FINE ARTS & PHOTOGRAPHY
Coordinator: Noah Ward & Heidi Piper-Ward
Committee: Helen Piper, Ruth Dukelow, Debra Jones-Vincent, Benjamin Ward, Sawyer Ward
Information for Exhibitors:
Please read General Rules and Regulations
All Exhibitors are required to register under their own name, not the name of their business or farm. Such entries will be disqualified from judging.
Items to exhibit must be brought in between 6 pm & 9 pm Wednesday night September 9th or Thursday morning September 10th between 8 am and 10 am.
Doors close at 10:00 am for judging.
Work may be picked up on Sunday afternoon, September 13th, after 4:30 pm, no later than 6:00 pm.
Sunday: Exhibit Hall closes at 3:30 pm to prepare for pickup of exhibits.
No exhibits to be removed from exhibit building before 4:30 pm Sunday.
Fair Share 20% off prize money
Entries must be the work of the exhibitor, not the work of someone else, and not be more than three years old.
Exhibitors may enter one exhibit per section, and this piece cannot be exhibited again in subsequent years in any section.
Exhibitors should cover the signature on the work with painter's tape or other opaque substance that will not harm the work.
Open to amateur hobbyists only. An amateur is defined as: an artist who considers themselves an amateur; the artist is viewed as an amateur by their peers; the artist does not sell their work as a primary source of income.
The First Time Exhibitor category is for those who have never exhibited a work of art in the Spencerville Fair before.
CLASS 11
PAINTINGS:
Prizes: Class 11-14: 1st: $10; 2nd: $6; 3rd: $5
Additional Prizes:
Best in Show Class 11 Paintings: Rosette
Best in Show Class 12 Drawings: Rosette
Best in Show Class 13 Photography: Rosette
Best in Show Class 14 - Outside the Box: Rosette
Paintings must be mounted and framed or have the edges prepared for exhibit. Paintings should be signed, dated, and no more than 3 years old (please cover any signatures on the front of a painting with painter's tape). Paintings must be two-dimensional. No paintings on three-dimensional objects. No revised work. No diamond painting, paint by number, or colouring pages. Please give your work a title, include it in your registration as Description, and list it on the fair ticket under the Exhibit line. Place the fair ticket on the top left or top right of the work.
Sections:
1. Oil or Acrylic: Landscape or scene
2. Oil or Acrylic: “Fire”
3. Oil or Acrylic: Any subject
4. Watercolour: “Storm”
5. Watercolour: Landscape or scene
6. Watercolour: Any subject
7. Any Media: ” Myth and Magic”
8. Any Media: Abstract (no diamond painting, paint by number, colouring pages)
9. Mixed Media: Any subject
10. First Time Exhibitor: Your Best Painting, Any Media, Any Subject, (no diamond painting, paint by number, colouring page)
CLASS 12
DRAWINGS:
Prizes: 1st: $10; 2nd: $6; 3rd: $5
Drawings must be mounted and framed or otherwise prepared for display. Drawings should be signed, dated, and not more than 3 years old (signatures on the front of the drawing should be covered by painter’s tape). Place the fair ticket on the top left or top right of the work.
Sections:
1. Black and White: “The Farm”
2. Black and White: Any subject
3. Digitally created (such as Procreate or Krita): Any subject
4. Colour: Any subject
5. Colour or Black and White: “Myth and Magic”
6. Colour or Black and White: Abstract Any subject
7. Colour or Black and White: “Nature”
8. Colour or Black and White: Anime/Manga Style
9. First Time Exhibitor: Your Best Drawing, Any Media, Any Subject
CLASS 13
PHOTOGRAPHY:
Prizes: 1st: $10; 2nd: $6; 3rd: $5
Sections 1 – 3: Collections
Collections must be mounted on Mat Board, Foamcore, or similar stiff board (NOT Bristol board). Size should be up to a maximum of 20x30 inches. Collections need to be titled. Overall presentation is judged, along with labelling, connecting theme, and individual photo quality.
