CONTACT:

Eric Oesch, Deputy Director

Red Earth, Inc

6 Santa Fe Plaza, Oklahoma City, OK 73102

(405) 427-5228 FAX (405) 427-8079 eric@redearth.org www.redearth.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:                                                      February 25, 2010

Art applications available for 2010 Red Earth Festival

            OKLAHOMA CITY, OK – Red Earth, Inc. is accepting applications for artists wishing to participate in the 2010 Red Earth Native American Cultural Festival juried art market scheduled Father's Day Weekend, June 18-20 at the Cox Convention Center in downtown Oklahoma City.  Applications are due no later than March 31, 2010.

            Throughout its 24-year history the Red Earth Festival has garnered numerous awards including recognition as one of North America's Top 100 Events by the American Bus Association, Oklahoma's Outstanding Event by the Oklahoma Tourism & Recreation Department, and Central Oklahoma's Outstanding Event by Frontier Country Marketing Association.

            Nearly 300 juried artists from throughout the U.S. are expected to participate in the art market at the annual Red Earth Festival. Art applicants must submit their artwork for jury into the show, and are required to provide a tribal membership card, Certificate of Degree of Indian Blood, official document certifying Indian artisan, or Federal, State, or Tribal document establishing Indian lineage.

            The Red Earth Festival art market features competition and exhibitor divisions and categories including cultural items; painting, drawing, graphics & photography; jewelry; pottery; sculpture; and clothing, textiles & weaving.  Red Earth will award prize money to winners of the juried art competition in more than 18 categories.   An Awards Ceremony is scheduled Friday morning, June 18 at the Cox Convention Center. 

            The Grand Award, Red Earth's highest art award, will be presented during the ceremony along with the President's Award and Kathleen Everett Upshaw Award.

The juried art competition and dance competition at the Red Earth Festival has established Oklahoma City as a Native American art and cultural center, rivaling other American cities as a showcase of fine Indian art.  Utilizing the formula provided by the Oklahoma City Convention & Visitors Commission, the 2009 Red Earth Festival provided a more than $8 economic impact to the city. 

Red Earth Festival art applications and guidelines can be obtained from the Red Earth website at www.redearth.org or by calling (405) 427-5228.

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