Call to artists, writers & more

da Vinci Film Festival issues open call for entries — Entry deadlines are Dec. 10 (regular entry), Jan. 20 (late entry) and Feb. 5 (extended entry). The da Vinci Film Festival is seeking submissions for its 2012 program, to be held during the July 20-22 da Vinci Days in Corvallis. Films will be accepted in the categories of Documentary, Narrative Shorts, Animation, Experimental and Young Filmmakers (middle and high school). Documentary films must be 90 minutes or less. Young Filmmaker entries must be 10 minutes or less, and all other categories must be no longer than 30 minutes. Film submissions are made via Withoutabox (www.withoutabox.com), an online service for film festivals. The festival is especially interested in works that incorporate themes of art and science, but all submitted films will be considered for selection. Winners will be chosen for each of the five categories. In addition, two cash prizes for $150 will go to the best “Emerging Artist” and to the film that best captures the “Spirit of da Vinci.” Information: 541-757-6363 or www.davincidays.org.

CALYX open to electronic submissions — CALYX Journal is now accepting electronic submissions of poetry and prose through Dec. 31. Please submit to www.calyxpress.org/submissions/. Submission guidelines are available at www.calyxpress.org/submission.html. Information: 541-753-9384 or www.calyxpress.org.

Northwest Film Center asks filmmakers: to “Make It Short” — Submission deadline is Jan. 6, 2012. The Northwest Film Festival kicks off its “Make It Short” 40-Second Film Competition, challenging Northwest filmmakers to create outstanding short films in any format — from Super-8 to cell phone videos — the only caveat being that the films must have a running time of 40 seconds or less. Contestants may compete in youth or adult categories. Information: www.nwfilm.org.

Oregon Poetry Association seeks young poets — Entries must be postmarked no later than Wednesday, Feb. 1, 2012. The Oregon Poetry Association has announced its 14th annual Oregon Student Poetry Contest. All K-12 Oregon students are eligible to enter. Ten winners each in four age categories receive cash prizes ranging from $5 for honorable mentions to $30 for first place. All 40 winning poems will be published in Cascadia: The Oregon Student Poetry Anthology. Each winner will receive a certificate and copy of the anthology. There is no entry fee. Complete guidelines can be found at www.oregonpoets.org or by sending a stamped, self-addressed envelope to Student Contest, P.O. Box 1016, Klamath Falls, OR 97601-1016 or by sending an email to fishtrappe@hughes.net.

Salem Art Fair & Festival accepting online applications — Visual-artist applications for the 63rd annual Salem Art Fair & Festival will be online through Sunday, Feb. 12, 2012, at www.zapplication.org. Other applications, including musical performers, nonprofit food booths, the Kids’ Court and Cultural Corridor, are also available online, at www.salemart.org. The festival will be held July 20-22, 2012, at Bush’s Pasture Park in Salem.

UVAA solitics art, photos for shows — Submission deadline is Tuesday, Feb. 28, 2012. The Umpqua Valley Arts Association invites artists and photographers to submit to the annual ArtWorks NW and PhotoWorks NW juried art shows and competitions. Applicants may submit up to three entries in all themes, genres, media and photographic processes (ArtWorks NW, however, is not accepting photography), except video. Cost: $30 for up to three entries. All work must be display-ready on arrival. Information: 541-672-2532 or http://uvarts.com/call-to-artists.

Kip Smith Young Writer’s Award now accepting submissions — Deadline is Monday, May 7, 2012. The Kip Smith Young Writer’s Award is open to all high-school seniors in Benton County. Students should submit their best writing in any genre — poetry, fiction, nonfiction, drama or translation. The award offers a cash prize of $1,000 and is sponsored by Poetry Enterprises, a 501(c)3 nonprofit. Prior to his death in an Alabama traffic accident, Kip Smith was a 1981 Crescent Valley High School graduate. High school seniors should submit as many samples of writing as desired to show their scope and interests. Entries should be sent to The Kip Smith Young Writer’s Award, Poetry Enterprises, 712 N.W. 13th St., Corvallis, OR 97330.

Reading/Writing Contest for Young Readers — Entry deadline is Friday, Jan. 6, 2012. The Library of Congress announces “Letters About Literature,” a national reading and writing promotion program for readers in grades 4-12, sponsored by the Center for the Book in the Library of Congress in partnership with Target. To enter, readers write a personal letter to the author, explaining how his or her work changed their view of the world or themselves. To obtain the guidelines and required entry form, ask your teacher or librarian, or dowload it from the Letters About Literature website at www.oregon.gov/OSL/LD/youthsvs/aboutlit.shtml.


Travel Oregon seeks appetites for Oregon Bounty Wanderfeast contest — Travel Oregon invites foodies to dig, gather and forage for the Oregon Bounty Wanderfeast, a statewide excursion with 10 of the state’s top chefs as guides. One lucky foodie will win a four-day, three-night Oregon Bounty Wanderfeast. To enter, create an itinerary of your choosing from a variety of Oregon culinary destinations and submit in 25 words or less what makes Oregon the perfect place for a Wanderfeast. A randomly selected winner will have the opportunity to bring three friends or family members on a culinary adventure. The prize includes the chosen itinerary, airfare on Alaska Airlines/Horizon Air and lodging by Best Western. Information: www.traveloregon.com/bounty.

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