The Arts Explosion Festival, a combined effort of the Federal Way Performing Arts Foundation and the City of Federal Way Arts Commission, is the first annual juried art contest with $6,000 total in prizes and open to the public for purchase of the art.

The contest deadline is Wednesday, March 15.

The first Annual “Arts Explosion” Festival is a juried art competition in three categories: Photography/Digital; Two-Dimensional artwork; and Three-Dimensional artwork. The entry fee is $45.00 total for two artworks.

Entries must be original, entirely the work of the entrant, and executed within the past three years (since March 15, 2020) to be eligible. Work must have been done without the supervision of an instructor.

Copies of existing artworks or works solely based on copyrighted artworks are not eligible. All work must be gallery-ready for display, with the appropriate framing, hanging wires or other supports. No saw-tooth hangers or ring hangers are allowed.

The judges for our event will include Mr. Shawn Peter Qwalsius of the Puyallup Indian Tribe; Mr. Geraldo Pena, a professional artist from Tacoma and graduate of the Federal Way Public Schools district; Ms. Anda Elksnitis, a professional artist from Latvia; and Ms. Iveta Felzenberg, a professional artist living in Federal Way.

Cash awards are offered in the first ($1,000), second ($500), and third ($250) places, as well as the People’s Choice Award ($250), in all three categories.

A maximum of two entries per artist is permitted. Artists may enter more than one category.

All entries will be juried from digital images and invitations given to join. Awards will be judged by the jurors described above from the original works of art. To register online, visit https://www.callforentry.org/