TORRINGTON – Calling all artists! It’s time to prepare for the Southeast Wyoming Art Association’s (SWAA) Annual Art Show. Entries are due on May 18.

“[The focus of the SWAA] is to promote the arts, give an appreciation for them and encourage people to engage in the arts,” SWAA President Jane Dorn said.

The art show will be held on Saturday, May 20 from 2 p.m. through May 27 at noon in the Platte Valley Bank Community Room. The art show will open with an artist’s reception and a judges’ critique.

After opening on May 20, the show will reopen on Sunday from 1 p.m. to 5. During the week, the show will be open during the bank’s hours, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. 

Entries for the art show are divided into three different divisions. The divisions are children (up to 12-years-old), teens (12- to 19-years-old) and adults (19-years-old and up). The adult division also has separate categories for amateurs and professionals. For each division, there are several different categories for different mediums, including, oil, acrylic, watercolor, drawing, mixed mediums, sculpture and pottery.

There is also a photography category for those who are members of the SWAA. The photography category has the habit of being extremely large. To counteract this, they restrict entries to members to keep the number of entries manageable. All other categories are open to everyone. 

The entry fees are $3 per entry for children, $5 per entry for teens and $7 per entry for adults. There will be cash prizes for first, second and third places.

Dorn said the size restriction on the artwork is no larger than 20- by 24-inches, this measurement does not include the frame. If anyone has larger sculptures, Dorn asks that they call ahead of time to see if they can accommodate the larger work. Depending on the space available, they may not have room for them.

Dorn said the SWAA has been in Goshen County for about 52 years and has held an annual show every year, except for 2020. Currently, they have about 30 members.

The annual membership fee for the SWAA is $10. The SWAA meets each fourth Saturday of the month at 10 a.m. in the Platte Valley Bank Community Room. These meetings usually include a program organized by the association. Everyone is welcome at the meeting.

For questions about the art show or the SWAA, you can contact Jane at 307-640-4002. For those who are interested, there will also be membership information at the show.