CALL FOR 2025 ARTISTS FOR ‘MAAC IN THE BOX’ ANNUAL COMPETITION

Area artists are called to apply by April 6 for the Michiana Annual Art Competition (MAAC).

The MAAC is a local, juried, fine art exhibition designed to recognize, foster, and reward excellence of artists in southwestern/western Michigan and northern Indiana. The popular, multimedia exhibit, “MAAC in the Box,” is held at the Box Factory for the Arts with support from members, area businesses and corporate sponsors.

Entrants who are residents of the following counties will be given preference: Allegan, Berrien, Cass, Kalamazoo, St. Joseph, Van Buren, Barry, Kent, Ottawa and Muskegon counties in Michigan; and Lake, Porter, LaPorte, St. Joseph and Elkhart counties in Indiana. Entrants may submit up to two works of art, which must be original in concept and execution, created within the past three years, and not previously exhibited at the Box Factory. This year the photography categories will be combined into one including both color and black/white. The painting category will be split into three categories (oil, acrylic and water-based). The other categories artists can submit works under are fiber arts (weaving/quilting/knit/crochet/baskets), 3D (sculpture/glass/ceramics/assemblages), drawing (pastels/pencils/pen and ink/printmaking) and mixed media.

See complete applicant information at boxfactoryforthearts.org/maac/. Online applications for entries and a non-refundable entrance fee of $25 for one piece and $40 for two, must be received by April 6. The show will be on exhibit May 16 to July 6, 2025. 

Entrants are eligible to win first- and second-place prizes in eight categories of artwork. The artist winning the top prize, Best of Show, will be awarded $1,500. Judging the 2025 MAAC is Jessica Bohus, a sculptor/ glass artist from Fennville, Michigan.

Artists and the general public are invited to the MAAC in the Box opening reception on Friday, May 16 from 5:30 to 7 p.m., at the Box Factory for the Arts, 1101 Broad St. in St. Joseph, MI.