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Announcing
Art Festival 2025


“Faith is being sure of what we hope for
and certain of what we do not see.”
(Hebrews 11:1)

Theme: “Making faith visible”

Calling all artists! Winnebago Reformed Church is bringing back an old tradition — the Art Festival! It's the perfect reason to get creative this year, to try something new, to express yourself.

On top of the fun of learning and doing art together, you will have a chance to earn some of the recognition you deserve. That is why Festival art work must be completed and made available to a national panel of judges by December 31, 2025, for the awarding of prizes. In January of 2026 we will have a celebration, with the artists displaying their work for the community. Prizes and awards will then be announced in a ceremony and the celebration will close with an art sale and silent auction. Count on leaving the celebration with both awards and rewards.

For best-of-show:

$100 grand prize

with additional awards grouped by age:
$25 and $10 prizes
for spirit and display-of-talent.

Basic rules and guidance:
  • Entry is open to any tribal member local to the Winnebago Reformed Church
  • Submissions must be original, the work of the artist in 2025. Young artists may receive age-appropriate help with necessary adult tasks
  • A proposal is expected and should be approved prior to the start of production
  • All submissions must relate to the Festival’s theme. The work’s provenance (documentation of the origin and completion of the work, required) must reference the verse, Bible lesson, story, catechism question, or creed used for inspiration
  • Works that honor the language, history, and clan structure of the artist’s tribe will be highly rated
  • Any media, including digital, is permitted: drawing, painting, sculpture, illustrated (or even unillustrated) short story, photography (macro, landscape/urban, portrait, videography, stop-action video), puppetry, pony/crow beadwork, sewing, multimedia, star quilt design
  • A $10 entry fee, with parent/guardian authorization, is required for each person submitting artwork. Proposals/designs and preschooler art may also be submitted for awards, no entry fee required
  • Young artists with an approved proposal and paid entry fee will receive art supplies and mid-week assistance at the church.

Some things are timeless. Archival image of children displaying art at a festival decades ago

The creative process is the same. The talent-pool is the same.
But the audience for our artists, and the Gospel, is now global.

Sponsored by the WRC Youth Program. All ages encouraged to participate. For more information, visit the Art Festival 2025 website. To start the process of registering, email [email protected] or text (402) 802-3089 with your name and interest.