Department: 121-Creative Arts | Open
Division A – Performing Arts
Division B – Creative Re-use
Division C – Filmmaking
Division D – Photography
Division E: Fine Art
Division F – Writing & Poetry
Superintendent
Noel Moon, Photography
Prizes & Awards
Champion – $25
Reserve Champion – $10
First Place – $8
Second Place – $5
Third Place – $3
Friends of the Library Award - $50 (Given to one entry under the ‘Altered Books’ class.)
Premiums will be awarded providing there are three (3) or more exhibits in the class. Officials have the authority to move or place exhibits into an appropriate class. Not all classes may merit a placing.
Important Facts & Dates
Age & Ability Groups
Age 11 & under (Dept. 121A)
Age 12 to 17 (Dept. 121B)
Age 18 & older (Dept. 121C)
Persons with Disabilities Age 11 & under (Dept. 121D)
Persons with Disabilities Age 12 to 17 (Dept. 121E)
Persons with Disabilities Age 18 & older (Dept. 121F)
July 26 – FINAL DAY FOR ONLINE ENTRIES
Pre-registration required. Enter online by 5 p.m. Friday, July 26, 2024, using the online entry system. Parents must sign if exhibitor is under 18 years of age. Following registration, print and save your receipt for entry confirmation.
July 27-28 – DELIVER EXHIBITS TO FAIRGROUNDS
Bring exhibits to the Commercial Building #13, Missoula County Fairgrounds, 1101 South Ave. West. Exhibits will be accepted 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Saturday, July 27 or 1 p.m. to 8 p.m., Sunday, July 28. After July 28th, exhibits may be dropped of 9am-8pm in the Fair office (Building #12). There is no guarantee exhibits dropped off after July 28th will be judged.
AUGUST 11 – PREMIUM PAYOUT
Premiums are available for pickup 1 to 4 p.m., Sunday, August 11 at the Fair Office (Bldg. #12). Premiums are also available 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. August 12-14. Any unpaid premiums after 7 p.m., August 14 will be forfeited.
AUGUST 12-14 – EXHIBITS RELEASED
Exhibits will be available for pickup from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday-Wednesday, August 12-14, 2023.
General Exhibiting GUIDELINES
The content submitted must be the original work of the exhibitor.
Officials have the right to exclude any content from consideration if it includes explicit content that is not family friendly.
By submitting your content to this contest, you consent to Missoula County Fairgrounds posting and/or sharing images or videos of your exhibit for promotional purposes.
Entries are limited to one (1) per class unless otherwise specified.
Officials reserve the right to reclassify entries not entered in the correct division or class, or as otherwise needed for competition.
All exhibits will receive care and protection in the surroundings, but at all times are subject to owners’ risk, and the Missoula County Fairgrounds nor Western Montana Fair cannot be held responsible for damage that may occur.
Space/capacity may be reached before the entry deadline and may limit the number of exhibits permitted. In this instance, exhibits will be accepted in the order the entries were received.
Entries will be reviewed upon submission; entries deemed not family friendly by Fairgrounds Staff will not be displayed at the Western Montana Fair but may still be judged.
Division A – Performing Arts
CLASSES
Class 1: Dance – Entries cannot exceed 3 minutes. Pre-register online using the Fair’s online entry system. Within a few days you will be sent an email with a link to upload a .mov or .mp4 file not to exceed 280MB. Dance choreography must be the original work of the entrant. Individually recognized moves (ex. standard ballet positions) may be used, but the composition and arrangement of moves must be original.
Class 2: Music – Entries cannot exceed 3 minutes, submit as an .mp3. Pre-register online using the Fair’s online entry system. Within a few days you will be sent an email with a link to upload the .mp3 file.
Class 3: Prepared Speech- Entries cannot exceed 10 minutes, submit as a .mov or .mp4 file not to exceed 280MB. Pre-register online using the Fair’s online entry system. Within a few days you will be sent an email with a link to upload the a .mov or .mp4 file.
Class 4: Theater- Entries cannot exceed 10 minutes, submit as a .mov or .mp4 file not to exceed 280MB. Pre-register online using the Fair’s online entry system. Within a few days you will be sent an email with a link to upload the a .mov or .mp4 file.
Class 5: Circus Skills- Entries cannot exceed 3 minutes, submit as a .mov or .mp4 file not to exceed 280MB. Pre-register online using the Fair’s online entry system. Within a few days you will be sent an email with a link to upload the a .mov or .mp4 file.
Class 6: Ventriloquism or Puppetry - Entries cannot exceed 3 minutes, submit as a .mov or .mp4 file not to exceed 280MB. Pre-register online using the Fair’s online entry system. Within a few days you will be sent an email with a link to upload the a .mov or .mp4 file.
Class 7: Comedy- Entries cannot exceed 5 minutes, submit as a .mov or .mp4 file not to exceed 280MB. Pre-register online using the Fair’s online entry system. Within a few days you will be sent an email with a link to upload the a .mov or .mp4 file.
Class 8: Other, not list above
Division B – Creative Reuse
GUIDELINES & REMINDERS
Entries need to be made mostly out of old materials.
You may enter up to three (3) items in each class.
