ILLINOIS ART LEAGUE MEMBERSHIP SHOW PROSPECTUS

Art Exhibition Guidelines

Preamble

In accordance with the purpose of the Illinois Art League (IAL) Bylaws, the

Membership Show is intended to engage in the development and improvement of

interest in all forms of visual art. The Membership Show offers members the opportunity

to display their works to the public, and for the public to appreciate the contributions of

the IAL to the community.

A. Eligibility of entries:

1. Paid IAL members 18 years or older are eligible to enter.

2. All exhibit entries must be the original concept and creation of the artist,

regardless of media. Works may not have been previously exhibited in an IAL

Membership Show. Works executed in class or under the supervision of an

instructor and copies of commercial photographs or reproductions of the work of

another artist may not be entered. Exception: 2-D works executed in class or

under the supervision of an instructor may be entered by amateur artists in the

Amateur Division provided they are original and not the drawing from a teacher.

Artists must be able to produce proof of originality if asked, and have the

original source of ideas or design available to judges or the Board of

Acceptance Committee upon request.

3. All entrants should comply with copyright laws. Information about copyright laws

as applied to visual art is readily available online and from the library

4. A painting or photograph is defined as a work with four contiguous sides. For

example, a triptych is considered three works, not one.

5. Reproductions are unacceptable for entry into IAL Membership Exhibits. If the

artist has one of his/her works reproduced commercially, no reproduction copy

may be entered. However, the original piece of work done prior to reproduction

may be accepted.

6. Original prints are acceptable: Original prints may be produced in any of the

aquatints, intaglio, serigraphs, monoprints, or any other print made from the

original plate created by the artist. Computer prints of any kind are unacceptable

as 2D art (see “Digital Art”).

7. Mixed Media: Mixed Media is defined as work in which multiple media are applied

to the substrate. Examples would include (1) Acrylic and collage of papers; (2)

ink, pastel, and watercolor. If an image was produced digitally (such as

Procreate™, Art Rage™, Adobe Photoshop™, etc.) and a substantial portion of

the image on the substrate is covered/altered with a conventional medium, then

the piece shall be considered mixed media (not a computer print).

8. Digital Art: Digital Art is any artwork that draws upon digital technology and tools

as an essential part of its creative process. It includes techniques such as digital

drawings, paintings, illustrations, and photo manipulation. Excluded: Digital

video, and art created by AI.

9. 3-D Art: Art that is viewable from 3-4 sides will be considered 3-D Art. The show

committee can help the artist decide if the 3-D category is appropriate for a given

piece of art. Heritage arts (e.g., knitting, sewing, glass, etc.) would likely be

considered 3-D.

B. General Rules:

1. A maximum of three entries may be submitted by any one exhibitor. Only one of

the three pieces can be larger than 6 square feet (e.g., 2’ wide x 3’ long) and not

larger than 15 square feet including framing.

2. Registration is done via an online registration form. After clicking on Submit, follow

the link to the payment-options page. You can choose an online payment

(PayPal), or the option to write a check and mail it. Help is available from the

Member Show Co-Chairs for anyone not familiar with computers.

3. Non-refundable entry fees are as specified in the Show Announcement.

4. Wet paintings will not be accepted. All entries shall be of quality construction,

capable of withstanding normal exhibition and handling. 2-D works and

photography must be wired for hanging. Entrants are strongly encouraged to wire

their works as close to the top as practical and to stretch the wire taut in order to

facilitate hanging from a cable system and to best display the work. NO

SAWTOOTH HANGERS ACCEPTED. The hanging committee may make

adjustments to the hanging wire, to accomodate proper hanging at the gallery.

5. AS PER GALLERY POLICY, ALL WORKS MUST BE “G” RATED. IAL retains the

right to reject or remove from the show any work found improper in subject matter

or in violation of any rule. Any prizes and ribbons will be revoked.

6. Neither the IAL or the Fondulac Bank – Clock Tower assumes any responsibility

for lost, stolen or damaged entries. Entrants are asked to acknowledge these

terms by signing the registration form attached to the back of all submitted work.

7. Works are to be dropped off at the Fondulac Bank, Clock Tower Drive, East

Peoria, 3rd floor on Monday, August 3, 2026, between 10:00am-1:00pm.

C. Awards

1. There will be four awarded Categories: 2-D Art; 3-D Art; Digital Art, and

Photography.

2. There will be three Divisions of 2-D Art: Amateur, Semi-Pro, and Professional.

3. Collectively, the three Categories and the three Divisions within 2-D Art comprise

six Classes. Each piece of submitted artwork will be placed in one of these six

Classes.

4. Entrants will indicate on the Entry Form the Category which the entrant feels is

most appropriate for the work, and the entrants for 2-D Art will place themselves

in the Division which best describes them.

Divisions:

One division per person:

An entrant cannot claim a division (e.g., Professional - oils) in one media and

another media as another division (e.g., Amateur - watercolor) or by invoking the

“created under instruction” exception for amateurs, when the entrant is considered

a professional or semi-professional.

Professional: A person who holds a degree in art, or teaches, and/or receives a

part of their income from his/her art, or has achieved the highest standards of

excellence in his/her artwork, or has previously shown in the Professional Division.

All entries must be original.

Semi-Professional: One who is interested in showing and selling his/her artwork.

Has a high standard of professionalism.

If an entrant in the Semi-Professional Division has received a total of 5 awards at

the 1st Place, 2nd Place and 3rd Place levels in IAL exhibits, that person must

move up to the Professional Division. All entries must be original.

Amateur: A person who is a beginner or does artwork as a hobby or for personal

satisfaction. Amateurs may enter any of their work, including that created under

instruction, provided it is original. (See A#2 above.) If an entrant in the Amateur

Division has received a total of 5 awards at the 1st Place, 2nd Place and 3rd Place

levels in IAL exhibits, that person must move up to the Semi-Professional Division.

5. First, Second and Third Place Awards, and optionally up to four Honorable

Mention Awards, will be granted in each Class depending on the number of

participants in that Class. In any given Class, if there are fewer than six (6)

entrants, awards will be at the discretion of the show committee and judge.

6. No more than ONE monetary prize is to be awarded to any exhibitor in any one

category. Exhibitors entering two or more categories, however, may be awarded

more than one monetary award. (e.g., 2-D and 3-D)

7. The recipient of “Best-of-Show Award” cannot receive First Place or cash in any

other category. This is the only exception to #6.

8. All prize money will either be distributed at the Artist Reception or will be mailed to

the exhibitor. Should any prizes be found to have been obtained by false

evidence or misrepresentation, or in violation of any IAL rule, such prizes will be

withheld. The artist will be notified of the Board’s action in writing by the Board.

9. The monetary amount of the awards as determined by the IAL Board and the

Committee is set forth in the attached Schedule of Monetary Awards.

04/2026