HOLLAND (WHTC-AM/FM) — Tulip Time Festival (tuliptime.com) officials have announced details of the 2022 First Bloem Festival Artwork Competition. The winning artwork becomes the official Tulip Time poster.
Mary Sundstrom, Holland Area Arts Council’s visual artist and exhibitions director has been named the 2022 juror. She’ll select the Top 20 pieces for First Bloem.
Artists in Ottawa, Allegan, Kent, Muskegon and Kalamazoo counties are invited to submit artwork between Sept. 27 and 30, 2021. The 2022 theme should, according to a Tulip Time Festival statement, “represent Tulip Time’s mission to celebrate Holland’s tulips, Dutch heritage and community.”
The winning art and artist will be announced at the First Bloem Reveal, a special unveiling reception held in February, 2022.
Until 2010, Tulip Time officials commissioned festival art. The Festival Artwork Competition started in 2011. Between 2011 and 2020, the following area artists were named winners:
- 2011 Beth Charles – “Drama Queens”
- 2012 Brittany Strabbing – “Beautiful Dream”
- 2013 Maggie Schultz – “Clothed in Splendor”
- 2014 Karin Nelson – “Resilience”
- 2015 Carolyn Stich – “Joy of Spring”
- 2016 Alla Dickson – “Spectacle”
- 2017 Michele Gort – “Playful Time”
- 2018 Cindy Awrey – “Together”
- 2019 Carolyn Stich – “Enduring Delft”
- 2020 Aron Lowe – “Dutch Dance”
The COVID-19 pandemic caused the cancellation of the 2020 festival and prevented a 2021 art competition. So, festival officials commissioned a piece from Aron Lowe, the 2020 winning artist. Her “Hear Ye, Hear Ye, Spring is Here” became the 2021 Festival Artwork.
For complete contest details on the 2022 contest, visit tuliptime.com/first-bloem-2022.
For other questions, email Lorma Freestone at TTartwork@tuliptime.com.
The 2022 Tulip Time Festival is set for May 7 through 15, in and around downtown Holland.
