The Gift Cart Presents

The Seniors’ Holiday Art Contest

View the 2012 Seniors’ Holiday Art Contest

Past contests: 2011

As Secretary of the Commonwealth, I am pleased to announce the 16th Annual Senior Citizens Artistic Interpretation of the State House Holiday Art Contest. Sponsored by my office, the contest is open to all citizens age 62 and over.

The theme of the 2012 contest is DECEMBER HOLIDAY AT THE STATE HOUSE.

The STATE HOUSE must be either the focal point of the artwork or included as the main theme with other Boston landmarks.

Suggestions include:

  • People hanging wreaths
  • Adults and/or children making snowmen
  • A holiday parade with or without decorated floats
  • New years eve fireworks
  • People decorating trees
  • Trimming the front stairs or gates
  • Groups of people meeting, greeting or walking by with or without gifts
  • People in small groups singing holiday songs
  • The building decorated in lights or in the process of being decorated
  • People feeding birds
  • People walking their pets/pets could be decorated
  • Tobogganing or sledding or ice skating
  • Santa with or without reindeer or an elf or two
  • Holiday flags and/or the American flag

The guidelines for the art contest are as follows:

Entries will be accepted from both amateur and professional artists. The artwork will be exhibited at the Commonwealth Museum. The date of the exhibit will be determined at a later date. Professional artists will judge the entries.

All medium of art is acceptable (oil, watercolor, ink, pastels, etc.). The STATE HOUSE must be the focal point of the artwork with consideration of the season. The size requirements are a minimum of 5" x 7" and a maximum of 18" x 24". If an artist is unable to mat and frame the entry we will provide matting using basic materials. Please print name, address and telephone number and medium on the back of the artwork.

The deadline for entries is August 1, 2012. Entries must be mailed or delivered to the attention of Dolores McCray, Commonwealth Museum at Columbia Point, 220 Morrissey Boulevard, Boston, MA 02125. In order for artwork to be displayed on our web site each entry must include the enclosed signed authorization form. An Affirmation of Award will be presented to the winning artists in a ceremony held at the Commonwealth Museum at a date to be announced. At that time artwork may be retrieved. If the artist is unable to attend we will return the artwork.

Very truly yours,
William Francis Galvin
Secretary of the Commonwealth

Authorization Form (PDF)