Neosho prepares for their annual Sidewalk Chalk Art Contest

Neosho Arts Council will be hosting their annual Sidewalk Chalk Art Contest October 7 during the Neosho Fall Festival. The event is open to kids, teens, and adults and features cash prizes in each age group.

“Each fall the sidewalks downtown become canvases and we invite the community to fill them with works of art,” said Sarah Serio, president of Neosho Arts Council. “It’s a great way to get everyone involved in the creative process.”

“People of all ages should take part in this event because it’s an excellent way to make public art in your community, even if it is temporary,” said Jade Henning-Cantrell, Spiva Center for the Arts, who will serve as this year’s judge.

The council started the event over a decade ago to engage the community with a creative and fun activity during Neosho’s annual fall celebration.

“Everyone from elementary aged kids to professional artists look forward to the Sidewalk Chalk Art Contest,” Serio said. “We see some very creative works in each division plus the adults and teens can put in a solid four hours of work on their designs.”

“I will be looking for good craftsmanship with the medium and interesting concepts,” Henning-Cantrell said. “I love seeing all the creative talent this area has to offer in such a unique medium.”

Free chalk pastels are given to entrants but the council has seen participants bring boxes of left over chalks from the year to supplement their supplies. They also see participants showing up with knee pads and towels to sit on.

Ages 6 to 15 can enter the contest for free while those ages 16 and up will need to pay a $10 entry fee. Top prize in the Age 16 and up division is $300 with several hundred dollars being awarded over the three divisions.

The contest starts at 10:00am and the judging is at 2:00pm. “Everyone wanting to take part can sign up at any point between 10:00am and the start of judging, so long as they are done with their chalk art when the judge comes around,” Serio said. Sign up will be on the southwest corner of the Neosho Square at the Neosho Arts Council booth.

Details on the event can be found at neoshoarts.net. You can also follow @NeoshoArts on Facebook and Instagram.