Berks Encore's Senior Festival of the Arts

Berks Encore is proud to sponsor The Berks Encore Senior Festival of the Arts, which will be held May 20-27 at Reading Area Community College. The contest and exhibit salute the diversified artistic talents of Berks County residents who are 55 or older.

Schedule

Art Exhibit

  • A reception will be held on Sunday, May 20 from 2-5 p.m.
  • Exhibit open daily from noon to 4 p.m., May 20-27

Special Event

  • Join us on Sunday, May 20 at 3 p.m. as actor Kirk Lawrence interprets the life and art of Pablo Picasso.

Categories

The art categories are acrylic, drawing media, mixed media, oil, watercolor, photography, woodcarving and Riverplace.

  • Acrylic
    Water-based acrylic paint or an equivilant
  • Drawing Media
    Material applied from pen, pencil or PASTELS
  • Mixed Media
    Combination of two or more mediums
  • Oil
    Oil-based paint or equivilant material
  • Watercolor
    Watercolor paint from a tube or powder form
  • Photography
    Black and white, or color; scenes limited to Pennsylvania
  • Riverplace
    Your vision of the Schuylkill River or Tulpehocken Creek on canvas, paper or film
  • Woodcarving
    Refer to contest rules

Prizes

Cash prizes will be awarded in each category: first place $100; second place $50; third place $25; and fourth place $15.

Sponsors

Berks Encore would like to thank the sponsors of this year's Senior Festival of the Arts include:

  • Freedom Car Group
  • Assured Assistance
  • Bayada NurseBerks Community Television
  • Berks Community Television
  • Berkshire Commons/Genesis Health Care
  • Country Meadows
  • Elmcroft of Reading
  • First Priority Bank
  • Mr. Tony Grimm
  • Health Calls
  • Home Instead Senior Care
  • Keystone Villa at Fleetwood
  • Kutztown University
  • Lutheran Home at Topton
  • Manor at Market Square
  • Miss Patricia Perfect
  • Reading Area Community College
  • Ridgewood Family Service
  • Riverfront Federal Credit Union
  • Senior Guide Book
  • The Highlands at Wyomissing
  • The Heritage of Green Hills
  • Tom Degler—Keller Williams Realty
  • Utopia Home Care
  • Villa at Morlatton
  • Visiting Angels
  • White Star Tours

Additional donations:

  • Griswold Special Care

Judges

Paintings

  • W. Eugene Burkhart, artist
  • Susan Rohn, Executive Director, Yocum Institute of the Arts
  • Cathy Stephen, Director, Miller Center of the Arts, Reading Area Community College
  • Dr. Gust Zogas, Executive Director, The GoggleWorks

Photography

  • Michael Lauter, Photographer
  • Mary Ann Zerkowski, Elementary Principal-retired
  • Bill Uhrich, Chief Photographer, The Reading Eagle

Woodcarving

  • Tony Grimm, Bird Carver

Riverplace

  • All judges

Festival History

The Berks Encore Senior Festival of the Arts began as an outreach by the Berks County Office of Aging and has since blossomed into one of the largest senior art contests and exhibits in the state. Originally held at Grings Mill, the contest started with painting and drawing submissions. As the number of entries continued to grow, the need for a larger venue increased as well.

In 2007, the senior art contest was renamed "Senior Festival of the Arts" and was relocated to Reading Area Community College (RACC). In 2010, over 150 art pieces were entered and displayed in the contest, and more than 200 pieces were entered in 2011.

In 2012, the Berks County Office of Aging passed its sponsorship to Berks Encore, a non-profit organization inclined to older adults.

Each year, a famous artist is commemorated during the opening reception. In previous years, artists including Neoimpressionist Georges Seurat and Pennsylvania native realist painter Andrew Wyeth have been recognized by the festival.

As a special exhibit, a group of artists with Alzheimer's disease will display their art work depicting their interpretation of life. This exhibit has been held for the past five years, and Senior Festival of the Arts hopes to continue the tradition for years to come.

The Senior Festival of the Arts is a celebration of National Older Americans Month and supports the creative expression of older adults.

Information


For information about becoming a sponsor or entering the 2012 festival, please contact Nancee at (610) 376-5866 or email SeniorFestivalofArts@BerksEncore.org.

Click here to download an entry form for the 2012 Senior Festival of the Arts.


Artist Bob Grim

Rules and Regulations

  • Artists must be 55 years or older by May 1, 2012 and be a Berks County resident.
  • One entry per category or a maximum of eight entries.
  • Must be original and completed after the entrant has turned 55 years of age.
  • Winning artworks or photographs entered in previous years are ineligible.
  • All artwork must be picked up May 28 or May 29 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Unclaimed art will be disposed of by the committee.
  • Only two-dimensional artwork will be accepted (depth less than 3")
    • .
  • All entries must be at least 5" x 7" and should not exceed 30" x 30" in size. Art work must be securely wired and ready to hang; unframed or improperly prepared works cannot be accepted.
  • Wood carved entries must be created by human energy through carving, whittling, chopping, sawing or hand-operated mechanisms and be composed of 90% wood material.
  • Name, address, phone number, medium and artwork name must be listed on the back of each entry. Completed entry forms must be received by May 11, 2012 at noon.
  • Entries will be accepted at Reading Area Community College, Main Campus Building, on May 14 & 15 from 3-6 p.m. Please park in the handicapped and visitors parking areas to drop off your artwork.
  • Judging is May 18. Contest rules will be available at the May 20 reception or during exhibit hours from May 21-27, noon to 4 p.m. daily
    • .
  • Please include a $5 donation with your entry form.