Visual Arts Policies

2011-12 Minnesota State High School League
Fine Arts Rules & Policies Manual

Visual Arts

All Visual Arts participants must meet all of the Eligibility Guidelines as stated in the MSHSL Official Handbook as identified below.

See Bylaw:
100 Bylaws / 200 Bylaws
101: Age
102: Attendance
103: Credit Requirements
104: Enrollment
105: Grade Level
106: Graduates of Secondary Schools
108: Scholastic Eligibility
110: Semesters Enrolled
111: Transfer and Residence
205: Chemical Eligibility
206: General Eligibility Requirements
209: Sexual/Racial/Religious Harassment

Contents

I. Objectives
II. Categories
III. Qualifications and Instructions
IV. Section Visual Arts Festivals
          A. General Information
          B. Schedule
          C. Artwork Preparation
          D. Insurance Disclaimer
V. Subject Matter Selection
VI. Judges
VII. Judging Criteria
VIII. Awards

I. OBJECTIVES

The Minnesota State High School League Visual Arts Festival will:

A. Be compatible with the standards of comprehensive art education and the goals and objectives of the competing high school's art education programs.

B. Support the instruction, standards, thought process, and creative problem solving strategies involved in artistic learning.

C. Provide an opportunity for student-centered learning through challenging, authentic, intellectual, and artistic work.

D. Stress the process of creation, the steps of careful craftsmanship and the mastery of materials with sensitivity and inventiveness in student artwork.

E. Encourage and reward the creation of art that reflects personal interpretation, engagement, feelings, opinions, and/or individual viewpoints.

F. Support every student's quest to find and develop personal media, style and tastes.

G. Advocate personal investment in looking at, responding to, organizing, and expressing their subject through various materials, techniques and processes.

H. Provide positive rewarding experience in acknowledging student's artistic efforts.

I. Provide a learning opportunity for students through an experienced adjudicator's evaluation procedure and established judging criteria.

II. CATEGORIES

Each school may enter up to 18 works of art at the Subsection or Section Levels.
No more than 1/3 of the allowed artworks are to be submitted in any one category per school.
Each student may submit artwork(s) in one or more categories.

A. Drawing: This category includes works in pencil, ink, charcoal, pastel, crayon, etc.

B. Painting: This category includes works in oil, acrylic, watercolor, gouache, casein, tempera, etc.

C. Sculpture: This category includes 3-dimensional works which include, but are not limited to clay, metals, wood, fibers, etc.

D. Media Arts: This category includes any digital, film or video-based artwork.

E. Crafts: This category includes crafts such as functional pottery, book arts, paper crafts, stained glass and fibers.

F. Print Making: This category includes relief printing, silk screening, intaglio, processed hard copy print, etc.

G. Ceramics: This category includes all hand built or wheel thrown clay constructions that are primarily functional as opposed to sculptural in terms of intent.

H. 2D Mixed Media / Collage: This category includes any 2 dimensional art work that employs multiple media and /or collage that would not fit into a drawing or painting category

I. Graphic Design: This category includes any artwork that combines image and typography utilizing art and technology to convey a message from a client to a particular audience

III. QUALIFICATIONS AND INSTRUCTIONS

A. The artwork must be original. If it is inspired by images not the students' own, the work must be significantly changed. If there is any doubt as to the originality of the work, the instructor should not submit it.

B. All submitted artwork must have been completed within the twelve-month period immediately prior to the Section Festival.

C. Artworks submitted to previous Minnesota State High School League Art Festivals can not be resubmitted.

D. At the school level, instructors should review the works submitted by their students and select the works that best meet with the judging criteria.

E. Students must title all pieces of artwork and must include an artist's statement.

F. Entries are limited to 18 works of art per school at the Subsection or Section level(s).

G. No more than 1/3 of the allowed are to be submitted in any one category per school.

IV. SECTION VISUAL ARTS FESTIVALS

A. General Information
Each school will participate in the Section Festival, governed by the Administrative Region to which they are assigned.

Exception
A school that is in an Administrative Region that does not host a festival; or a school that has unavoidable conflicts with the date of their Section Festival may request permission to participate in a Festival in another Section. In order to do so they must have the permission of their own Region and the Region which is hosting the Festival. Contact your Region Secretary. Permission should be requested at least two months prior to the Section Festival to allow for proper planning. Note: Schools may only participate in one Section Festival.

Each Administrative Region will run its own Section Festival. Date, site, schedule, Event Manager and other particular details will be made by the Region Committee. Section Festivals are to be scheduled after the end of the winter sports season.