A 3x5 card with the following information is required with each piece entered:
Your name written on the back of the card
Name of the piece
Brief description
Specific materials reused
Estimated percent of reused material
CLASSES
Class 1: Altered Books – This NEW Fair class was created in partnership with the Missoula Public Library. Stretch your creativity by giving new life to a “discarded” book. Paint, cut, sculpt your book into a 2-d or 3-d design. If you are in need of a discarded book, please reach out to the Fair Office. The Library will be awarding a special ‘Friends of the Library Choice’ award to one entry. See above under ‘Prizes and Awards’ for details.
Class 2: Make Missoula Green Poster – Design a poster educating or promoting Reduce-Reuse-Recycle.
Class 3: Cardboard Box Transformation – Rethink it – how to give an old box a new purpose. Transform it into something functional and/or beautiful. Look online for inspiration!
Class 4: Found Sound – If your reuse creation makes noise or only comes to life when someone is playing with it (toys or games), it belongs in this class.
Class 5: Lumination Station –Functional lamps or creations whose purpose is to light up - made mostly of reused materials for inside or outside the home.
Class 6: Trashion – Create the ultimate wearable fashion or accessory item made out of materials designed for the dump! Plastic bags, candy wrappers, chip or dog food bags, juice pouches, dried out pens and markers, toothpaste tubes and more! Present it on your own unique display form for best viewing.
Class 7: Wood Pallet Re-Creations – Functional or fun – adding your personal touch is the main requirement. Make sure your entry is ready for display, stands independently, or is prepared to hang.
Class 8: Yard Art & Home Décor – Functional decor or art made mostly of reused materials for displaying inside or outside the home.
Class 9: Other, not listed above
Division C – Filmmaking
GUIDELINES & REMINDERS
Entries may be any genre of film. Entries will be reviewed upon submission; entries deemed not family friendly by Fairgrounds Staff will not be displayed at the Western Montana Fair but may be judged still.
CLASSES
Class 1: Vlog – Entries not to exceed 10 minutes. Pre-register online using the Fair’s online entry system. Within a few days you will be sent an email with a link to upload a .mov or .mp4 file not to exceed 2GB.
Class 2: Short Film – Entries not to exceed 10 minutes. Pre-register online using the Fair’s online entry system. Within a few days you will be sent an email with a link to upload a .mov or .mp4 file not to exceed 2GB.
Class 3: Screenwriting
Class 4: Animation
Class 5: Other, not listed above
Division D – Photography
Superintendent
GUIDELINES & REMINDERS
All photos must be at least 4x6 prints and cannot exceed an 8x10 print size. Photos should be securely mounted upon mats (not poster board or cardboard), not framed. The exhibitors name should be written on the back of the mat. If the exhibitor’s name or signature appears on the front of the photograph, please cover the name for judging purposes.
CLASSES - Black & White
Class 1: Abstract/Creative (Black & White)
Class 2: Animals (Black & White)
Class 3: Drone (Black & White)
Class 4: Macro/Close-up (Black & White)
Class 5: Panorama (Black & White)
Class 6: People (Black & White)
Class 7: Landscape (Black & White)
Class 8: Still Life (Black & White)
Class 9: Collection of 4 (Black & White)
Class 10: Action (Black & White)
Class 11: Film ((Black & White)
Class 12: Other Black & White Photo, not listed above
CLASSES - Color
Class 13: Abstract/Creative
Class 14: Animals
Class 15: Drone
Class 16: Macro/Close-up
Class 17: Panorama
Class 18: People
Class 19: Landscape
Class 20: Still Life
Class 21: Collection of 4
Class 22: Action
Class 23: Film
Class 24: Other Color Photo, not listed above
Division E – Fine Arts
GUIDELINES & REMINDERS
All pieces meant to hang must be ready to display on a hook, whether it’s on canvas, wood, matted, mounted, metal, framed, or other medium. Make sure the hanging system you choose will allow for a ¼ inch hook. No tape. Please practice hanging your work at home to make sure that it is secure.
CLASSES
Class 1: Ceramics
Class 2: Drawing- Charcoal
Class 3: Drawing- Colored pencil
Class 4: Drawing- Graphite pencil
Class 5: Drawing- Pastels
Class 6: Drawing- Ink
Class 7: Drawing- Mixed Media
Class 8: Mosaic
Class 9: Painting - Acrylic
Class 10: Painting - Mixed Media
Class 11: Painting - Oil
Class 12: Painting - Watercolor
Class 13: Sculpture, 3-D printed
Class 14: Sculpture, any other medium
Class 15: Printmaking
Class 16: Computer Designed Illustration
Class 17: Other, not listed above
Division F – Writing & Poetry
Guidelines & Reminders
Entries must be typed, processor printed, or hand printed clearly and legibly on unlined white paper.
Exhibitors must enter 2 copies of each exhibit: 1 for exhibit, 1 for judging.
Poetry exhibits may be a single poem or a set of multiple poems on the same subject, not to exceed an 8 ½” x 11” page.
Poetry exhibits must be matted. Your name should be written on the back of the mat.
Short stories and essays do not have to be matted. Please place your two copies in a 3-tab folder.
Classes
Class 1: Poem
Class 2: Short Story
Class 3: Essay
Class 4: Other, not listed above