Prairie Arts Center

Call for Artists!

People’s Choice Art Competition with cash prizes

The Prairie Renaissance Cultural Alliance (PRCA) in Morris, Minn., is looking for artists to compete in the Fall Into Art the Arts Festival art competition — with cash prizes — on Sept. 12, 2026, at East Side Park in Morris. 

The theme for the art competition is “CELEBRATING THE PRAIRIE.” We are looking for original THREE-DIMENSIONAL artworks that include prairie motifs, such as nature, flora or fauna, history, or culture. 

These could be sculptures in any medium: 3-D artworks in wood, metal, ceramic, fiber, found materials, glass, mosaic, concrete, mixed media; furniture; garden or yard art; planters, bird baths, rain barrels, etc. Be creative and push the boundaries of three-dimensional art! All sizes are accepted. Artworks should have a minimum value of $100. All contest entries will be eligible for cash prizes and a free artist booth. 

The Fall Into the Arts Festival is a fundraiser to benefit the PRCA, a local, volunteer arts organization celebrating its 23rd year. Contest entries will be considered donations to the PRCA and will be auctioned off in a live auction following the contest.

How to participate in the Fall Into Art Festival Art Contest

1. Create a 3-D artwork with a prairie motif to enter the contest. All works of art entered in the contest are eligible for $600 in cash prizes, to be awarded by audience voting on the day of the festival. People’s choice awards will be given for 1st ($300), 2nd ($200), and 3rd place ($100.00). All works of art entered in the contest will be considered donations to the PRCA – a 501(c)(3) nonprofit – and will be auctioned off in a live auction following the contest. Auction proceeds will benefit the PRCA.

2. Every artist who donates an artwork to the art contest also gets a FREE vendor space to display and/or sell their artwork during the festival.

3. Contest art must be original, have a prairie motif, and be viewable in three dimensions (contest does not include traditional photography, prints, or paintings). 3-D works may be any size and medium.

4. Register your artwork by September 7 by e-mailing prca@prairierenaissance.org. Please include your name, address, phone number, and the value of your artwork. It would be very helpful if you could include a photo of your contest piece. Also indicate if you would like to have a booth to display or sell your artwork.

5. Bring your artwork to Eastside Park, East 7 St., Morris, MN on Saturday, Sept. 12, between 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. This free outdoor art festival runs from 11:00 a.m. to 5 p.m., and includes live music from two bands, food trucks, local beverages, art vendors, and free art activities for the whole family.

For more information or questions, contact Diane Trew at 320-314-2262, or email her at prca@prairierenaissance.org

PRCA 630 Atlantic Ave., Morris, MN 56267 320-585-5037 •prca@prairierenaissance.org

Join the PRCA Board of Directors on Monday, May 18th for the 2026 Annual Meeting. The meeting is open to the public and begins at 6 p.m. at the Prairie Arts Center.

Stephen Henning’s “Introduction to Oil Pastels” is a painting experience you don’t want to miss! For this workshop, Stephen will share his approach to color and technique, and will help participants gain valuable insight into the use of color, reflections, a focused subject, and more.

WORKSHOP DETAILS:

• November 8, 2025, 12 p.m. – 3 p.m. at the Prairie Arts Center (630 Atlantic Ave., Morris, MN 56267)
• Fee: $45 (all materials included)
• See below for registration information

This incredible opportunity is starting to fill up, so we recommend that you register early to reserve your seat in the workshop. Registration is available online at prairierenaissance.org/art-classes, or by sending an email to prca@prairierenaissance.org.

For questions or assistance with registration, contact the Prairie Arts Center via email at prca@prairierenaissance.org, or by phone at 320-585-5037.

4th Annual PRCA Arts Festival
Saturday, September 6th, 2025
11 a.m. – 4 p.m.
East Side Park, Morris
Free Admission

The PRCA’s 4th annual arts festival is expanding – It’s Metal Arts and More! Shop local artist booths, vote for your favorite entry in the People’s Choice Contest, bid in the silent and live art auctions, enjoy local food trucks and locally crafted beverages, dance to Honky Tonk Stardust Cowboy Band’s music – maybe even join in a dance lesson! – and enjoy the great fall arts festival at East Side Park in Morris.