Date, site and basic format should be determined no later than October of each year. This information must be shared with each registered school, along with information and deadlines needed to register for the Section Festival.

Specific information and guidelines for Section Managers will be posted on the MSHSL Web Site. - www.mshsl.org

B. Schedule
A recommended schedule for a Subsection or Section Festival is listed below.

7:00 -   9:30     Set-up Artwork Displays
9:30 - 12:30     Judging of Entries
9:30 - 12:00     Educational Learning Activities for Participants
12:00 - 1:00     Lunch Break
1:00 -   2:30     Public Viewing While Judges Share Critiques
2:30 -   3:00     Awards Program
3:00 -   4:00     Take Down and Depart

C. Artwork Preparation

1. Three-dimensional artwork must not exceed 130 inches in height and girth combined [height + (2 x width) + (2 x depth)]. Note: Multiple pieces that act together as one must still meet these size restrictions.

2. Three-dimensional artwork must be self-supporting.

3. Two-dimensional artwork must not exceed 4' x 6' in dimension. Note: Multiple pieces that act together as one must still meet these size restrictions.

4. Two-dimensional artwork such as watercolor paintings, drawings, prints, and photographs must be matted or dry mounted on BLACK AND/OR WHITE mat board and hinged to FOAM BOARD OR CORRUGATED CARDBOARD backing material. (Do not use paper as a mat, poster board as backing material or masking tape as a hinge).

5. If the entry is on stretched canvas, the edges must be painted or taped.

6. Two-dimensional artwork must be ready to hang as determined by the Section Festival Director. The work may not be framed unless the artwork is done on canvas board or poster board and a light weight frame is necessary for hanging capabilities.

7. Two-dimensional artwork such as pastels or charcoal must be shrink wrapped or covered with lightweight plastic.

8. Identification card - Each artwork must have two identification cards, one is to be attached to the back (2-D work) or bottom (3-D work) and the other is to be attached to the front of the work after the judging is completed. (Forms available on the League Website - www.mshsl.org).

9. Each artwork submitted is to have an accompanying "Artist Statement". This is to be attached to the artwork and is a part of the jurying process. The Artist Statement is to be word-processed and is not to exceed 150 words. It should: a) describe the use of art concepts using vocabulary of the art form, b) analyze how form and content reveal the message of the artwork.

10. Numbers will be provided at the show, and must be attached to the back of each name tag. These numbers will be used as the only ID for the artwork until the judging has been completed. At that time the entry form will be used to ID the artwork.

11. The instructor must complete a Master Entry Inventory Sheet prior to arrival at the competition site. This inventory list will be submitted to the Competition Manager upon arrival. All forms and information may be downloaded from the League Website - www.mshsl.org

D. Insurance Disclaimer

1. The artwork will not be covered by insurance at any stage of the festival. This includes handling, transporting, storing, or displaying.

2. Each entry form/disclaimer must be completed and signed by the student and teacher.

3. The Subsection/Section Festival Manager and assistants will take every step possible to safeguard the artwork during handling, transporting, storing, and displaying, but neither the MSHSL, it's employees, volunteers nor the school's art instructors shall be liable for loss or damage of the artwork.

V. SUBJECT MATTER SELECTION

Freedom of choice is granted to all schools in selecting subject matter used for the artwork entered into this festival. Good judgment must be used in the determination of the work's subject matter and appearance. As a school-sponsored, educational activity, vulgar or plainly offensive material is not allowed. Instructors are expected to edit and adjust the subject matter and appearance of the artwork to meet local and community standards.

VI. JUDGES

A. Selection of Judges

1. Judges for the Section Festivals are selected by the Region and/or Section Committee.

2. Three to six judges are recommended, depending on the number of schools participating and the number of entries expected.

3. Visual Arts Judges must meet the following minimum qualifications:

a. A minimum of three years post-degree teaching and/or experience as an artist/educator
b. Possess a personality which will assure the giving of constructive criticism and encouragement to young artists; and
c. Possess a vocabulary which will make it possible for her/him to record her/his impressions and suggestions clearly and concisely.

4. Preference should be given to judges who are registered and certified, and are listed in the MSHSL Judges Directory. Note: At this time having registered judges is not required.

5. If judges are high school or college educators, it is highly recommended that no more than two judges should be from the same school.

