• What does a strong woman look like to you? Is she battling for her life and others? Is she beautiful in her own way? Is she working hard to stay healthy while filling other people’s cup simultaneously?

Individuals affiliated with Visit Modesto and Stanislaus Arts Council, including employees, board members, committee members and their immediate families as well as children, parents, siblings and spouses) as well as judges and others living in their households are not eligible for any prize. Visit Modesto will determine winners’ eligibility in its sole discretion. 

Accepted Art Forms: All original mediums (paintings, drawings, photographs, pastels, sculptures). Any submissions must reflect one or more of the theme topics pertaining to: Strength of women, survivors, women’s health and fitness.   

• Abstract 
• Health/fitness  
• Survivors 
• Age/experience 

To be eligible for any category, an artwork must have been made by the entrant since January 1, 2020. This date applies to all art in a composite. The contestant certifies that he/she/they are the sole creator and copyright owner of the submitted medium of art. 

Please be advised that the dimensions for the competition have changed so that artwork MUST BE NO LARGER THAN 26 INCHES BY 26 INCHES BY 4 INCHES. This includes a frame. 

Each entrant may only submit one piece of art that must meet the following criteria: 

1. Be two or three dimensional.
2. Be no larger than 26 inches wide by 26 inches tall by 4 inches deep (including the frame).
3. Not weigh more than 15 pounds (including a frame).
4. Be original in concept, design, and execution; the piece may not violate any U.S. Copyright laws. 
5. Be in original medium.

Must be able to be displayed on an easel.  

Cropped photos are eligible in all categories. Minor adjustments, including the removal of sensor dust or scratches on scans of negatives, dodging and burning, sharpening, contrast, toning, slight color adjustment and conversion to grayscale are acceptable for all categories. The addition and subtraction of objects is not permitted except in the Artistic Images category. If the judges determine that a photographer has altered his or her photo beyond normal photojournalism best practices, they reserve the right to move the photo to Artistic Images or to disqualify it. Image composites including HDR, and stitched panoramas will be judged as Artistic Images. Images generated using Artificial Intelligence (AI) are not permitted. 

All submissions require artists to check the release of rights for use by Visit Modesto and Stanislaus Arts for commercial and promotional purposes. 

For a photo in which a person is recognizable, you must be prepared to provide a model release from the subject or, in the case of a minor, the subject’s parent or guardian, to Visit Modesto upon request.  

Similarly, entrants whose photos depict other people’s work (such as sculptures, statues, paintings, and other copyrightable works) must be prepared to provide a release from the rights holder to Visit Modesto upon request. When photographing the work of others, it must be as an object in its environment and not a full-frame close-up of another person’s creation.  

If the entrant is unable to provide all required releases, Visit Modesto in its sole discretion reserves the right to disqualify the submission, seek to secure the required releases, or permit the submission to remain in the contest. All entries must include; photographer name, location of photo, title for work 

Photos must be taken in accordance with federal, state and local laws and with appropriate permission from property owners. All mediums of art that violate or infringe upon another person’s rights, including but not limited to copyright, are not eligible. Art that contains obscene, violent or other objectionable or inappropriate content, as determined by Visit Modesto in its sole discretion, are ineligible for all categories of this contest. 

Use of Personal Data – Participation in the contest requires the collection of your name and email address. By entering this contest, you are consenting to the use of your name and email address for further communications and release rights for Visit Modesto’s use as an entrant and regarding this contest.  

Submissions will be accepted starting August 21st, 2024. All entries must be received through visitmodesto.com by 5:00 PM Pacific Standard Time on October 6th, 2024.

Photo entries will be judged based on creativity, quality, originality, responsiveness to the prompt and overall impact. Judges will be basing ratings upon their own interpretations. 

Visit Modesto’s chosen Judges will select 3 finalists per category, a winner for each category: paintings, drawings, photographs, pastels, sculptures. The 15 finalists will be notified of their status via email and appear on our website in October 2024. Visit Modesto will notify winners via the contact information provided at the time of entry; Visit Modesto may disqualify anyone who fails to respond to the notification within five business days. 

Please do not contact us about the status of entries or judging. 

1st place winners (per category) will receive a “night out” gift basket with a one-night stay at a local hotel, downtown dinner gift certificate, and downtown entertainment certificate. (value of $350+)   

Sketchbooks and Smocks to participating artists, along with the opportunity to be involved in the Art Walk showcase of “The HER in Hero” at Nine3One on October 17th, 2024.  

Gallery Exhibition display for the top three works in each category, along with a one-year free membership to the Stanislaus Arts Council.  

Art supplies and gift packages for the second and third place winners of each category. 

Visit Modesto may select photos for highlight on its website or display in a publicly accessible contest archive. Such selections will be made at Visit Modesto’s sole discretion. 

All entrants hold the Visit Modesto and contest sponsors and their respective regents, directors, officers, employees, emeriti, fellows, interns, research associates, and volunteers (the “Indemnified Parties”) harmless from and against all claims of any nature arising in connection with entrant’s participation in the contest and acceptance or use of a prize. The Indemnified Parties are not liable for any costs, damages, injuries, or other claims incurred because of entrants’ participation in the contest or winner’s acceptance and usage of a prize. The Indemnified Parties are not responsible for incomplete or misdirected entries, technical or network malfunctions or failures, or causes beyond their control.  

Entrants are solely responsible for their entries. Entrants may not submit materials that introduce any software viruses, worms or other programs designed to damage software, hardware or telecommunications equipment or are off-topic, partisan-political, contain advertising, nudity, personal attacks or expletives, or is otherwise abusive, threatening, unlawful, harassing, discriminatory, libelous, obscene, false, sexually explicit, or that infringes on the rights of any third party. 

The contest is void where prohibited or restricted by law. Visit Modesto reserves the right to cancel the contest or modify these rules at its discretion. In the event of a dispute regarding the winners, Visit Modesto reserves the right to award or not award the prizes in its sole discretion. Visit Modesto reserves the right to disqualify any entrant whose entry or conduct appears in any way to: inhibit the enjoyment of others; tamper with the competition; violate these rules or other applicable law or regulation; infringe on the rights of third parties; or act in an unsportsmanlike or disruptive manner. Decisions of Visit Modesto are final and binding. 

Exhibition: 

As a part of October Art Walk there will be an exhibition of all mediums of Art displayed at Nine3One as a free and open display of the Submission from “The HER in Hero Arts Collection.” 

The open viewing will start at 5:00 PM October 17th, and a private ceremony for all contest entrants will be at 7:30 PM. We ask that all artists be present at this viewing and bring their art to be displayed at least one day prior (October 16th) for set up to the Stanislaus Arts Council.