How much does it cost to enter Paint the Town?
The registration fee is £10 which must be paid in advance of the event, by Saturday 12th October 2019 to secure your place at the event. We will not be able to accept entries on the day. The entry fee is non-refundable.
Why are you charging a Registration Fee?
The fee goes towards helping to fund the costs of the event, and is set at a level to not put anyone off from registering, but to encourage artists to take part and attend on the day.
Are there any restrictions about what or how I paint?
We only ask that you create a picture which captures Blackburn town centre or elements of it over the course of one day. Streetscapes, historic buildings and architecture, landscapes and portraits are all permitted. Artists can use most mediums, including oils, acrylics, watercolours, pastels, drawing, pen and ink, linocut and collage, it just has to be on a material which is capable of being stamped at the start of the day. Analogue photography is also permitted under specific conditions please see below. If you have any queries about this, contact the organisers who will do what they can to support you to be a part of this event.
Where can I paint on the day?
Your location must be within the Blackburn town centre BID boundary (see map below). We just ask that you don’t choose a location which causes a nuisance or puts you or members of the public in any danger. You must obtain permission before painting on private land, and please don’t do anything that would break the law.
Due to the nature of the event, we ask that you choose a location which is accessible to the public so that visitors can see your work during the day, and that you don’t move from this location – you will be part of an Artists Trail which is published in a Visitor Guide for the event.
On completing a registration form you will need to submit your chosen location. It is ok to submit registration form without confirming the exact location as long as you confirm it to the organisers by 12thOctober (to ensure your location is included in our art trail map of the event).
Can I do any preparation work or make some outlines or preparatory sketches on my canvas/board/painting material?
You must choose your location in advance of the event, so that we can create an Artists Trail, and this could include doing preparatory work or sketches to help you on the day, but all materials used on the day of the event must be blank and not pre-prepared with background or other preparatory sketches. Only primed surfaces will be acceptable.
Why do I have to register at The Bureau Event Hub on the day before I can start painting?
Before you start we need to check your registration and put a stamp on the back of your painting surface as proof that you started the day with it completely blank. Works without a stamp submitted at the end of the day will be excluded from the competition.
Can I enter a picture I painted/created beforehand?
No. All work eligible for the competition must have been created on the day.
Can I submit a photograph as my work?
The Bureau Arts Centre is fortunate to be the home of a specially equipped dark room and photography processing suite, operated by Obscura Darkroom. Anyone wishing to consider photography as their medium for this event must abide by specific rules outlined in the Terms & Conditions for artists. Only analogue photographs are permitted, no digital photography whatsoever.
Can I submit more than one picture on the day?
No. Only one piece of artwork from each artist on the day can be submitted to the competition. However, artists can have more than one canvas/paper/material stamped as being blank at the start of the day but can only submit one for judging and exhibition.
Do I have to paint outdoors?
No but you must paint in a place accessible to the public within in Blackburn town centre within the town centre BID boundary. If you choose to paint inside a public venue, before doing so you must get permission from the owner/occupier.
What happens if there is bad weather on the day?
Paint the Town is primarily an outdoor event so all participants must be dressed and prepared for the weather conditions. Just as participants should have appropriate waterproof clothing and any necessary protective measures for their artwork in the event of wet and/or windy weather, participants should also ensure they have plenty of refreshments and protective sun cream if it is hot and sunny.
Is there a maximum or minimum size for entries?
There is no minimum size, the maximum size for submitted work is 92cm x 92cm the base material (canvas/paper/other substrate) must be capable of being stamped. Remember whatever medium or scale you choose, you have to complete it in a day!
Can I submit my finished artwork at The Bureau Event Hub anytime during the Saturday event day?
Yes. Artists will be able to submit work at The Bureau Event Hub anytime up to 6pm following registration. Work will not be accepted after 6pm.
Are there any age restrictions for participating artists?
Yes, artists must be over 16. There is a stained glass effect collage workshop being provided at The Bureau Centre for the Arts for any children interested in being part of this event on the day (more information about this will be available via the Facebook Page).
Does my picture have to be framed?
No, but a reasonable level of presentation will be expected for the exhibition. All works will be exhibited as submitted on the event day.
When will judging take place?
Judging will take place following the event and the winners will be announced at a private Prize-Giving & Exhibition Launch event at The Bureau, Penny Street, on the evening of Thursday 7thNovember 2019.
How will I know if I have won?
All participating artists will be invited to the Prize-Giving and Exhibition Launch event at The Bureau on Thursday 7thNovember 2019 where the winners will be announced. Artists will be able to meet with other artists and view the exhibition before it is open to members of the public. Winning artists will be awarded their prize within 30 days of the event.
What happens to my artwork after submitting it?
All artwork created on the event day and submitted to the competition will be exhibited and available for sale at The Bureau from Thursday 7thNovember 2019. Any sponsor(s) of the event may receive a winning painting as part of their sponsorship package (See T’s & C’s of entry).
Who decides the price my picture should be exhibited for sale at?
The price will be agreed between the artist and Paint the Town organisers. Artists are asked to bear in mind what they would like to charge for their work before submitting it at the end of the event day, as you will be asked for the price at the point of submission. All work must be made available for sale unless it is to be donated as a winning artwork to an event sponsor.
How much will I receive from the sale of my artwork?
Artists will receive 60% of the selling price, unless your painting is a winning artwork to be donated to a sponsor, in which case please see above.
How do I get paid after my artwork is sold?
You will be paid by cheque or bank transfer.
What happens if my picture isn’t sold?
Unsold artwork is to be collected from The Bureau by the end of November 2019. At the discretion of the event organisers uncollected pictures may be donated to charity or used to raise funds for The Bureau and/or future Paint the Town events
Will my work be promoted at/before the event?
Visitor Guides will be available on the day of the event for visitors to see where all the participating artists are located and take part in an Artists Trail. On completing a registration form artists are asked to include a short Artist Bio which will then be used to create an A4 sign for artists to display on the day so that visitors can find out more about the artists and their work.
How will visitors find me on the day of the event?
A Visitor Guide for the event will be produced which will include a map showing where all the participating artists are located. Each artist will have a number on their Artist Bio sign so that visitors can follow a trail and check which artists they have seen at the event.
Do I have to take part in publicity?
By entering Paint the Town, you agree to the use of your photograph and images of your finished work being used to promote the 2019 event and any future events.
What if I register but cannot make it on the day?
The registration fee will not be refundable in any circumstances. If you cannot make the event after registering, artists are asked to give as much notice as possible to the event organisers. Please do not register if you are uncertain whether you can take part in the event as failure to turn up on the day will have an impact on the success of the event.