Sections 1-3 Collections:
1. Photography Collection: Fun
2. Photography Collection: The Elements
3. Photography Collection: Any Subject
Sections 4-14: Enlargements
Enlargements must be framed for hanging. The actual photographs must be at least 5 x 7 inches and no more than 11 x 14 inches. Although the frame should complement the photograph, we understand framing can be expensive. Thus, the priority of judging will be on the photograph. Place the entry tag on the top left or top right of the frame.
Sections 4-14 Enlargements:
4. Photo Enlargement: Animals
5. Photo Enlargement: Fun
6. Photo Enlargement: Friends and Family
7. Photo Enlargement: Architecture
8. Photo Enlargement: Our Natural World
9. Photo Enlargement: Close Up, Any Subject
10. Photo Enlargement: Black and White, Any Subject
11. Photo Enlargement: Abstract, Natural (No computer manipulation)
12. Photo Enlargement: Abstract, Computer-manipulated (original photograph accompanying finished product).
13. Photo Enlargement: Any Subject, Computer-manipulated (original photograph accompanying finished product).
14. Photo Enlargement: Any Subject
CLASS 14
ART-OUTSIDE THE BOX:
Prizes: 1st: $10; 2nd: $6; 3rd: $5
Artworks must be appropriately prepared for display and able to stand on our display shelves or table. Place the fair ticket on the top left or top right of the item.
Sections:
1. Painted Rock or Stone
2. Something Beautiful Made From Wood
3. Barn Quilt (No larger than 24” X 24”)
4. Painted Tile (6x6)
5. Diamond Painting, Paint by Number or Adult Colouring page of your choice.
6. Any Painted Holiday Decoration
7. Any Art Project Not Listed Above, Any Media
Ontario Association of Agricultural Societies (OAAS) PHOTOGRAPHY COMPETITION
Competition Rules:
Images must be taken in the current year by members, volunteers, or visitors.
Images from professional photographers cannot be submitted
Absolutely no digital image enhancement allowed. All enhanced images will be disqualified
All images will become the property of the OAAS and may be used for promotional purposes and posted without compensation or acknowledgement
Photographs selected for the OAAS competition will be judged at the annual conference, and prizes will be awarded then.
Digital Photos must be submitted as an attachment to online@spencervillefair.ca after the fair on September 13th, 2026 and prior to October 31st,2026.
Winners will be announced at the OAAS Convention 2027
Prizes: 1st -$20, 2nd -$16, 3rd -$12, 4th -$7, 5th -$5
Junior Division - youth up to age 15 years (as of December 31 of current year)
1. Candid shot of people having fun at your fair
2. Creatures and critters at your fair
3. Brilliant colours at your fair
4. Most unusual display at your fair
Open Division - Human Involvement
5. Youth participation at the fair – e.g. exhibit, display, ribbons won, competitions, races, etc.
6. Adult/Senior involvement – e.g. working, displays, enjoying your fair
7. Candid shot of children having fun at your fair
8. Candid shot of someone too pooped to participate anymore
9. 4-H involvement at your fair – e.g. livestock, displays
10. People with creatures and critters at your fair
Displays
11. Most unusual display at your fair
12. Homecraft at your fair – e.g. displays, demonstrations, etc.
13. Live action shows – e.g. singers, pulls, demos, something musical, your fair at night
14. Quilts/Handicrafts at your fair
15. Display of machinery – e.g. tractors, vehicles, engines, farming equipment
Animals
16. Animal show – e.g. livestock show, pet show, horse show
17. Live demonstrations with animals – e.g. blacksmith, sheep shearing etc.
18. Reptiles/Birds/Small Animals – e.g. bird show, rabbits, etc.
19. Proud moment – e.g. winners with their ribbons
Promotional
20. Fair Ambassador involvement – e.g. with displays, ribbons, etc.
21. Promoting this year’s fair and/or theme – e.g. displays, signs, etc.