historic architecture of the villages, scenic landscapes of our state forest and state park, or perhaps a gravel road winding through the fields. Night time painting is encouraged.
We request that Friday painting takes place on the fairgrounds only. Of coarse artists are invited to paint all three days on the fairgrounds if they like.
Bring your own supplies: Easel, canvas, paper, paints, pastels, frame, eyelets & wire for hanging, etc.
Exhibit will open to the public Friday at 5 pm.
-Artists can bring their stamped ready to hang framed paintings to the grandstand area after 9:00am but before 4:00pm on Friday for judging.
-Your three submissions for judging need to be stamped, framed, with a horizontal wire for hanging.
-You may hang up one additional painting for sale (painting must have been created during PTF)
-20% of each sale will proceed Villages Folk School, a non-profit organization. Please see NOTE below.
-Award Ceremony will be under the grandstand 5:15pm Friday evening. All works released at approx. 6:30pm.
1st Place: $500
2nd Place: $400
3rd Place: $200
Honorable Mentions $50 (2)
*NEW* Fair Favorite $100
Several Hidden Items Cash Prizes $10each
Judge: To be announced
Honorary Judge: Ms. Margie of Ottumwa Radio
Purchase Pledges from 2025 (2026 to be posted soon):
$300 Villages Folk School
$300 Steve Kisling
$300 Van Buren County Farm Bureau
$300 Libertyville Savings Bank
$300 First Iowa State Bank
$300 Kim & Dr. Tim Blair
Registration: VillagesFolkSchool.com/calendar.html
Fair Schedule: www.vanburencountyfair.com
Lodging: villagesofvanburen.com.
Camping: www.vbcountyconservation.com.
Camping is available at the fairgrounds. Please check in with the fairgrounds for camping in advance.
NOTE: Selling from the easel is not allowed. So that the folk school may continue to offer cash prizes, painters may not sell from the easel during the competition. The 20% we receive from exhibit sales goes directly into the cash prize amount we award the painters. Thank you.
This event is sponsored by the Villages Folk School of Van Buren County.
For more information contact Mel Stockwell at [email protected] or 641-919-7323
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Event Venue
Van Buren County Fairgrounds, Van Buren County Fairgrounds, Keosauqua, IA 52565, United States
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