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TAHLEQUAH, OK - The Cherokee Heritage Center is announcing a call for entries for the 31st Annual Trail of Tears Art Show. The event is sponsored by Bank of Oklahoma and the Oklahoma Arts Council. $12,500 in prize money will be awarded to the winners. The winner of the Grand Award will receive $1,500 for Best in Show. The Grand Award will be given to the work judged the most significant expression of art that exhibits the best overall quality, composition, technical achievement and historical accuracy.

Although the show is open to any artist and any subject matter, the show has retained a distinctively Native American flavor. The show is open to all artists age 17 years and above. Art must have been completed after July 1, 2001; however work may have begun prior to that date. Entry may not have received a cash award in any other show. Artwork must be for sale at a reasonable market price. The art show winners will be featured May 4 - 26.

Categories for the 31st Annual Trail of Tears Art Show include paintings, graphics, sculpture, Trail of Tears theme, miniatures, pottery, basketry, beadwork, textiles, and jewelry. No more than two entries per person will be allowed in any category. A total of four pieces will be allowed.

Entries are being accepted now by the Cherokee Heritage Center and the deadline is 5 p.m. on Saturday, April 27. A new feature of this year's art show will be a check-in party for the artists on the last day of entry. After thirty years of trying to get the entries in early, art show organizers have resigned themselves to the fact that most art comes in on the last day. With that realization, refreshments will be provided for the artists as Cherokee Heritage Center staff implement a more streamlined check-in procedure. For entry information, contact Tom Mooney, phone: 918-456-6007 or call toll free, 888-999-6007 and for online information visit the website.