All proceeds go to benefit the PRCA and support our mission to connect our community by creating spaces to experience the arts in Stevens County.

People’s Choice Art Competition with cash prizes!

The Prairie Renaissance Cultural Alliance (PRCA) in Morris, Minn., is looking for artists to compete in the
Fall Into the Arts Festival art competition on Saturday, Sept. 6, 2025, at East Side Park in Morris.
The theme for the art competition is “Nature in 3-D.” We are looking for original three-dimensional artworks that include nature motifs.

These could be sculptures in any medium: 3-D artworks in wood, metal, ceramic, fiber, found materials,
glass, mosaic, concrete, mixed media; furniture; garden or yard art; planters, bird baths, rain barrel art,
etc. Be creative and push the boundaries of three-dimensional art!

All sizes accepted. Artworks should have a minimum value of $100. All contest entries will be eligible for cash prizes and a free artist booth. The Fall Into the Arts Festival is a fundraiser to benefit the PRCA – A local, volunteer arts organization. Contest entries will be considered donations to the PRCA and will be auctioned off in a live auction following the contest.

How to Participate in the Fall Into the Arts Festival Art Contest

1. Create a 3-D artwork with a nature motif to enter into the contest. All works of art entered in the contest are eligible for $600 in cash prizes, to be awarded by audience voting on the day of the festival. People’s choice awards will be given for 1st ($300), 2nd ($200), and 3rd place ($100.00). All works of art entered in the contest will be considered donations to the PRCA, and will be auctioned off in a live auction following the contest. As part of the auction, artists will have a chance to speak about their art. Auction proceeds will benefit the PRCA.
2. Every person who donates an artwork to the art contest also gets a FREE vendor space to display and/or sell their artwork during the festival.
3. Contest art must be original, have a nature motif, and be viewable in three dimensions (contest does not include traditional photography or paintings). 3-D works may be any size and medium.
4. Register your artwork by August 25, by e-mailing prca@prairierenaissance.org . Please include your name, address, phone number, the approximate dimensions of your artwork, and the value of your artwork. It is very helpful if you could include a photo of your contest piece. Also indicate if you would like to have a booth to display or sell your artwork.
5. Bring your artwork to East Side Park, East 7th Street, Morris, MN, on Saturday, Sept. 6, between 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. This free outdoor art festival runs from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., and includes live music, dancing, food and beverages, art vendors, and free art activities.

The PRCA is also looking for artist vendors to participate in the festival.
For more information or questions, contact Diane Trew at 320-314-2262, or send an email to prca@prairierenaissance.org.

Prairie Renaissance Cultural Alliance • 630 Atlantic Ave, Morris, MN 56267 • 320-585-5037

This year’s Bread ‘N Bowls will be held Monday, April 28 at 5:30pm at the Morris Area Elementary School Cafeteria.

Bread ‘N Bowls is an awareness-raising event focused on combating violence and poverty.

The UMN Morris Office of Community Engagement, and Morris Area art students and local artists donate ceramic bowls, and area organizations and businesses provide soup, bread, and desserts.

A suggested donation of $15 to Someplace Safe, the Stevens County Food Shelf, or the Prairie Renaissance Cultural Alliance will get participants a meal and handmade bowl.

Donations to the PRCA go toward funding tuition scholarships for our annual summer art camp for kids, Prairie Art Camp. We hope to see you at this wonderful event!

The annual Holiday Market is open in the PRCA exhibit gallery! Special gifts and works of art, created by local artists, are available for immediate purchase. There is something for everyone on your holiday list – from hats and scarves, to mugs and bowls, to jewelry and decorations, to books and cards.

Kids can get some help picking out gifts for parents and grandparents on Saturday, December 14th. Santa’s Helpers will be here to help kids shop, and will do FREE gift-wrapping too!

The Holiday Market is open now through December 28th. Santa’s Helpers, Saturday on December 14th, runs from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Holiday treats provided for everyone – even the grownups! Make someone’s holiday extra special with a one-of-a-kind, hand-crafted piece of art.

We’ll see you at the Holiday Market!