6. The use of secondary and/or post-secondary art educators as judges is most desirable. They will have an understanding of the educational relevancy of this festival as well as an understanding of the developmental, emotional, and motivational factors that go into making art at the high school level.

B. Instructions for Visual Arts Judges
The Section Visual Arts Festival is designed to stimulate interest in Visual Arts. This is not a competitive event, in that students do not compete against each other. Instead each student participates against the established standards. Ratings/awards will be made solely on the basis of performance and not on the basis of how many or how few participants there are of a given ability within a category. We trust that you have a well-established set of standards before you begin judging the first contestant.

In judging the Festival, we ask that you adhere to the following:

1. Each judge is employed to aid in a program of Visual Arts education. The results of his/her judging can either be a help or a hindrance in this education. Care should be exercised in the wording of your statements in order that they may be detailed, constructive and helpful. There is no place in Minnesota contests for unkind, sarcastic, caustic or other objectionable remarks. Be considerate in the type of comments given orally or written. Adverse criticisms should be given when needed, but presented in a constructive and helpful manner.

2. Judges must keep in mind that they are judging high school students and not college, university or professional groups. Judging should be strict but fair. Students will accept an adverse decision if they feel the judge has given them fair and unbiased attention.

3. No person is to converse with a judge while he/she is carrying out his/her duties, and judges are instructed to inform any person approaching them that they have been requested to advise such person of this regulation.

4. Judges are not to sit together or to discuss the artworks, but will give independent ratings and comments, without consulting with other judges.

5. The Judges must comment on the critique sheet, and include what the student needs to do to improve their artwork. Be sure to give positive feedback along with criticism and make all critical comments constructive. There should be a definite correlation between the rating and the criticisms and suggestions made. AVOID GENERALIZED STATEMENTS - BE SPECIFIC.

6. Be on time for the Festival - judges will normally meet 30 minutes to 1 hour prior to the start of judging.

7. Unless told otherwise, judges need to be present to provide verbal feedback to students, after the judging has been completed. This can be the most valuable part of the Festival!

8. A score or rating for each artwork must be provided by each judge, unless you are given specific instructions to the contrary.

9. All artwork must be original. If the work is inspired by images not the students' own, the work must be significantly changed. If there is any doubt as to the originality of the work, the instructor should not submit it. If judges suspect that an artwork does not meet this requirement, they should contact the festival manager. Artworks that violate this standard are not to be related.

10. Freedom of choice is granted to all schools, in selecting subject matter used for artwork entered into this festival. Good judgment must be used in the determination of the work's subject matter and appearance. As a school-sponsored, educational activity, vulgar or plainly offensive material is not allowed. Instructors are expected to edit and adjust the subject matter and appearance of the artwork to meet local and community standards.

11. The festival manager is responsible for the enforcement of contest rules. Judges, and teachers should report rule violations to the festival manager.

12. Judges are not permitted to discuss with students their plans for attending college or university before, during or after the time they are judging said students in any Visual Arts Festival.

It is most desirable to seek the help of secondary and/or post-secondary level art educators. They will have an understanding of the educational relevancy of this festival as well as an understanding of the developmental, emotional, and motivational factors that go into making art at the high school level.

VII. JUDGING CRITERIA

The following judging criteria will be used by the judges to help guide Judges evaluating and selecting the outstanding secondary school artworks in their Section Festival. An Adjudication Scoring Sheet will be made available to assist judges in scoring student work. This is to be completed, with comments, and returned to students (by section manager) at the conclusion of the Visual Arts Competition.

Superior Rating:
To receive a SUPERIOR rating, a student shall (a) demonstrate a precise and fluent knowledge of the tools, skills, elements, principles, and history of art; (b) make artistic choices based on expanding, transforming, or combining options to improve or refine the artwork, and (c) creative expression through the synthesized use of elements, principles, skills, techniques and materials in the creation of the artwork.

Excellent Rating:
To receive an EXCELLENT rating, a student shall (a) demonstrate accurate and articulate knowledge of the tools, skills, elements, principles and history of art; (b) make artistic choices based on evidence to improve or refine the artwork, and (c) creatively express through crafted or modified use of elements, principles, skills, techniques and materials in the creation of the artwork.

VIII. AWARDS

A. Certificates will be provided by the League for all entries receiving a Superior or Excellent rating at the Subsection or Section Festival.

B. Medals may be purchased by the school or region for those receiving a Superior rating at the Subsection or Section Festival.

C. Each Judge will select an artwork to receive the Judge's Award/Best of Site/Spotlight on the Arts at the Section level.