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Amateur artists 50 and over are invited to enter their best works in a variety of media in the Beacon’s 2020 Celebration of the Arts, an online art competition.

The Beacon held its first Celebration of the Arts competition in 2018, when it attracted more than 900 entries in four categories. This year’s competition has expanded to seven categories.

Winners in each category will receive awards, cash prizes (up to $100), as well as the opportunity to exhibit in one or more area galleries. Judging will be by professional artists, none of whom participated in the last competition, so all new eyes will be on this year’s entries.

In addition, photos of all winning artists and their works will be published in a special Celebration of the Arts section to be printed in the Beacon in the spring.

Seven categories

Amateurs may enter digital photos of their original works created after the age of 50 in these categories (up to three items per category):

— Painting (watercolor, oil, acrylic)

— Drawing (pen and ink, graphite, pastels, calligraphy)

— Sculpture/Carving

— Ceramics

— Jewelry/Stained Glass

— Mixed Media/Textile Art

— Digital Photography

“Last year’s entries were beautiful and inspiring. And meeting our winners — some of whom were totally new to art — was truly a thrill,” said Stuart Rosenthal, publisher of the Beacon.

“We’re very excited to be holding this event again, with support from AARP, and look forward to seeing work from many new artists as well as from those who entered before.”

The online competition is open now, and will close on March 20. Winners will be announced in April, and there will be an artists’ exhibition in May.

Winners will also be honored at boomer/ senior expos in Baltimore County and Montgomery County, Maryland, and in Fairfax County, Virginia.

Perks for participants

While there is a modest fee of $10 for each entry, all entrants will be entitled to a one-year membership in the Maryland Federation of Art (new members only; value: $70). Among other things, the membership will enable artists to have their own web page on the MFA site, where they can share images of up to 20 artworks with friends and family.

The Celebration of the Arts was inspired by moving stories from Beacon readers who have returned to an earlier love of art after years away from it, or who developed a passion for it later in life.

Community partners, including dozens of area nonprofits and governmental entities, are helping spread the word about the Celebration throughout the region.

Note that there is no poetry category in the 2020 competition. The Beacon intends to hold a separate writing competition in the near future.

Current sponsors of the event include AARP, the Maryland Federation of Art, Brooke Grove Retirement Village, Pepco and Sommerset.

Other communities and businesses wishing to become sponsors or community partners may call the Beacon at (410) 248-9101 or email alan@thebeaconnewspapers.com for more information.

For complete rules of the competition, visit theBeaconNewspapers.com/COTA2020. Questions? Call (410) 248-9101.